State Regulation: PA DEP Accepting Bids to Plug Orphaned Wells ⚡
On Saturday, August 23, 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection published a notice about plugging abandoned wells. Currently, there are seven orphaned wells identified, located in Smith, North Strabane, North Franklin and Canton Townships and Washington County. The wells are anticipated to be between 1,000 and 3,400 feet in depth, and the winner of the bid will be responsible for cleaning and plugging the wells. Bidding will open on September 18, 20205.

Wastewater Disposal: Notices of Violation Issued for Failure to Report Waste Disposal from Oil Wells in Pennsylvania
On August 12, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued notices of violation to eight conventional oil and gas well owners for failing to report proper disposal of waste from 133 drill sites in four Pennsylvania counties. In Pennsylvania, reporting is mandatory within 60 days after site restoration and must include detailed information on waste disposal methods, testing results, pit construction, and waste handling. The required reports cover specifics such as dates, chemical test outcomes, disposal or reuse methods, and identification of waste haulers and facilities. Each violation notice lists the affected wells and instructs owners to provide the missing information within 14 days. Each of the notices of violation (NOV) can be found below.

  • NOV: CNX Gas Company re 50 oil and gas wells in Green, Washington counties.
  • NOV, NOV: CNX Gas Company, LLC: 50 oil and gas wells in Greene, Washington counties.
  • NOV: Consol PA Coal Company LLC: 31 oil and gas wells in Greene, Washington counties.
  • NOV: Leatherwood LLC: 31 oil and gas wells in Greene, Washington counties
  • NOV, NOV: Equitrans LP [now EQT]: 6 oil and gas wells in Greene County.
  • NOV: Snyder Bros. Inc.: 6 oil and gas wells in Westmoreland County.
  • NOV: Consol Gas Company: 4 oil and gas wells in Greene, Washington counties.
  • NOV: Peoples Natural Gas Co LLC: 3 oil and gas wells in Allegheny County.
  • NOV, NOV: EQT Production Co: 2 oil and gas wells in Allegheny, Greene counties.

Pipelines: North Dakota Industrial Commission Authorizes New Gas Pipeline Development
On August 21, 2025, the North Dakota Industrial Commission issued a press release, where they authorized the North Dakota Pipeline Authority to begin contract negotiations with WBI Energy Transmission for purchasing transport capacity in a natural gas pipeline. According to the Industrial Commission, this step is essential to advancing the construction of pipeline infrastructure within North Dakota. The Commission emphasized the project’s role in delivering natural gas to consumers and supporting the state’s oil production economy. Pipeline Authority Executive Director Justin Kringstad noted the initiative’s importance in expanding infrastructure to meet growing natural gas production and market demands. The Commission, which includes Governor Kelly Armstrong, Attorney General Drew Wrigley, and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, operates under Senate Bill 2014 of the 69th Legislative Assembly, therefore allowing it to fund pipeline capacity purchases with up to $100 million every two years.

Air Quality: New Study Examines the Connection Between Air Pollution Caused by Oil and Gas Activity and Disparate Health Impacts in the U.S.
On August 22, 2025, a study was published in Science Advances, examining the connection between pollution caused by the oil and gas industry and human health, along with racial-ethnic disparities. Karn Vohra, Eloise A. Marais, Ploy Achakulwisut, Susan Anenberg and Colin Harkins, The health burden and racial-ethnic disparities of air pollution from the major oil and gas lifecycle stages in the United States, Science Advances, Aug. 22, 2025. The study was conducted by examining the oil and gas industry at various stages: Upstream (exploration and extraction); midstream (storage and transmission); downstream (refining, etc.); and end-use (consumption). These stages and the pollutants expelled (CO, NOx, SO2, CH4, Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, Benzene, OC and BC) were then compared with health conditions commonly associated with the various stages, and the disparities amongst different racial and ethnic groups. The study determined that in 2017, 91,000 were attributable to fine particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone. According to the results, the largest disparity in health effects (including premature deaths) occurs amongst Black and Asian populations, who are more exposed to PM and ozone, while just Asian populations are disparately exposed to NO2 and other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). The asthma incidences linked to NO2 and cancer incidences linked to HAPs share the same pattern as the other pollutants, with racial and ethnic minorities being more impacted.

 

___________________________________________________

CENTER PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

“Immigration and Farm Workers: Employer Rights and Responsibilities,” Audry Thompson Presents at American Association of Bovine Practitioners Conference

On Friday, September 12, 2025, from 11:30am–12:15pm, staff attorney Audry Thompson will present “Immigration and Farm Workers: Employer Rights and Responsibilities.”

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.

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:

Nolette, Supreme Court Signals Challenges to Federal Grant Terminations are Contract Disputes (September 2, 2025)

Granoff, Reviewing Energy Transition Ratios: the Reliable, Revealing, and Risky (September 3, 2025)

Voigt, “Doing the utmost”: Due diligence as the standard of conduct in international climate law (September 3, 2025)

Guarna, Court of Appeals Sets Aside Preliminary Injunction in GGRF Litigation (September 4, 2025)

Mallen, Hug, Reiter, Das, Coffman, DOE Secretary Uses Rarely Invoked Statutory Authority to Seek Rescission of FERC’s Draft Pipeline Certificate Policy (September 5, 2025)

Sartain, Department of the Interior Fails to Give Fair Notice of its Administrative Action (September 5, 2025)

FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PRESS RELEASES

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

ICYMI: Cowboy State Daily: Empowering Local Expertise and Streamlining Wyoming’s Path to Responsible Coal Residuals Management (September 2, 2025)

EPA Releases Statement Following Favorable D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling (September 2, 2025)

ICYMI: Administrator Zeldin in Breitbart: EPA is Protecting America’s Workers and the Environment (September 3, 2025)

EPA announces a total of $337 million to North Carolina for water infrastructure resiliency and repair of environmental damage from Hurricane Helene (September 3, 2025)

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

Environmental Protection Agency

90 FR 42323 Rule: “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the Polyether Polyols Production Industry: Removal of Affirmative Defense” (September 2, 2025)

90 FR 42347 Proposed Rule: “Wyoming: Approval of State Coal Combustion Residuals Permit Program” (September 2, 2025)

90 FR 42850 Rule: “Massachusetts: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revisions” (September 5, 2025)

Energy Department

90 FR 42544 Proposed Rule: “Public Input on Energy Conservation Standards for Manufactured Housing” (September 3, 2025)

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

90 FR 43025 Notice: “Hazardous Materials: Notice of Actions on Special Permits” (September 5, 2025)

U.S. HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE

H.R.5141 – To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require States to consider measures that limit the amount of retail utility rate increases a utility company can request to once every 365 days. (Introduced September 4, 2025)

H.R.5151 – To reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes. (Introduced September 4, 2025)

U.S. SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE 

PN26-48 — Timothy John Walsh — Department of Energy (September 2, 2025)

PN246-15 — Laura Swett — Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (September 4, 2025)

PN416-7 — David LaCerte — Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (September 4, 2025)

STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE 

PENNSYLVANIA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PRESS RELEASES

Shapiro Administration Requires Plastic Manufacturer to Pay $2.6 Million for Environmental Pollution in Beaver County (September 3, 2025)

Shapiro Administration Awards Over $5.2 Million to Clean Up Abandoned Mine Lands, Keep Pennsylvanians Safe While Supporting Local Jobs (September 4, 2025)

PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 55, No. 36 – September 6, 2025)

Department of Environmental Protection

55 Pa.B. 6509: Environmental Assessment Approvals for PENNVEST Funding Consideration

 

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