Community Impacts: PA Attorney General Files Charges Against Equitrans for Well Leak 
On July 24, 2025, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday released a statement indicating that criminal charges have been filed against the energy company Equitrans, LP, concerning a natural gas leak that occurred in 2022. The charges, which include 14 counts of unlawful conduct and pollution, stem from an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General. It was found that a gas well at the Rager Mountain Storage Field in Cambria County leaked for 14 days due to what the 51st Statewide Investigating Grand Jury cited as negligent maintenance. The grand jury’s investigation revealed that Equitrans had inadequate monitoring and mitigation programs to prevent corrosion, which ultimately led to the well’s rupture. The company’s attempts to stop the leak involved pumping saltwater into the well, resulting in significant contamination of the nearby soil, groundwater, and vegetation.
Methane Emissions: EPA Extends Deadline for Emissions Controls from Oil and Gas Producers
On July 31, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an interim final rule extending the deadlines set forth in the 2024 rule, “Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review.” The 2024 rule finalized new source performance standards (NSPS) for greenhouse gas (GHG) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) being released from new and existing sources in the oil and natural gas sector via leaks. However, after receiving feedback, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that the deadlines for compliance needed to be extended. As such, the 2024 rule deadline is extended indefinitely, with a request for comments.
GHG Emissions: EPA Proposes Repeal of GHG Emissions for Vehicles, Along with other GHG Standards
On August 1, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule that would repeal all greenhouse gas emission standards for all vehicles, as well as the finding that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions endanger public health. The proposed rule, titled “Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards,” reasons that the Clean Air Act does not allow the EPA to “address global climate change concerns,” and as such the vehicle emissions fall outside of its jurisdiction. The rule further proposes to rescind a 2009 finding that GHG emissions from new vehicles endanger the public health and welfare. The rule finally proposes to repeal all GHG emissions standards, as any control measures would risk “greater harms to public health and welfare.”
LNG Infrastructure: PHMSA Establishes National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety in Louisiana
On July 22, 2025, The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced they have secured a 20-year lease with McNeese State University to create a National Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Safety. The new center is designed to foster research and development, provide training, and improve regulatory coordination among federal agencies. It will also serve as a hub for both domestic and international collaboration, aiming to address safety challenges within the LNG sector. This initiative, mandated by the 2020 PIPES Act, seeks to establish the United States as a leader in safe LNG operations. According to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, the selection of McNeese State University places the center in a region significant to the country’s growing LNG industry.
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CENTER PROGRAMS & RESOURCES
Jackie Schweichler to Join PA Small Business Development Center in Agritourism Seminar
On August 13, 2025, at 1:00pm (ET), staff attorney Jackie Schweichler will join the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center to present at this year’s Ag Progress Days. The event, “Fields of Opportunity: Starting Your Agritourism Journey,” will be held in the Red Barn Annex.
- August 13 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. More Information and Registration Here
On August 20, 2025, staff attorney Jackie Schweichler will join the Florida Agritourism Association for a webinar presentation on ADA Accessibility for Agritourism Operators.
- August 20 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm. More Information and Registration Here
Solar Law Symposium Virtual Live Webinar
Penn State Extension and the Penn State Center for Energy Law and Policy will host their fifth annual Penn State Solar Law Symposium, co-sponsored by Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law. Staff Attorney Brook Duer will co-present a session on the ethics of solar leasing as part of the program.
- August 21 @ 10:00 am – 4:45 pm. More Information and Registration Here
Understanding the Basics of Foreign Agricultural Land Ownership Laws
On Friday, August 22, 2025, from 12 noon–1:00 ET, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Agricultural Business Development Center (ABDC), will present the next webinar in the Understanding Agricultural Law Educational Series: “Understanding the Basics of Foreign Agricultural Land Ownership Laws”.
- August 22 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. More Information and Registration Here
2025 Pennsylvania Agricultural Law Symposium
On Thursday, September 18, 2025, the Center for Agricultural and Shale Law will host the 2025 Pennsylvania Agricultural Law Symposium in-person at Penn State Dickinson Law, Lewis Katz Building in University Park, Pa.
This day-long symposium will offer 1 ethics and 5 substantive PACLE credits for Pennsylvania-licensed attorneys. Lunch and refreshments provided!
- September 18th. More Information and Registration Here
Follow us on Twitter @AgShaleLaw to see the latest with our #ShaleLaw HotLinks
Connect with us on Facebook.
Penn State Farmland Energy Legal Podcast: Listen to the latest episode here.
Oil & Gas Law & Policy Resources:
Bibikos, At the Well Weekly (v.7.25.2025) (July 30, 2025)
Sartain, Texas Court Splits Family Timber Land Over Heir’s Objections (August 5, 2025)
Udell and Tan, New Standards in Government Framework Litigation: Legal Implications of the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change (August 5, 2025)
Mallen, Das, Hug, Coffman, Reiter, and Deathe , DC Circuit Embraces Seven County in FERC Pipeline Review Proceeding (August 6, 2025)
Witoonchart, Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal: A Primer (August 7, 2025)
Guarna, Sabin Center Submits Comment Letters on EPA’s Proposed Repeal of Power Plant GHG Emission Standards (August 8, 2025)
FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PRESS RELEASES
Energy Department Announces First Pilot Project for Advanced Nuclear Fuel Lines (August 4, 2025)
DOE Issues Final Non-FTA LNG Export Authorization for Additional Exports From the Venture Global Calcasieu Pass Project (August 4, 2025)
DOE Approves Fifth Loan Disbursement to Restart the Palisades Nuclear Plant (August 7, 2025)
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES
Boston Globe op-ed by Administrator Zeldin (August 5, 2025)
ICYMI: Administrator Zeldin in Boston Globe: Building the Constitution Pipeline is vital for New England’s grid stability (August 6, 2025)
EPA Celebrates Another 100 Days with 100 More Pro-Environmental Actions (August 7, 2025)
EPA Orders Companies to Comply with Clean Water Act at Residential Development in Rincón, Puerto Rico (August 7, 2025)
FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register August 4 – 11, 2025)
Environmental Protection Agency
90 FR 38144 Notice: “Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit” (August 7, 2025)
90 FR 38146 Notice: “Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System (“e-Manifest”) Advisory Board; Notice of Public Meeting” (August 7, 2025)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
90 FR 37485 Notice: “Rio Grande LNG, LLC; Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Rio Grande LNG Terminal and Rio Bravo Pipeline Project” (August 5, 2025)
90 FR 37485 Notice: “Texas LNG Brownsville LLC; Notice of Availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Texas LNG Project” (August 5, 2025)
90 FR 37851 Notice: “Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-542) Comment Request; Extension” (August 6, 2025)
Land Management Bureau
90 FR 36448 Notice: “Proposed Class II Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease NDM 105578, Williams County, ND” (August 4, 2025)
90 FR 37551 Notice: “Proposed Reinstatement of BLM New Mexico Terminated Oil and Gas Leases: NMNM 134884; NMNM 134885; NMNM 141886” (August 5, 2025)
Natural Resources Revenue Office
90 FR 37880 Notice: “Agency Information Collection Activities: Solid Minerals and Geothermal Collections” (August 6, 2025)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
90 FR 38429 Proposed Rule: “Pipeline Safety: Clarifying Recordkeeping Requirements for Testing in MAOP Reconfirmation Regulation” (August 8, 2025)
Safety and Environmental Enforcement Bureau
90 FR 38500 Notice: “Agency Information Collection Activities; Oil and Gas Well-Completion Operations” (August 8, 2025)
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Office
90 FR 36407 Proposed Rule: “Montana Regulatory Program” (August 4, 2025)
Ocean Energy Management Bureau
90 FR 37386 Rule: “Rescission of Renewable Energy Leasing Schedule” (August 5, 2025)
90 FR 37882 Notice: “Agency Information Collection Activities; Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and Sulfur” (August 6, 2025)
U.S. HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE
H.R.4875 “To amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to establish a framework for the beneficial use of coal combustion residuals, and for other purposes.” (Introduced August 5, 2025)
H.R.4880 “To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to clarify the requisite timeline for making a decision on the approval or disapproval of a State underground injection control program, and for other purposes.” (Introduced August 5, 2025)
STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE
PENNSYLVANIA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PRESS RELEASES
PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 55, No. 29 – July 19, 2025)
Department of Environmental Protection
55 Pa.B. 5768 Reissuance of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Stormwater Associated with Mining Activities
55 Pa.B. 5768 Household Hazardous Waste Education Grant Award under Section 901 of the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, Act 101 of 1988
Written by:
Benjamin Aronovitch, Research Assistant
Caden Dean-Sauter, Research Assistant
Jackie Schweichler, Staff Attorney
