Hydraulic Fracturing Developments

September 7, 2016

O'Melveny attorneys Eric Rothenberg, John D. Renneisen, Kelly McTigue, Brian Kenyon and Jesse Glickstein recently authored an article in Pratt's Energy Law Report, Vol. 16, No. 8, titled “Hydraulic Fracturing Developments.” Below is an excerpt, as well as a link to read the full article.

Noteworthy developments in the hydraulic fracturing industry during the second quarter of 2016 include the following:

  • A new lawsuit to compel the EPA to review and update its fracking waste disposal regulations and state waste management plan guidelines;
  • A decision striking down the Department of Interior (“DOI”) Federal Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) rules for fracking on public lands;
  • Increases in the civil penalties that may be issued by the BLM and DOI’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (“BSEE”) for violations of onshore and offshore drilling regulations, respectively; and
  • New rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) covering waste disposal at municipal treatment facilities, methane emissions and drilling reporting requirements.

Click here to read the full text.