Offshore Drilling: DOI Releases Plan for 34 Offshore Lease Sales Over 5 Year Period⚡
On November 14, 2025, the Department of the Interior released a Secretary’s Order titled, “Unleashing American Offshore Energy.” This order directs the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to terminate the 2024–2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which created 3 lease sales between 2024-2029. The newly proposed Order would include up to 34 separate lease sales, totaling over 1.27 billion acres, from 2026-2031. Twenty-one lease sales would take place off the coast of Alaska, 7 within the Gulf of Mexico, and 6 off the Pacific Coast, mostly off of California. This plan was released to further the goals of pervious executive orders, titled “Unleashing American Energy.” For more information on the Executive orders, see, SLWR—Feb. 3, 2025 “LNG Exports: Department of Energy Lifts LNG Export Pause; National Energy Policy: Executive Order Encourages Development of Energy Resources in Alaska.”

National Energy Policy: DOI Rescinds 2024 National Petroleum Reserve Protections
On November 17, 2025, the Department of the Interior (DOI) rescinded a 2024 rule governing the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The 2024 rule restricted development of oil and gas resources in the Alaska Petroleum Reserve. By rescinding the rule, the DOI aims to create more production opportunities in the Reserve, and “strengthen American energy security.” This comes 17 days after the Senate voted to overturn the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) regulation titled the “National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision.” For more information on the Senate vote, see, SLWR – Nov. 17, 2025 “Oil and Gas Leasing: Senate Votes to Overturn Biden-Era National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Restriction.” For more information on the Alaska Petroleum Reserve regulations, see, SLWR – June 30, 2025 “National Energy Policy: Department of Interior Proposes Rescission of 2024 Alaska Petroleum Reserve Regulations”

 

___________________________________________________

CENTER PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

Understanding the Clean Water Act & Ag: Biosolids & Food Processing Waste Land Application

On Friday, December 12, 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 webinarin 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 Clean Water Act & Ag: Biosolids & Food Processing Waste Land Application”

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, Beware When Buying Minerals After a Tax Suit Foreclosure (December 1, 2025)

Markowitz, Mitchell, Oelz, Petty, and Smith, Ring in 2026 With a Climate Reporting Reprieve (December 4, 2025)

FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PRESS RELEASES

 Energy Department Announces $134 Million in Funding to Strengthen Rare Earth Element Supply Chains, Advancing American Energy Independence (December 1, 2025)

Energy Department Selects TVA and Holtec to Advance Deployment of U.S. Small Modular Reactors (December 2, 2025)

Energy Department Releases National Petroleum Council Recommendations to Accelerate Permitting Reform and Strengthen U.S. Energy Infrastructure (December 3, 2025)

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

EPA Region 4 to Review Cleanups at 55 Southeast Superfund Sites in 2026   (December 4, 2025)

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register December 1–December 8 2025)

Environmental Protection Agency

90 FR 55681 Rule: “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing Facilities Technology Review” (December 3, 2025)

90 FR 55671 Rule: “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” (December 3, 2025)

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

90 FR 55098 Notice “Great Basin Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed 2026 Great Basin Expansion Project” (December 1, 2025)

Energy Department

90 FR 55722 Notice: “Removing Support for the National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building” (December 3, 2025)

90 FR 56138 Notice: “Request for Information (RFI) on Partnerships for Transformational Artificial Intelligence Models” (December 5, 2025)

Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Office

90 FR 55649 Rule: “West Virginia Regulatory Program” (December 3, 2025)

Other Agencies

90 FR 55621 Rule: “The Sunset Rule” (December 3, 2025)

U.S. HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE

H.R.3109 – REFINER Act. (Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources., December 1, 2025)

H.R.1949 – Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2025. (Received in the Senate, December 2, 2025)

H.R.3699 – Energy Choice Act. (Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 24 – 21, December 3, 2025)

H.R.6373 – To amend the Clean Air Act to establish authority for the President to waive the requirement for an advanced manufacturing facility or a critical mineral facility to offset increased emissions of any air pollutant, and for other purposes. (Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce., December 3, 2025)

H.R.6378 – To confirm and clarify the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s obligation to assess and mitigate the impacts to climate change and environmental justice communities from projects approved pursuant to the Natural Gas Act, and for other purposes. (Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce., December 3, 2025)

H.R.6409 – To amend the Clean Air Act to clarify standards for emissions emanating from outside of the United States, and for other purposes. (Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce., December 3, 2025)

U.S. SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE 

S.451 – Restoring State Mineral Revenues Act. (Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held, December 2, 2025)

S.2016 – Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025. (Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held, December 2, 2025)

S.3324 – A bill to confirm and clarify the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s obligation to assess and mitigate the impacts to climate change and environmental justice communities from projects approved pursuant to the Natural Gas Act, and for other purposes. (Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources., December 3, 2025)

S.3335 – A bill to reestablish the National Coal Council in the Department of Energy to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on matters relating to coal and the coal industry, and for other purposes. (Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources., December 3, 2025)

S.J.Res.91 – A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to “Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision”. (Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent, December 4, 2025)

STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE 

PENNSYLVANIA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PRESS RELEASES

Shapiro Administration and U.S. Steel Reach Agreement to Resolve Clean Streams Law Violations at Irvin Plant in Allegheny County (December 2, 2025)

PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 55, No. 46 – November 15, 2025)

Department of Environmental Protection

55 Pa.B. 8318: Availability of Draft Policy for Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Management for Earth Disturbance Associated with Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Processing or Treatment Operations or Transmission Facilities; Availability for Public Comment

 

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