Administrative Guidance

FERC’s 2020 Annual Report on Enforcement: Key Focus for Pipeline CompaniesFERC Revises Policy for Analyzing Pipeline Return on EquityCOVID-19 and the CRA Deadline: Status of the Natural Resources Regulatory Agenda

Administrative Rulemaking

CEQ Releases Long-Awaited Final Rule to Improve NEPA RegulationsFERC Declares It Has Concurrent Jurisdiction With Bankruptcy Courts When Debtor Seeks To Reject Natural Gas Transportation AgreementsNew York Proposes Regional Greenhouse Gas Changes

Climate

Could Mexico’s Mid-Term Elections Signal a Return to Energy and Environmental Policy Rationality?

Construction & Design

Offshore Platform Sustainable Decommissioning - "Rigs to Reefs" Goes GlobalProposed Legislation Seeks to Block Pipelines From Vaguely-Defined "Conservation" Lands without Considering Adverse Impacts of Re-RoutesPipeline Company Can't Join "Tree Sitters" in NGA Condemnation Action, But Still Has Other Remedies Against Them, Virginia Federal Court Says

Control Room Management

PHMSA Issues Notice of Stay of Enforcement to Pipeline OperatorsPHMSA Issues Expansive Proposed RulemakingPHMSA Issues Advisory Bulletin Regarding 2010 Marshall, Michigan Release

Enforcement

FERC’s 2020 Annual Report on Enforcement: Key Focus for Pipeline CompaniesPHMSA Issues Notice of Stay of Enforcement to Pipeline OperatorsStreamlining NEPA and ESA Reviews: Importance of the Scope of Analysis

Environmental

Massachusetts DPU Opens Investigation into Natural Gas Distribution CompaniesCEQ Releases Long-Awaited Final Rule to Improve NEPA RegulationsDakota Access Pipeline Must Shutdown While Corps Prepares Environmental Impact Statement

Events

Dakota Access Pipeline Must Shutdown While Corps Prepares Environmental Impact StatementPHMSA Announces Public Workshop on Risk Modeling MethodologiesHunton & Williams Pipeline Practice 2013 AOPL Business Conference Presentations Now Available

Federal/ State Legislation

Proposed Legislation Seeks to Block Pipelines From Vaguely-Defined "Conservation" Lands without Considering Adverse Impacts of Re-RoutesClean Water Act Section 401: Balancing States' Rights and the Nation's Need for Energy InfrastructureHouse Bill Reflects Ongoing Resistance to New Pipeline Construction

Incident Response

TCEQ and RRC Issue COVID-19 Regulatory GuidanceHunton Insurance Team Wins Summary Judgement on Firm's Own Hurricane Harvey Business Income LossInsurance Mitigates Cyber-Related Risk

Infrastructure Security

Hunton Insurance Team Wins Summary Judgement on Firm's Own Hurricane Harvey Business Income LossPipeline Company Can't Join "Tree Sitters" in NGA Condemnation Action, But Still Has Other Remedies Against Them, Virginia Federal Court SaysAttacks Targeting Oil and Gas Sector Renew Questions About Cybersecurity

Integrity Management

PHMSA Issues Notice of Stay of Enforcement to Pipeline OperatorsCEQ Unveils Long-Awaited Proposal to Improve NEPA RegulationsAdvisory on Deactivation of Integrity Management Threats

Judicial/ Administrative Decisions

Dakota Access Pipeline Must Shutdown While Corps Prepares Environmental Impact StatementCEQ Unveils Long-Awaited Proposal to Improve NEPA RegulationsENGOs Challenge BLM's Approval of Over 2,000 Oil and Gas Leases

Natural Gas

Supreme Court Holds that Natural Gas Act Delegates Eminent Domain Power, Allowing FERC Certificate-Holders to Condemn State-Owned PropertySupreme Court to Hear Arguments regarding Natural Gas Act and Eminent Domain PowerMassachusetts DPU Opens Investigation into Natural Gas Distribution Companies

Operation & Maintenance

Eroding Investor Protections: Managing CSR and Political Risk in the Sustainable Brave New WorldTCEQ and RRC Issue COVID-19 Regulatory GuidancePHMSA Issues Notice of Stay of Enforcement to Pipeline Operators

Operator Qualification Program

PHMSA Issues Notice of Stay of Enforcement to Pipeline Operators

PHMSA

PHMSA Issues Notice of Stay of Enforcement to Pipeline OperatorsLNG a Focus of Recent Executive OrderFERC and PHMSA MOU Intended to Increase Efficiency and Efficacy of LNG Reviews

Pipeline Safety Act

LNG a Focus of Recent Executive OrderFERC and PHMSA MOU Intended to Increase Efficiency and Efficacy of LNG ReviewsAttacks Targeting Oil and Gas Sector Renew Questions About Cybersecurity

Pipelinelaw Events

Could Mexico’s Mid-Term Elections Signal a Return to Energy and Environmental Policy Rationality?FERC March 2019 Open Meeting HighlightsUS-Mexico Energy & Environmental Policy Transition: Opportunity Amidst Uncertainty?

Policy

CEQ Releases Long-Awaited Final Rule to Improve NEPA RegulationsKey Northeastern States Take Steps to Study the Transition to Net-Zero GHG EmissionsFERC Revises Policy for Analyzing Pipeline Return on Equity

Practice Pointers

Oil & Gas... & Water!Insurance Mitigates Cyber-Related RiskPipeline Construction After Keystone

Public Awareness/ Community Relations

Eroding Investor Protections: Managing CSR and Political Risk in the Sustainable Brave New WorldPipeline Company Can't Join "Tree Sitters" in NGA Condemnation Action, But Still Has Other Remedies Against Them, Virginia Federal Court SaysTwo More Circuits Give Thumbs-Up to Preliminary Injunctions Granting Immediate Possession in NGA Condemnation Actions and Clarify Other Common Procedural Issues

Reauthorization

Streamlining NEPA and ESA Reviews: Importance of the Scope of AnalysisCEQ Unveils Long-Awaited Proposal to Improve NEPA RegulationsAct or Waive: DC Circuit Construes CWA § 401's One-Year Deadline for State Action Applications

Recordkeeping

TCEQ and RRC Issue COVID-19 Regulatory GuidanceAdvisory on Deactivation of Integrity Management ThreatsPipe Subject to Safety Regulations Until Formally Abandoned: PHMSA Advisory

Reporting Obligations

TCEQ and RRC Issue COVID-19 Regulatory GuidancePHMSA Issues Notice of Stay of Enforcement to Pipeline OperatorsEPA Proposes New Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater