Oil and Gas Leasing: Lawsuit Filed Challenging Federal Leasing Sales
On June 28, 2022, several conservation groups filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s approval of the sale of 173 oil and gas leasing parcels. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the
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Agricultural Law Weekly Review—Week Ending June 24, 2022
Pesticides/Herbicides: U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Bayer RoundUp Verdict Appeal
On June 21, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the August 16, 2021 Petition For Certiorari filed by Bayer (purchaser of Monsanto’s glyphosate-containing RoundUp product line and successor to its product liabilities) seeking to appeal the May 14, 2021, decision of the Ninth Circuit
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—Week Ending June 17, 2022
Animal Welfare: U.S. Solicitor General Argues Proposition 12 is Unconstitutional
On June 17, 2022, the U.S. Solicitor General filed an Amicus Curiae Brief in the case of National Pork Producers Council, et al. v. Ross, et al., No 21-468, currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court setting forth the position of the United States
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of June 27, 2022
Oil and Gas Regulations: Act Establishing Oil and Gas Well Plugging Grant Program Passes PA House
On June 20, 2022, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed HB 2644, which would amend Title 58 (Oil and Gas). The bill would establish and allocate funds to the Orphan Well Plugging Grant Program, a program receiving applications, approving
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of June 20, 2022
Air Quality: PA DEP Releases Rulemaking Proposal for VOC Emissions
On June 14, 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection held a meeting and released a Final Rulemaking regarding volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. It affects the following VOC sources, “storage vessels; natural gas-driven continuous bleed pneumatic controllers; natural gas-driven diaphragm pumps; reciprocating and centrifugal
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—Week Ending June 10, 2022
Avian Influenza: New Commercial HPAI Detections Plummet Nationally
As of June 13, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)’s HPAI 2022 Confirmed Detections database confirmed a total of 369 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detections in 36 states (186 commercial flocks and 183 backyard flocks), resulting in 40.09
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of June 13, 2022
Hydraulic Fracturing: Ninth Circuit Grants Summary Judgment Against Federal Agencies in Offshore Drilling Case 
On June 3, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a grant of summary judgment to environmental groups, the State of California, and the California Coastal Commission (together, “plaintiffs”) in their lawsuit against federal agencies including the
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of June 6, 2022
Municipal Regulation: PA Senate Bill on Utility Regulation Proceeds to House for Consideration 
On May 25, 2022, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Local Government Committee approved SB 275 for full consideration by the House. SB 275 would amend Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and prohibit municipalities from adopting restrictions against or discriminating
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—Week Ending June 3, 2022
Avian Influenza: New Commercial HPAI Detections Plummet Nationally
As of June 13, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)’s HPAI 2022 Confirmed Detections database confirmed a total of 369 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detections in 36 states (186 commercial flocks and 183 backyard flocks), resulting in 40.09
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of May 30, 2022
Pipelines: PHMSA Announces New Rulemaking for Carbon Dioxide Pipelines
On May 26, 2022, the U.S. Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced a new rulemaking to update standards for carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines. Additional new measures include an updated nationwide advisory bulletin and research solicitations to strengthen current pipeline safety. According to PHMSA, this