The Consequences Of Rising Inflation & Crude Oil Prices
The post yesterday discussed proposed amendments to the Arkansas Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund...more
House Bill 1277 has been filed which proposes two revisions to the Arkansas Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund. The Bill is sponsored by Representative Zack Gramlich of Fort Smith and Senator Justin Boyd of Fort Smith....more
On January 10, 2025, in a final action to, among other things, deter Russian aggression on the international stage, the US Department of the Treasury enacted sweeping new sanctions on the Russian energy sector. Specifically,...more
The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality (“MCEQ”) and Hunt Southland Refining Company LLC (“Hunt”) entered into a November 18th Agreed Order (“AO”) addressing alleged violations of a Clean Water Act National...more
Connecticut Attorney General (AG) William Tong announced a $2 million settlement with Pike Fuels to resolve allegations that the company violated Connecticut environmental protection laws by, among other things, falsifying...more
The ever-changing landscape of state government requires businesses across all industries to stay informed on the happenings in Madison. Welcome to the November 2024 issue of the Capitol Connection....more
The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Nov. 12 its final rule to further reduce methane emissions from oil and gas industries as required under the Inflation Reduction Act. In particular, Congress established a...more
On 8 October 2024, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) released updated guidance for the assignment of offshore petroleum production licences in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) (the Guidance). Publication of the...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Hartford Wood River Terminal, LLC (“Hartford Wood”) entered into an October 25th Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CAFO”) addressing alleged violations of The...more
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on October 14 signed into law Assembly Bill X2-1, significantly increasing the authority of the California Energy Commission (CEC) to create requirements for the state’s oil refiners to preserve...more
On September 18th, the "Agreement Amending the One that Establishes the Goods Whose Import and Export are Subject to Regulation by the Ministry of Energy" (the "Agreement") was published in the Official Gazette of the...more
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