National Energy Policy: Bureau of Land Management Rescinds Environmental Impact Statement Requirement 
On April 11, 2025, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rescinded its notice which had required seven states to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for various oil and gas operations. The seven states affected are Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South
Latest from Penn State Law Center for Agricultural and Shale Law - Page 8
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—April 15, 2025
Today! Apr. 15 at Noon: Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar—Bovine Disease Controls
Pesticides/Herbicides: Monsanto Files Petition for Certiorari Seeking FIFRA Preemption in Glyphosate Cases 
On April 4, 2025, Monsanto filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court of the United States, asking the court to decide whether the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of April 14, 2025
Oil and Gas Leasing: Pennsylvania Superior Court Upholds Choice of Forum Clause in Lease 
On March 20, 2025, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania ruled that the language of an oil and gas lease reserved the choice of forum decision to the lessor. Golden Eagle Res. II LLC v. EQT Prod. Co., Nos. 261 WDA 2024,
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—April 8, 2025
Next Week: Apr. 15, 2025, Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar—Bovine Disease Controls: Federal and PA Laws & Regulations
Agribusiness: FinCEN Publishes Interim Final Rule Limiting BOI Reporting Requirement to Foreign Companies 
On March 26, 2025, the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) published in the Federal Register an interim final rule (90 FR
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of April 7, 2025
Environmental Impact Studies: Penn State Research Shows Environmental Benefits from Reusing Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells 
On February 28, 2025, a research article was published in the Journal of Energy Storage titled Underground energy storage using abandoned oil & gas wells assisted by geothermal. The authors explore the potential for abandoned oil and gas
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—April 1, 2025
WOTUS: EPA Publishes Rule Requesting Recommendations for WOTUS definition 
On March 24, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army published in the Federal Register a proposed rule (90 FR 13428) announcing listening sessions and seeking stakeholder comment on “implementation of the definition of ‘waters of the
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of March 31, 2025
Water Quality: Bucks County Attorney General’s Office Announces Investigation into Sunoco Pipeline Leak 
On March 11, 2025, the Bucks County Assistant District Attorney Edward Louka announced during a town meeting that the Attorney General’s office would be investigating leaks from a Sunoco pipeline in Upper Makefield, PA. The pipeline leak was confirmed by a Pennsylvania
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—March 26, 2025
This Week: Fri. Mar. 28, 2025, Understanding the Basics of the Clean Water Act & Ag: Impaired Waters & TMDL Process
National Agricultural Policy: USDA Announces $10 Billion for Direct ECAP Payments 
On March 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced (PDF) that the agency “is issuing up to $10 billion
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of March 24, 2025
Methane Emissions: Congress Votes to Eliminate November 2024 Waste Emissions Rule 
On March 4, 2025, Congress presented to the President H.J.Res.35, which is a joint resolution which would eliminate the rule, “Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions” (89 FR 91094). This
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—March 18, 2025
Regulatory Policy: Ninth Circuit Upholds Preliminary Injunction Ordering Reinstatement of USDA, Federal Employees 
On March 17, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an order denying an administrative stay and upholding the district court’s preliminary injunction, which ordered the reinstatement of probationary employees at several federal agencies, including the U.S.