The Center for Sustainable Economy, a non-profit public interest consulting firm, filed a lawsuit today against the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in an attempt to halt that agency’s first approved five-year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program since the BP oil spill. The Program, which establishes a schedule for 2012-2017… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Energy
Subscribe to Energy RSS FeedBOEM Finding Advances Development of Mid-Atlantic Offshore Wind Farm; But Tailwinds are Behind Faster Moving Gulf Coast Projects in State Waters
Posted in Energy, Offshore WindOn May 14, 2012, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced a finding of “no competitive interest” with regard to a proposed right-of-way grant area off the Mid-Atlantic coast for construction of an offshore wind energy transmission line. While BOEM’s decision represents a key step forward for this federal offshore wind farming project, two fast-moving… Continue Reading
Pressure on Hydraulic Fracturing Operations Continues to Rise
Posted in Energy, Hydraulic FracturingWith 2011 in the rearview, businesses all over the country are looking forward to fresh start in 2012. But the opportunity to start fresh will elude natural gas producers partaking in hydraulic fracturing operations, as recent events in Ohio have caused additional uproar concerning the practice. On December 30, 2011, Ohio state officials ordered the… Continue Reading
EPA links hydraulic fracturing with groundwater contamination
Posted in Energy, Hydraulic Fracturing, Marine ServicesLast 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
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
Coast Guard proposes changes to Inspection of Towing Vessels regulations
Posted in Energy, Maritime Contracts, Offshore Oil, Ports & Cargo ShippingThe U.S. Coast Guard has proposed significant changes to the regulations concerning the Inspection of Towing Vessels and arguably eliminating the class of vessels formerly known as uninspected towing vessels. The Coast Guard has established a deadline of December 9, 2011, to receive public comments, which can be made at the following link: www.regulations.gov and… Continue Reading
Competing Interests Collide Over Proposed New Legislation for Oil and Gas Rigs and Vessels
Posted in Energy, Maritime Contracts, Offshore OilRep. Jeff Landry (R-LA) has added a provision to the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011, currently under consideration in Congress, which would require the owner/operator of any offshore rig or vessel engaged in drilling, plugging and abandoning or workover operations to maintain a standby rescue vessels within 3 nautical miles. The provision… Continue Reading
EPA Studies Effects of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources – Should Oil and Gas Producers Be Concerned?
Posted in EnergyOn November 3, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a plan to study potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. The study, which is being conducted pursuant to Congress’s request, will focus on the effect of hydraulic fracturing in shale formations on drinking water sources during the five stages of the… Continue Reading