Rule

The Obama administration unveiled its long-awaited finalized Clean Water Rule (CWR) on Wednesday, extending regulatory protection to smaller upstream rivers and creeks, but doing so against the wishes of the oil and gas industry, manufacturers and their Republican allies in Congress.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a $35.4 billion spending bill for water and energy on Thursday, after Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced — but then withdrew, at the urging of his colleagues — a controversial amendment that would have blocked the Obama administration from modifying the Clean Water Act (CWA). The bill now heads to the Senate floor.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a $35.4 billion spending bill for water and energy on Thursday, after Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced — but then withdrew, at the urging of his colleagues — a controversial amendment that would have blocked the Obama administration from modifying the Clean Water Act (CWA). The bill now heads to the Senate floor.

Attorneys representing the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the Western Energy Alliance (WPA) asked a federal court to block the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from enacting its final rule for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on public and tribal lands, arguing that the rulemaking process was flawed and will cost producers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Attorneys representing the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the Western Energy Alliance (WPA) asked a federal court to block the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from enacting its final rule for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on public and tribal lands, arguing that the rulemaking process was flawed and will cost producers hundreds of millions of dollars.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), along with its Canadian counterpart, on Friday issued a final rule on the shipment of flammable liquids by rail, including crude oil and other petroleum products.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), along with its Canadian counterpart, on Friday issued a final rule on the shipment of flammable liquids by rail, including crude oil and other petroleum products.

Less than one week after the Department of Interior (DOI) issued its long-awaited rule for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on public and tribal lands, members of a U.S. House panel used an oversight hearing Thursday as an opportunity to grill Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Neil Kornze over what they perceive as the rule’s shortcomings and overreach.

The Department of Interior (DOI) will release a final rule governing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on public lands within days, and it is months away from unveiling standards designed to cut methane emissions from drilling on public lands as well, according to Secretary Sally Jewell.