Federal Regulation of Shale Oil and Gas Development – Current Topics
Sponsored by the Agricultural and Food Law Consortium
Topic:
In recent years, the widespread expansion of shale oil and gas operations has led to a variety of regulatory activities at the federal, state, and local levels. Within the past year, several federal agencies – including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Department of Transportation (DOT) – have engaged in regulatory activities, some of which have been the subject of legal challenges. This webinar will provide an overview of these recent regulatory developments and resulting litigation with a particular focus on the EPA Clean Water Rule, BLM Hydraulic Fracturing Rule, EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study, DOT Crude Oil by Rail Rule, and EPA’s proposed regulatory actions to reduce methane and volatile organic compounds resulting from shale development.
Participation:
This webinar was recorded on December 15, 2015. To listen to a recording of the webinar, click here.
Presenter:
Ross Pifer J.D., LL.M.
Director, Center for Agricultural & Shale Law
Ross Pifer is a Clinical Law Professor at Penn State Law where he teaches agricultural law and serves as Director of the Center for Agricultural & Shale Law. Ross has presented widely throughout Pennsylvania, as well as nationally and internationally, on shale gas and agricultural law topics to audiences comprised of judges, attorneys, legislators, government officials, landowners, and the general public. His research interests are shale gas development and the interface between agricultural and residential development as well as GMO labeling laws. He served as an attorney with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of General Counsel, and has advised military personnel and commands in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Great Britain, and Germany while on active duty with the U.S. Army JAG Corps at the Netherlands Law Center. Among other publications, Ross has written an article on GMO labeling to be published in the Penn State Law Review. Ross earned an LL.M. from the University of Arkansas School of Law Agricultural & Food Law Program, and is an active member of the American Agricultural Law Association.
Additional Resources
EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study
- Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources: Progress Report (2012)
- Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources: External Review Draft (2015)
- EPA Science Advisory Board – Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory Panel
- Final Rule – Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands (2015)
- Penn State Shale Law Blog – U.S. District Court of Wyoming Grants Motions to Enjoin Enforcement of BLM Hydraulic Fracturing Rule (Oct. 1, 2015) (contains link to court opinion)
PHMSA – Safe Transportation of Energy Products
- DOT Announces Final Rule to Strengthen Safe Transportation of Flammable Liquids by Rail (May 1, 2015)
- PHMSA Response to Appeals (Nov. 18, 2015)
- United States Court of Appeal for the Sixth Circuit order staying Clean Water Rule nationally (Oct. 9, 2015)
- EPA and the Army Corps’ Rule to Define “Waters of the United States” (Congressional Research Service Report R43455, Copeland)
EPA Oil and Natural Gas Air Quality Standards – Regulatory Actions