The Consequences Of Rising Inflation & Crude Oil Prices
Brownstein was privileged to sponsor this year’s Rockies Petroleum Conference, hosted by the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, in Laramie, Wyoming, on Aug. 21–23, 2024....more
On August 27, 2024, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed five documents at a ceremony to approve the national energy transition policy: (i) revoking Decree 9.928/19, which established the Technical Committee...more
Texas isn’t just celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes and rich history—it’s a dynamic powerhouse in international and interstate trade. As the second-largest state in the U.S., Texas capitalizes on its strategic...more
On July 5, 2024, the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (Ministério dos Recursos Minerais e Energia - "MIREME") published Ministerial Diploma No. 55/2024 ("DM 55/2024") to establish within the scope of petroleum...more
On 15 July 2024, 10 days into the UK Labour Government, the North Sea Transition Authority (“NSTA”, formerly known as the Oil and Gas Authority) announced that its Directorate of Regulation is opening an investigation into...more
On May 14, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the final Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule requirements for petroleum and natural gas systems under 40 C.F.R. Part 98, Subpart W in the Federal Register....more
The Situation: The United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") was required to overhaul the greenhouse gas reporting requirements for the petroleum and natural gas industry by the Inflation Reduction Act ("IRA") in...more
On April 17, 2024, OFAC formally rolled back the sanctions relief it previously provided to the Venezuelan oil and gas industry. While OFAC provided the initial relief believing that Venezuela would permit a fair and open...more
On March 28, 2024, Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency (ANP) published the mandatory individual targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for 2024. These targets consider the global target of 38.78 million Decarbonization...more
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal addressing whether a mixture of petroleum and chemicals constitutes “oil” under the Oil Pollution Act (OPA). In doing so, the Court has effectively rejected the efforts of...more
Domestic oil production in the U.S. reached a new record in November 2023, hitting 13.31 million barrels per day, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In “Domestic Oil Production in U.S Reached...more
Record U.S. Oil Production and the Potential Impacts - Domestic oil production in the U.S. reached a new record in November 2023, hitting 13.31 million barrels per day, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information...more
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) in late February 2024 announced an update to its Guidance for Evaluating Soil Vapor Intrusion in the State of New York. For the first time, the Soil Vapor/Indoor Air Decision...more
On March 1, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced finalized amendments to the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Program (RMP) through the Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention Rule (Final Rule). ...more
The Namibian government established a new licensing system for the oil and mining sectors, in order to address a backlog of applications which had developed over recent years. In this Legal Update, we examine some provisions...more
In June 2020, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sued ExxonMobil, three Koch entities, and the American Petroleum Institute — (energy companies and affiliates that produce or sell fossil fuels around the world and an...more
While it took a few decades to surface, the fact pattern set forth in the movie “Trading Places” has finally come to pass. However, instead of the alleged wrongdoers bribing a U.S. government official for a sneak peek at...more
In a recent legal breakthrough that highlights the importance of ITAR compliance and arms regulation, the United States has achieved a significant milestone. Through a rigorous investigation into an illicit scheme involving...more
The Arkansas Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund (“Trust Fund”) is a state statutory mechanism has been used by both underground and aboveground storage tank owners and operators for over 30 years to address petroleum leaks and...more
A recent Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii decision permitted climate-related claims against major petroleum and gas companies to proceed toward trial. The decision in City and County of Honolulu v. Sunoco LP allows...more
The Situation: The Inflation Reduction Act ("IRA") requires the U.S Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") to finalize new greenhouse gas reporting rules for the petroleum and natural gas industry based on "empirical...more
On October 12, 2023, OFAC released an Advisory for the Maritime Oil Industry and Related Sectors: Best Practices in Response to Recent Developments in the Maritime Oil Trade on behalf of the G7, European Union and Australia...more
Motor fuel facilities owned and operated by Arkansas petroleum marketers supply a significant portion of the products sold in the State of Arkansas. However, Arkansas motor fuel jobbers, marketers, and other suppliers...more
The Virginia Clean Energy Act, the Botetourt County Battery Power Facility and the Impact on the Commonwealth - The Virginia Clean Energy Act (“VCEA”) mandates that Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power, the two...more
It has been an active time for transactions in the Petroleum and Commercial Fuel industries as long-standing family concerns cash out and institutional buyers look to drive shareholder value. These deals can be fraught with...more