2010

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EPA Encourages Consideration of Ocean Acidification in Clean Water Act Impairment Listings

The Energy Law Blog

By Carlos J. Moreno : On November 15, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a memorandum providing States with guidance on how to address ocean acidification in their Clean Water Act 303(d) impairment listings. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires States to list water bodies that will not meet Water Quality Standards, even after technology-based permit requirements are implemented.

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Louisiana Supreme Court Issues Opinion in Marin v. Exxon Mobil Corp.

The Energy Law Blog

By Michael A. Mahone, Jr. On October 19, 2010, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued its opinion in Marin v. Exxon Mobil Corp. , a “legacy” lawsuit involving damage to property located in St. Mary Parish caused by historical oil and gas operations. The 4-3 ruling authored by Justice Victory clarified the law applicable to these lawsuits in a number of significant ways.

2010 40
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Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal Reverses District Court’s Dismissal in Arsenic Land Damage Case

The Energy Law Blog

By Stephen Wiegand In David v. Mosaic Global Operations, (La. App. 3 Cir. 10/27/10), the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal reversed the dismissal of land contamination claims brought against the manufacturer of a tick-killing agent used on cattle. The plaintiffs were landowners who alleged that the product had contaminated their land and water with arsenic.

2010 40
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Texas Supreme Court Offers Exemplary Damage Guidance

The Energy Law Blog

Bennett v. Reynolds, No. 08-0074, 2010 WL 2541096 (Tex. June 25, 2010). By Natalie Barletta and Andrew Wooley In Bennett v. Reynolds the Supreme Court of Texas clarifies that the maximum ratio for exemplary to actual damages in Texas will rarely exceed 4 to 1 and that a defendant’s conduct generally, not just that specifically related to a tort, may be considered in gauging reprehensibility for federal due process purposes.

2010 40
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Manufacturing Sustainability Surge: Your Guide to Data-Driven Energy Optimization & Decarbonization

Speaker: Kevin Kai Wong, President of Emergent Energy Solutions

In today's industrial landscape, the pursuit of sustainable energy optimization and decarbonization has become paramount. Manufacturing corporations across the U.S. are facing the urgent need to align with decarbonization goals while enhancing efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, the lack of comprehensive energy data poses a significant challenge for manufacturing managers striving to meet their targets.

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Fifth Circuit Dismisses Appeal in Comer v. Murphy Oil USA, et al

The Energy Law Blog

By Michael A. Mahone, Jr. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently dismissed the appeal in Comer v. Murphy Oil USA et al. because of the lack of a quorum. The appeal had been taken from the Southern District of Mississippi and a panel of the Fifth Circuit ruled on the merits. The case was then “voted en banc by a duly constituted quorum of the court consisting of nine members in regular active service who [were] not disqualified.

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Texas Court Upholds Lease Cancellation for Failure to Pay Shut-In Payments To Proper Party

The Energy Law Blog

By Kevin Connolly: In Nitschke v. Circle Ridge Production, Inc. , No. 12-09-00150CV, __ S.W.3d _ (Tex. App.—Tyler 5/5/2010), the Tyler Court of Appeals upheld a trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect to the termination of an oil and gas lease for failure to pay shut-in royalty payments to the proper party. The case involved a dispute between the original lessee and a top lessee.

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Proposal Encourages Oil & Gas Exploration in South Louisiana

The Energy Law Blog

By Michael A. Mahone, Jr. The Louisiana Mineral and Energy Board is currently reviewing an incentive proposal that would offer a “royalty relief incentive” on new drilling leases along the Louisiana coast. Specifically, the proposal would offer royalties for a period of three years for wells drilled to a depth of fifteen thousand feet along the coastal zone.

2010 40
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EPA Announces January 2011 as Likely Date for Regulation of Greenhouse Gases Under PSD Program

The Energy Law Blog

By Stephen Wiegand EPA recently announced its position regarding the timing of the regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Program. A PSD permit is required before a new industrial facility can be built or an existing facility can be modified in a way that significantly increases pollutant emissions.

2011 40
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Texas Court Upholds Temporary Injunction, Finds Cash in Lieu of Bond Meets Statutory Requirements

The Energy Law Blog

By Marie Carlisle: The principle issue addressed in Adobe Oilfield Services v. Trilogy Operating, Inc. , No. 11-09-00162-CV (Tex. App.—Eastland January 29, 2010), involves the granting of a temporary injunction to prevent the filing of liens against oil wells. Trilogy entered into contracts with Adobe to drill six wells. Trilogy paid Adobe’s invoices for the first five wells, but was subsequently contacted by PNC Bank claiming a security interest in Adobe’s accounts receivables and a right to th

2010 40
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Houston Court Rejects Weighted Average Royalty Payment Calculations Under Lease Agreement

The Energy Law Blog

By Natalie Barletta : In Shell Oil Co. v. Ross , No. 01-08-00713-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] February 25, 2010, no pet. h.), Ross, a mineral interest owner, brought a breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and fraud action against natural gas lessee, Shell. Ross alleged that Shell failed to pay royalties in accordance with the lease agreement and that it fraudulently deprived him of royalties by making payments “based on an arbitrary amount even below the internal transfer pric

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Implementing D.E.J.I. Strategies in Energy, Environment, and Transportation

Speaker: Antoine M. Thompson, Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition

Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion (DEJI) policies, programs, and initiatives are critically important as we move forward with public and private sector climate and sustainability goals and plans. Underserved and socially, economically, and racially disadvantaged communities bear the burden of pollution, higher energy costs, limited resources, and limited investments in the clean energy and transportation sectors.

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Federal Judge Grants Motions to Dismiss Terrebonne Assessor’s Ad Valorem Tax Suits

The Energy Law Blog

By Kelly Becker Federal Judge Ginger Berrigan issued a comprehensive Order and Reasons addressing and granting a series of motions to dismiss filed by oil and gas company defendants, and individual executive officer defendants, all of which were pending in the consolidated federal court Bonvillain Terrebonne Parish ad valorem tax suits. The Court gave Assessor Bonvillain ten days to file amended complaints to cure, if he can, the number of deficiencies pointed out in the opinion.

2010 40
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Proposed EPA Rules Would Subject Oil and Gas Sources to Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The Energy Law Blog

By Stepehen Wiegand In October 2009, EPA promulgated the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule. This rule required reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from a number of large sources including suppliers of fossil fuels or industrial greenhouse gases, manufacturers of vehicles and engines, and certain facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more per year of greenhouse gas emissions.

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Office of Conservation Publishes Proposed Amendments to Statewide Order 29-B

The Energy Law Blog

In early 2010, the Louisiana Office of Conservation published in the Louisiana Register a Notice of Intent to amend Statewide Order 29-B, the regulation governing the storage, treatment, and disposal of exploration and production waste at oilfield sites. The proposed amendments provide specific procedures for the evaluation and remediation of groundwater conditions and potential sources that may have contributed to those conditions at oil and gas exploration and production sites.

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Courts as Battlefields in Climate Fights

The Energy Law Blog

By Elisabeth Lorio Baer Kivalina, Alaska, an Inupiat Eskimo village of 400 inhabitants perched on a barrier island north of the Arctic Circle, is bringing suit against two dozen fuel and utility companies, including ExxonMobil and Shell Oil, accusing them of helping to cause the climate change that it alleges is accelerating the island’s erosion. The village wants the companies to pay the costs of relocating to the mainland, which could amount to as much as $400 million.

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Shaping a Resilient Future: Climate Impact on Vulnerable Populations

Speaker: Laurie Schoeman Director, Climate & Sustainability, Capital

As households and communities across the nation face challenges such as hurricanes, wildfires, drought, extreme heat and cold, and thawing permafrost and flooding, we are increasingly searching for ways to mitigate and prevent climate impacts. During this event, national climate and housing expert Laurie Schoeman will discuss topics including: The two paths for climate action: decarbonization and adaptation.

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Federal Court Remands Mineral Lease Dispute for Lack of Evidence of Amount in Controversy

The Energy Law Blog

By Emma J. Hinnigan In Sullivan v. Chesapeake Louisiana, L.P., 09-0579, 2009 WL 3735798 (W.D. La. Nov. 6, 2009), the Western District of Louisiana remanded a case seeking rescission of a mineral lease back to state court after the defendant failed to provide proof of the amount in controversy, namely the total value of the lease. The Sullivan plaintiff filed suit in state court seeking rescission, alleging that (1) the bonus payment was paid untimely, and (2) the defendant had violated Louisiana

2009 40
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Fifth Circuit Considers Gas Price Manipulation Allegations

The Energy Law Blog

By Michael A. Mahone, Jr. In U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. Dizona, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently considered allegations by the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission that a natural gas trader had attempted to manipulate the price of natural gas by knowingly delivering false and inaccurate price and volume data to reporting services.

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EPA Issues Final Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding

The Energy Law Blog

By Stephen Wiegand On December 15, 2009, EPA published in the Federal Register its final endangerment findings with respect to greenhouse gases. See 74 Fed. Reg. 66496 (Dec. 15, 2009) [[link] This rulemaking is a response to Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007), in which the Supreme Court held that greenhouse gases were “pollutants” under the Clean Air Act and ordered EPA to determine whether greenhouse gases “may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare” under Section

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Secretary of Interior Announces Reform in Nation’s Oil and Gas Development Policy

The Energy Law Blog

By Matthew Simone On January 6, 2010, the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, announced plans to reform the nation’s policy on oil and gas development in an effort to shift from the Bush Administration’s “anywhere, anyhow” policy. The goals of this reform are to improve environmental protection and to reduce costly litigation and protests. Under the reformed policy, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will provide more detailed environmental review prior to leasing oil and natural gas resour

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Sustainability at Retail

Sustainability impacts every nation, company, and person around the world. So much so that, in 2015, the United Nations (UN) issued a call for action by all countries to work toward sustainable development. In response to this and as part of a global Sustainability at Retail initiative, Shop! worked collaboratively with its global affiliates to address these critical issues in this white paper.

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EPA Releases Final Rule Requiring Oil and Gas Sources to Report Emissions of Greenhouse Gases

The Energy Law Blog

By Carlos J. Moreno On November 8, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Subpart W rule to cover petroleum and natural gas facilities under the agency’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program. The original Subpart W rule for petroleum and natural gas facilities was proposed in March 2010. The industry segments covered by the rule are: offshore petroleum and natural gas production; onshore petroleum and natural gas production; onshore natural gas processing; onsh