Last month, I looked at the EPA’s November 2011 plan to study the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources and the implications of that plan for oil and gas producers. A new draft report issued by the EPA may be an early indicator that the EPA will, indeed, find that hydraulic fracturing… Continue Reading
Monthly Archives: December 2011
Fifth Circuit Focuses on Manning Requirements and Charter Arrangements for Foreign Floating Rigs
Posted in Marine Services, Offshore OilThe U.S. Fifth Circuit, in Brown v. Offshore Specialty Fabricators, Inc., No. 10-40936 (Nov. 23, 2011), recently addressed the confluence of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (“OCSLA”), the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”), and “foreign control” exemptions from the OCSLA manning requirements that had been issued… Continue Reading
UPDATE: Proposed Regulations on Towing Vessel Inspections – Coast Guard discusses proposals at International Workboat Show in New Orleans
Posted in UncategorizedA U.S. Coast Guard panel comprised of Cdr. Rob Smith, Lt. Cdrs. Patrick Lee and Wade Russell and Mr. Patrick Mannion, provided updates on the proposed rules for towing vessel inspections to the attendees at the International Workboat Show in New Orleans November 30. Because timing is everything, the panel indicated that it did not… Continue Reading
Coast Guard to Review Jones Act Vessel Citizenship Requirements
Posted in Jones Act, Marine ServicesIn an action that may signal future changes to vessel documentation requirements for publicly traded companies, the U.S. Coast Guard published a Notice in the Federal Register November 3 seeking comments on mechanisms currently employed by such companies in order to assure compliance with U.S. citizenship requirements. At least 75% of the stock or other… Continue Reading
EPA proposes new vessel general permits–let the games begin.
Posted in Energy, Marine Services, Maritime Contracts, Ports & Cargo ShippingThe EPA issued drafts of two vessel general permits seeking to regulate discharge from commercial vessels (military and recreational vessels are excluded) on November 30. The draft permits – (1) Vessel General Permit for Discharges Incidental to The Normal Operation of Vessels (VGP) and (2) Small Vessel General Permit for Discharges Incidental to The Normal… Continue Reading