Federal/ State Legislation

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Two bills aimed at expediting pipeline construction permitting and, in turn, U.S. energy production are moving through the House of Representatives, but face opposition in the Senate and the White House. The Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act passed the House of Representatives by a large majority on Thursday, November 21, 2013.
Continue Reading House Votes on Two New Pieces of Proposed Pipeline Legislation

On October 22, 2013, House Representatives Upton (R-MI) and Green (D-TX) introduced the North American Energy Infrastructure Act, H.R. 3301. The bill is intended to streamline the permitting process for cross-border pipelines and electric transmission facilities by eliminating the Presidential permitting process, requiring that all requests for approval of cross-border oil pipelines be administered directly by the Secretary of Commerce and all requests for natural gas pipeline crossings be administered directly by FERC.
Continue Reading Congress Considers North American Energy Infrastructure Act

On August 12, 2013, the President signed H.R. 2576  into law, which revises and relaxes the Pipeline Safety Act’s new requirement at 49 U.S.C. 60102(p) regarding new regulations and guidance issued by PHMSA that incorporate documents by reference. More specifically, the bill revises 49 U.S.C. 60102(p), added by the Pipeline Safety Act amendments passed in…

On August 1, 2013, the Senate passed by unanimous consent H.R. 2576 , which would revise and relax the Pipeline Safety Act’s new requirement at 49 U.S.C. 60102(p) regarding new regulations and guidance issued by PHMSA that incorporate documents by reference.  More specifically, the bill would revise 49 U.S.C. 60102(p), added by the Pipeline Safety…

The Democratic staff of the House Natural Resources Committee issued a report entitled:  “America Pays for Gas Leaks: Natural Gas Pipeline Leaks Cost Consumers Billions”.  The report concludes that leaks and “lost and unaccounted for” natural gas from aging distribution systems result in unacceptable costs to consumers, contribute to climate change, and threaten public…

The Texas Railroad Commission on May 24th adopted amendments to the Commission’s well construction requirements rule (Statewide Rule 13) to clarify current oil and gas well construction requirements related to casing, cementing, drilling, well control and completions, particularly with regard to hydraulic fracturing operations. Among other things, the amendments impose new obligations regarding pressure testing,…

Representative Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) introduced HR 1900, to provide for timely consideration of licenses, permits, and approvals with respect to the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of any natural gas pipeline projects. The bill would amend the Natural Gas Act by requiring FERC to approve or deny a certificate of public convenience or necessity no…

Despite the goal of the 2005 Energy Policy Act’s (EPAct) to streamline and expedite permitting for natural gas pipeline construction projects, a recent study funded by INGAA found that non-FERC agencies have experienced increased delays in permitting projects. The percentage of federal authorizations issued more than 90 days beyond FERC’s issuance of its final NEPA…

President Obama signed H.R. 2845, the “Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011” into law on January 3, 2012. Among other pipeline safety requirements, this bill doubles the maximum civil fine for all safety violations; requires operators to confirm, through records or testing, the MAOP of certain untested gas pipelines in populated…

On December 23, 2011, President Obama signed the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011, HR 3765, that temporarily extends the two percentage point payroll tax cut for employees, and also includes a Republican negotiated deadline for the President to either approve the Keystone XL pipeline or determine that the project is not in…