Oil and Gas Leasing: BLM Issues New Oil and Gas Leasing Definitions and Removes Fee Requirements 
On August 1, 2025, The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) finalized two rules to update its oil and gas leasing regulations, following the enactment of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBB). The first rule, Revision to Regulations Regarding Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing; General (90 FR 36117), includes statutory definitions of “available” and “eligible.” The BLM’s previous definition required lands to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in order to be considered “eligible.” The new definition of “eligible” removes that requirement. The second rule, Revision to Regulations Regarding Competitive Leases; Expression of Interest Process (90 FR 36118), removes the fee for submitting an “expression of interest” for oil and gas leasing, as the OBBB repealed the provision that required this fee. Both rules were issued as final without a public comment period, as the BLM determined they were “noncontroversial and of a minor, technical nature, involving no agency discretion.”
Environmental Impact Studies: FERC Issues Supplemental EIS for Texas LNG Project, Highlighting Environmental Justice Concerns
On July 31, 2025, The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced they have issued a final supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Texas LNG Project. This action addressed a remand from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which required further review of the project’s environmental impacts. The court had found that FERC’s initial review failed to meet the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) standards, and did not adequately address environmental justice concerns or the use of specific air quality data. The project, proposed by Texas LNG Brownsville, LLC, aims to construct and operate a natural gas liquefaction and export facility in Cameron County, Texas, with a capacity of up to 4 million tons per year. FERC staff concluded that the project would result in disproportionate and adverse impacts on communities with environmental justice concerns, particularly regarding cumulative visual impacts. While air quality impacts would also be disproportionate and adverse for these communities, staff determined them to be less than significant. The Commission will now use the findings of this supplemental EIS to inform its final decision on the project.
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CENTER PROGRAMS & RESOURCES
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
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Penn State Farmland Energy Legal Podcast: Listen to the latest episode here.
Oil & Gas Law & Policy Resources:
Wewerinke-Singh, Harmonizing Sources, Hardening Duties – Inside the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Climate Change (August 11, 2025)
Sartain, Oral Promises, Paper Truths in a Texas Mineral Transaction (August 12, 2025)
Tigre, Martini, Cohen and Rocha, A Panoply of Consequences? Remedies and Reparations in the ICJ’s Climate Opinion (August 13, 2025)
FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PRESS RELEASES
Department of Energy Announces Initial Selections for New Reactor Pilot Program (August 12, 2025)
Energy Department Announces Actions to Secure American Critical Minerals and Materials Supply Chain (August 13, 2025)
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES
EPA Region 2 Highlights Accomplishments Since April (August 11, 2025)
EPA Visit to Power Plant in Astoria Highlights Industry Efforts to Strengthen U.S. Energy Independence (August 11, 2025)
United Nuclear Corporation and General Electric to Perform $63 Million Cleanup of Uranium Mine Waste at Northeast Church Rock Mine in Navajo Nation (August 11, 2025)
At Iowa State Fair, EPA Administrator Zeldin Announces Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Fix (August 12, 2025)
EPA Announces Relaunch of Comprehensive Guidance Document Website, Advances Total Transparency of Trump Administration (August 13, 2025)
EPA Orders Archer Daniels Midland to Ensure Environmental Compliance of Carbon Sequestration Well in Decatur, Illinois (August 13, 2025)
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Leaders Throughout the Country Commend EPA’s Announcement on Diesel Exhaust Fluid (August 14, 2025)
FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register July 21 – 28, 2025)
Environmental Protection Agency
90 FR 38619 Proposed Rule: “North Dakota: Approval of State Coal Combustion Residuals Permit Program; Reopening of Comment Period” (August 11, 2025)
90 FR 38975 Notice: “Financial Assurance Guidance for the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024” (August 13, 2025)
90 FR 39132 Rule: “Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans; New York; Emission Statement Certification of the 2008 and 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards” (August 14, 2025)
Energy Department
90 FR 39187 Notice: “Notice of the Department of Energy Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) “Still Interested” Inquiry” (August 14, 2025)
Land Management Bureau
90 FR 38659 Notice: “Notice of Public Hearing and Request for Comments on the Fair Market Value and Maximum Economic Recovery for the Little Eccles Coal Lease by Application, UTU-92226, in Emery County, Utah” (August 11, 2025)
90 FR 38988 Notice: “Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed South Railroad Mine Project, Elko County, Nevada” (August 13, 2025)
90 FR 38987 Notice: “Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Leases in Las Animas and Weld Counties, CO” (August 13, 2025)
Natural Resources Revenue Office
90 FR 38938 Rule: “Offshore Distribution Cap Changes” (August 13, 2025)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
90 FR 39033 Notice: “Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities” (August 13, 2025)
Safety and Environmental Enforcement Bureau
90 FR 38662 Notice: “Agency Information Collection Activities; Open and Nondiscriminatory Access to Oil and Gas Pipelines Under the OCS Lands Act” (August 11, 2025)
90 FR 38935 Rule: “Offshore Downhole Commingling Regulatory Updates” (August 13, 2025)
90 FR 38705 Rule: “Rescission of Expired 1-Year Grace Period for Data Extensions” (August 12, 2025)
STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE
PENNSYLVANIA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PRESS RELEASES
DEP Declares Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Ozone for Tuesday August 12, 2025, in the Philadelphia Area (August 12, 2025)
(Pa. Bulletin Vol. 55, No. 29 – July 19, 2025)
Written by:
Benjamin Aronovitch, Research Assistant
Caden Dean-Sauter, Research Assistant
Jackie Schweichler, Staff Attorney
