The Consequences Of Rising Inflation & Crude Oil Prices
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 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 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
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
The EPA on Friday granted a waiver of its traditional summer ban on the sale of gasoline with 15-percent ethanol — or “E15” — to continue mitigating the disruption of fuel commerce around the globe caused by the conflict in...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and HF Sinclair El Dorado Refining LLC (“Sinclair”) entered into a March 6th Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CAFO”) addressing alleged violations of the Resource...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) stated in a November16th letter that an oil refinery on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands may not resume operations without going through New Source Review (“NSR”)....more
The Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) includes a variety of incentives, including tax credits and grants, for US industries to reduce greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. The IRA also includes a significant “disincentive” for...more
On November 1, 2021, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) revised the standard for conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs). The goal of an ASTM Phase I ESA is to identify the confirmed...more
On March 14, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a direct final rule approving the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International Standard E1527-21 for Phase I environmental site assessments...more
EPA rescinds previous administration’s guidance on Clean Water Act permit requirements - Water & Wastes Digest – September 21 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is rescinding its guidance document: “Applying...more
China Risks Winter Energy Crunch - "China is at risk of the same energy-crunch chaos seen in Europe, with a state-run newspaper warning that coal-fired power plants will struggle to keep the lights on this winter." ...more
The Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit (“Court of Appeals”) addressed an issue arising out of a Clean Water Act (“CWA”) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) citizen suit action. See Conservation Law...more
The Energy Marketers of America (“EMA”) submitted April 19th comments on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed rule for E15 Fuel Dispenser Labeling and Compatibility with Underground Storage...more
The 93rd Arkansas General Assembly convened for regular session on January 11th. House Bill 1519 (“HB1519”) was introduced on February 22nd which would amend the Arkansas Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund Act (“Trust...more
Renewable-Sourced Products May Require Authorization as "New Chemicals" Under TSCA - On December 22, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a Compliance Advisory under the Toxic Substances Control Act...more
Overview of the current energy mix, and the place in the market of different energy sources - Due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. total energy consumption in 2020 is on pace to decline for a second straight...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued a Prepublication Notice on November 24th stating it would not issue final regulations for Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act...more
Corona-Induced CO2 Emission Reductions are Not Yet Detectable in the Atmosphere - "Based on current data measured in the energy, industry, and mobility sectors, restrictions of social life during the corona pandemic can be...more
U.S. Shale Producers Race for Federal Permits Ahead of Presidential Election - "Federal permitting in the largest U.S. oilfield in the Permian Basin, located in Texas and New Mexico, is up 80 percent in about the last three...more
China's New Coal Projects Make Up 90% of Global Total for First Half of 2020: Study - "Global coal-fired generation capacity saw a net decline of 2.9 gigawatts from January to June, the first drop on record for a six-month...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published a June 4th Federal Register Notice announcing a direct final rule to approve the State of Louisiana’s revisions to its Underground Storage Tank (“UST”)...more
U.S. Banks Prepare to Seize Energy Assets as Shale Boom Goes Bust - "Major U.S. lenders are preparing to become operators of oil and gas fields across the country for the first time in a generation to avoid losses on loans...more
Four petroleum retail trade associations transmitted a March 23rd letter to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) addressing the Clean Air Act Reid Vapor Pressure (“RVP”) requirements. The trade...more