Pipelines: FERC Reissues Transco’s Permit to Construct Northeast Supply Enhancement Project ⚡
On August 28, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company’s (Transco) petition to construct and operate a pipeline system expansion in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. In 2019, FERC issued Transco a certificate of public convenience and necessity, which allowed them to construct the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project. However, the authorization was contingent on Transco placing the project into service by May of 2021. Due to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection denying Transco’s water quality certification application, that contingency was not met. In March 2021, Transco requested and received an extension of time, and again in 2024. In 2024, Transco made known its plan to let the project expire. However, in May 2025, Transco requested reissuance of the certificate. FERC granted the certificate, reasoning that Transco showed the need for the project, and that the project would not have an adverse impact on communities, land, or infrastructure.

LNG Exports: Final DOE Authorization Clears Path for Commonwealth LNG Project in Louisiana
On September 2, 2025, Commonwealth LNG announced they received final approval from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to export liquefied natural gas to countries without free trade agreements with the United States. This authorization follows earlier regulatory steps, including a conditional DOE approval and a final construction order from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). With these approvals complete, Commonwealth LNG is preparing to make a final investment decision by the end of 2025 and aims to begin production in 2029. The first phase of the project is anticipated to bring substantial economic activity to Louisiana, including billions in investment and export revenue. According to Commonwealth LNG, they expect approximately 2,000 construction jobs and 275 permanent roles once operations begin.

 

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CENTER PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

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!

Understanding the Basics of U.S. Grain Dealer Statutes

On Friday, September 26, 2025, from 12 noon–1:00 pm 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, a course designed to develop subject matter literacy and competence on fundamental issues of agricultural law for attorneys and business advisors who work with or represent agricultural or rural clients but may not necessarily specialize in agricultural law.

Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar 3rd Quarter 2025

On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, from noon–1:00pm ET, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law will conduct the latest installment in its Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar Series.  Each quarter’s free one-hour webinar covers the legal and regulatory developments in the U.S. dairy industry from the preceding quarter andincludes an in-depth look at a single focus topic of law, regulation, or government policy of interest to dairy professionals of all kinds.

Understanding the Basics of Pennsylvania’s Seasonal Farm Labor Law

On Friday, October 24, 2025, from 12 noon–1:00 pm 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, a course designed to develop subject matter literacy and competence on fundamental issues of agricultural law for attorneys and business advisors who work with or represent agricultural or rural clients but may not necessarily specialize in agricultural law:

“Understanding the Basics of Pennsylvania’s Seasonal Farm Labor Law”

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:

Berchem, Harrison, Kennedy, and Mitchell, Speaking Sustainability – Legal & Regulatory Updates | August 2025 (September 5, 2025)

Hug, Mallen, Treanor, Reiter, Coffman, Das, and Velasco, Senate Considers Swett and LaCerte Nominations to be FERC Commissioners Amid Reliability and Independence Debates (September 8, 2025)

Sartain, Tracing Fails to Establish that Texas Mineral Interests Were Separate Property (September 9, 2025)

Mallen, Hug, Reiter, Das, Coffman, DOE Secretary Uses Rarely Invoked Statutory Authority to Seek Rescission of FERC’s Draft Pipeline Certificate Policy (September 9, 2025)

Marandi and Schönberger, A Right to Defend the Environment: Legal Protection for Environmental Advocacy in the IACtHR’s Climate Advisory Opinion (September 9, 2025)

Mitchell, Markowitz, Oelz, Petty, and Smith, CARB Publishes Draft Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosure Checklist (September 10, 2025)

Foster and Belcher, International Law’s Administrative Law Turn and the Paris Agreement (September 11, 2025)

FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PRESS RELEASES

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on DOE’s Continued Commitment to Environmental Cleanup Efforts (September 9, 2025)

Energy Department Announces $134 Million to Advance U.S. Fusion Leadership Through Targeted Research (September 10, 2025)

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

EPA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Carbon Storage Permit for Company in Putnam County, Illinois (September 8, 2025)

EPA Begins Hazardous Substances Removal from Former Omni Polymers Facility in Toledo, Ohio (September 9, 2025)

EPA Announces Permitting Reform to Provide Clarity, Expedite Construction of Essential Power Generation, Reshore Manufacturing (September 9, 2025)

EPA Grants Arizona Primacy to Protect Underground Water Resources (September 10, 2025)

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register August 23–30, 2025)

Environmental Protection Agency

90 FR 43988 Proposed Rule: “Proposed Deletion From the National Priorities List” (September 11, 2025)

90 FR 43921 Rule: “Hazardous Waste Management System; Identification and Listing of Hazardous Waste; Final Rule; Correction” (September 11, 2025)

Energy Department

90 FR 43367 Rule: “Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps” (September 9, 2025)

90 FR 43539 Rule: “Rescinding Regulations for Loans for Minority Business Enterprises Seeking DOE Contracts and Assistance” (September 10, 2025)

90 FR 43905 Rule: “Application for Presidential Permit Authorizing the Construction, Connection, Operation, and Maintenance of Facilities for Transmission of Electric Energy at International Boundaries” (September 11, 2025)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

90 FR 43419 Notice: “Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management and Ecosystem Restoration Project, Orange County, TX” (September 9, 2025)

Land Management Bureau

90 FR 43990 Proposed Rule: “Rescission of Conservation and Landscape Health Rule” (September 11, 2025)

Susquehanna River Basin Commission

90 FR 44284 Notice: “Grandfathering Registration Notice” (September 12, 2025)

Safety and Environmental Enforcement Bureau

90 FR 44147 Rule: “Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf-Civil Penalty Inflation Adjustment” (September 12, 2025)

U.S. HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE

H.R.3592 – Protect LNG Act of 2025 (Introduced September 10, 2025)

H.R.1949 – Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2025. (Placed on the Union Calendar September 11, 2025)

H.R.3617 – Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act. (Placed on the Union Calendar September 11, 2025)

H.R.5301 – To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced safety in pipeline transportation, and for other purposes. (Introduced September 11, 2025)

U.S. SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE 

S.2753 A bill to amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to authorize certain extraordinary operation and maintenance work for urban canals of concern. (Introduced September 10, 2025)

STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE 

PENNSYLVANIA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PRESS RELEASES

Standing Up for Pennsylvania Miners: Shapiro Administration Calls on Trump Administration to Keep Pittsburgh Research Lab Open, Protect Thousands of Jobs (September 5, 2025)

DEP Provides an Update on the Upper Makefield Pipeline Cleanup Efforts to Community (September 11, 2025)

PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 55, No. 37 – September 13, 2025)

Department of Environmental Protection

55 Pa.B. 6636: State Water Plan—Regional and Statewide Water Resources Committee Meetings

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

55 Pa.B. 6651: Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement v. Peoples Natural Gas Company, LLC

 

Written by:
Benjamin Aronovitch, Research Assistant
Caden Dean-Sauter, Research Assistant
Jackie Schweichler, Staff Attorney