The oil and natural gas industry reacted favorably to the Trump administration’s delivery on a promise to reduce environmental oversight of U.S. waters by issuing final rules Thursday that are certain to draw litigation.
Federal
Articles from Federal
Lower 48 Energy Operators Likely to Benefit from WOTUS Overhaul
The oil and natural gas industry reacted favorably to the Trump administration’s delivery on a promise to reduce environmental oversight of U.S. waters by issuing final rules Thursday that are certain to draw litigation.

Federal Oil, Gas Leasing Terms in Colorado Said to Cost Government Billions
The U.S. government has missed out on billions of dollars of revenue from overly generous and outdated terms for oil and gas leases on federal land in Colorado, according to a report by the Taxpayers for Common Sense advocacy group.
Federal, American-Indian Owned Lands, Offshore Revenues Up 31% in 2019, DOI Says
The Department of Interior (DOI) said last Thursday it disbursed $11.69 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2019 from energy production revenue collected on federal and American Indian-owned lands and offshore areas, a $2.76 billion (31%) increase compared with FY2018.
BLM Clears Path for Potential Oil, Gas Leasing in California
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to open 683,000 acres on federal lands in California to oil and natural gas drilling following a recent record of decision (ROD).
Fossil Fuel Development on Public Lands Major Emissions Source, Says USGS
Burning and extracting fossil fuels on federal lands accounted for nearly one-quarter of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced domestically between 2005 and 2014, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
LNG Canada Pipeline Conduit Facing More Scrutiny as NEB Agrees to Consider Jurisdictional Claims
A hearing has been granted to an 11th-hour attempt to delay or kill liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from the Pacific coast of British Columbia (BC) by requiring a new federal review on top of current provincial construction and environmental approvals.
Interior Deferring to States, Reviewing Fish, Wildlife Protections
In a development sure to impact the oil and gas industry, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said state regulatory agencies should have a higher profile in protecting fish and wildlife, and asked his department to identify federal regulations that are more restrictive than those enacted by states.
FERC, Interior, EPA, DOE, Others Agree to Faster Infrastructure Permitting
Eight months after President Trump called for the federal government to expedite its review and permitting of major infrastructure projects, 12 agencies agreed Monday to follow permitting timetables designed to complete such reviews within two years.
Trump Signs Executive Order to Expedite Federal Permitting of Infrastructure Projects
President Trump signed an executive order (EO) Tuesday calling for the federal government to expedite its review and permitting of major infrastructure projects, which should include oil and natural gas pipelines.