Methane Emissions: EPA Extends Deadline for Compliance with Methane Emissions Limits
On December 3, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule, titled “Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review: Extension of Deadlines in Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources,” which extends the time in which oil and gas facilities have to comply with methane emission standards (40 CFR part 60, subparts OOOb, OOOc). In March of 2024, the previous administration set new source performance standards for oil and gas sources facilities. The new 2025 rule extends the compliance deadline by 13 months. The EPA further announced, in a press release, that this will save the oil and gas industry $750 million in compliance costs.

Federal Lands: BLM Approves Oil Exploration Project in Alaskan National Petroleum Reserve
On November 25, 2025, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved ConocoPhillips Alaska’s exploration and development project, taking place within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. (DOI-BLM-AK-R000-2026-0002-EA.)  The project aims to explore seismicity and conduct exploratory drilling and well plugging, along with reclaiming two existing wells. The BLM approved the project, reasoning that it would not “result in any undue or unnecessary environmental degradation of public lands.” Further, the project will not harm the populations of caribou and other furbearers and is not in conflict with any other resources. The project is scheduled to last one year.

Pipelines: NESE Project Advances Following New York and New Jersey Permit Approvals⚡
On November 7, 2025, Williams announced that it has obtained key federal water permits from New Jersey and New York regulators for its Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project, marking a major step toward moving the proposal forward. NESE project proposes the construction and operation of a 26-inch diameter natural gas pipeline extending from Pennsylvania through New Jersey and into New York waters, with offshore routing near the Rockaway Peninsula. The project includes approximately 23.5 miles of new underwater pipeline, of which about 17.4 miles would be located within New York State waters, and is designed to deliver up to 400,000 dekatherms per day of firm natural gas service to existing customers. The company announcement highlighted studies projecting job creation, tax revenue, and long-term economic effects linked to the proposed infrastructure.

State Regulation: EPA Approves Texas’ Request for Class VI Well Permitting Authority
On November 12, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule approving the State of Texas’ request for primary enforcement responsibility, known as primacy, over Class VI underground injection wells under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Class VI injection wells are designed specifically for the long-term geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide and are regulated to protect underground sources of drinking water. Underground Injection Control (UIC) primacy refers to the authority granted by the EPA to a state, territory, or Tribe to implement and enforce Underground Injection Control program requirements in place of direct federal administration. In this case, primacy was granted to the State of Texas, with regulatory responsibilities administered through the Railroad Commission of Texas under the state’s approved UIC program, rather than to the agency independently. Texas joins other states that have obtained primacy for certain well classes, as the EPA has approved UIC primacy programs for multiple well categories across numerous states and territories.

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CENTER PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

AgWorks: Staying Compliant with Anti-Discrimination Laws

Join us for the fourth webinar in the AgWorks law series to strengthen your workplace and protect your business by understanding how anti-discrimination laws shape employment practices.

For more than fifty years, federal and state laws have prohibited discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, age, disability, whistleblower status, and other protected categories, making compliance essential for every employer.

This session strives to equip you with knowledge and resources to assist you in managing your business confidently within the framework of the law and preparing for potential claims. You will also learn how enforcement works, which agencies are involved, and what proactive steps you can take to foster a fair and legally compliant workplace.

An optional second hour will offer the opportunity to ask legal questions and discuss real-world scenarios with experienced attorneys. Please note: The Ag Law Center provides educational support and resources only and does not offer legal representation.

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:

Sartain, A 1950 Deed CreatesTitle Chaos (December 9, 2025)

Hanawalt and Fitch, Climate Skeptics Rush to Misuse Texas v. BlackRock (December 11, 2025)

Murthy, Decommissioning Offshore Oil and Gas: A Conversation with Former Regulators (December 12, 2025)

Berchem, Mitchell, Markowitz, Harrison, and Kennedy, Speaking Sustainability – Legal & Regulatory Updates – November 2025 (December 12, 2025)

FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PRESS RELEASES

Energy Department Announces $11 Million in Awards to Develop HALEU Transportation Packages (December 8, 2025)

Energy Department Advances Investments in AI for Science (December 10, 2025)

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

EPA Enforces Clean Water Act to Protect Massachusetts Waters (December 9, 2025)

EPA Unveils Clean Air Act-Related Resource to Provide Transparency for Data Center Developers, Local Communities, Tribes (December 11, 2025)

EPA Selects Two Local Governments from Pennsylvania to receive $6 million in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Funding Grants (December 11, 2025)

EPA Selects Maui County to Receive Over $3.6 Million for First-Ever Waste Collection Centers in West Maui (December 12, 2025)

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register December 7–December 14 2025)

Environmental Protection Agency

EPA-R03-OW-2025-2004 Notice “Virginia-Waters of the Northern Neck Peninsula Vessel Sewage No-Discharge Zone; Tentative Affirmative Determination” (December 8, 2025)

Energy Department

90 FR 43539 Rule: “Rescinding Regulations for Loans for Minority Business Enterprises Seeking DOE Contracts and Assistance” (December 9, 2025)

Land Management Bureau

Rule Rule: “Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation; Extension of Phase-In Requirements” (December 15, 2025)

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

NOTICE Notice: “Pipeline Safety: Minimum Random Drug Testing Rate for Calendar Year 2026” (December 9, 2025)

Ocean Energy Management Bureau

CFR Correction? Rule: “Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf” (December 15, 2025)

Other Agencies

U.S. HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE

H.R.1949 – Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2025. (Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 286, December 8, 2025)

H.R.3620 – Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025 (Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 347., December 9, 2025)

H.R.3668 – Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act. (Rules Committee Resolution., December 9, 2025)

H.R.6529 – Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act. (Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce., December 9, 2025)

H.R.161 – New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act. (Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 12 – 11., December 10, 2025)

H.R.6696 – To provide for the establishment of a Critical Minerals Security Alliance, and for other purposes. (Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, December 12, 2025)

STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE 

PENNSYLVANIA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PRESS RELEASES

DEP Touts Clean Water Progress, Releases 2026 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (December 11, 2025)

Shapiro Administration Awards More Than $17 Million for Chesapeake Bay Watershed Conservation Projects (December 12, 2025)

PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 55, No. 50 – December 15, 2025)

Department of Environmental Protection

55 Pa.B. 8440: Planning Grant Awards 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