Certain

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Monday issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that re-proposes adding certain provisions to Part 43 of the Commission’s regulations pertaining to block trades in swap contracts.

As of last Tuesday, certain fees paid by producers to the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) have increased by 150% in order to fund the Oil and Gas Regulation and Cleanup Fund, which was created by Senate Bill 1, passed by state lawmakers last year.

Pennsylvania researchers have corrected a recent study that suggested increased bromide levels in private water wells after drilling or hydraulic fracturing occurred nearby.

A Jefferies & Co. analyst this week cut his 2012 earnings forecasts and price targets by 30-50% for some of the biggest domestic onshore drillers and well service companies because he expects to see slower growth for oil and gas rigs.

Disclosure of the chemicals used for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) well stimulation is becoming the law of the land in the energy-rich Ark-La-Tex region, a natural gas breadbasket for the country, and elsewhere. However, in environmentally conscious California legislation to require disclosure has stumbled.

The battle for Southern Union Co. continued Thursday after Williams countered by 10% a $40/share offer made earlier this month by Energy Transfer Equity LP (ETE), putting a $44/share cash deal on the table, which is worth a total enterprise value of $9.4 billion (see Shale Daily, July 6).

Depriving U.S. energy companies of certain tax deductions — as is being considered by the Obama administration — “would have a negative impact on federal revenues,” according to research by economist Joseph R. Mason, Louisiana State University endowed chair of banking.

As the summer recess approaches, Pennsylvania is flooded with proposals to tax the Marcellus Shale industry.

The House Financial Services Committee last Tuesday voted out amended legislation that would change the implementation deadline for certain Title VII derivative reforms in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act to Sept. 30, 2012.