A previously abandoned natural gas pipeline exploded in Seattle, Washington on March 9, 2016, injuring nine firefighters, destroyed two buildings, and damaged multiple nearby structures. The entity responsible for regulating intrastate and interstate gas pipelines in the state, the Washington
PipelineLaw
Connecting you to the flow of latest news and industry information
PipelineLaw, published by Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, focuses on legal developments and regulatory issues related to energy infrastructure, particularly pipelines. The blog covers topics such as federal eminent domain authority under the Natural Gas Act, state and federal regulatory enforcement actions, and the intersection of energy policy with environmental and climate change goals. It addresses litigation and administrative proceedings involving pipeline projects, including Supreme Court cases and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) enforcement reports. The blog also discusses state-level investigations and policy shifts affecting natural gas distribution and energy transition strategies, providing insights into the evolving legal landscape for energy companies and regulators.
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Emergency Order Interim Regulations Released
Taking the first step to implement its new emergency order authority, PHMSA has issued an interim final rule which will be effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register. Final rules must be issued by March 19, 2017, but PHMSA…
Critical Energy Infrastructure Remains Just That: Critical
The recent shut-down of Colonial Pipeline Company’s Line 1 in Alabama should remind the public and the government just how critical oil and gas pipelines are to America’s energy supply needs.…
Standing Rock Dispute Presents Issues Unique to Indian Country
Since the Administration denied a Presidential (border crossing) Permit to the Keystone XL Project in 2015, a number of regional, state or local objections to new pipeline construction projects have emerged around the U.S. Most of the protests have continued…
Pipe Subject to Safety Regulations Until Formally Abandoned: PHMSA Advisory
PHMSA issued an advisory to operators regarding the applicability of its safety regulations to idled, inactive and abandoned pipe. Congress directed PHMSA to issue such an advisory in the recent PIPES Act of 2016, in response to several high profile…
Federal Appellate Review of State Agency Decisions for Interstate Natural Gas Projects Confirmed
The Third Circuit held in a highly anticipated recent decision that state actions on water quality-related permits for interstate natural gas pipeline projects are reviewable only in the federal Circuit Courts of Appeals, in accordance with the Natural Gas Act…
Constitution Pipeline Cases Reflect Tension in States’ Roles in Permitting Natural Gas Projects
Recent developments in cases brought by Constitution Pipeline Company to challenge New York’s denial of certain water quality authorizations highlight tensions between federal and state oversight of interstate natural gas pipeline construction projects, and the accompanying potential for costly and…
House Bill Reflects Ongoing Resistance to New Pipeline Construction
Recently proposed legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives would require FERC to revise its review process for proposed natural gas pipeline expansion projects to include additional analysis of cumulative impacts in a single region or State and extended environmental…
Agencies Continue Planning for Regulation of Underground Gas Storage
In response to the Aliso Canyon leak from an underground natural gas storage well that lasted nearly four months, federal agencies with oversight of over such facilities announced workshops to gather information and solicit input on forthcoming minimum safety regulations.…
Advisory Bulletin Warns About Corrosion Under Insulation
A recent PHMSA Advisory Bulletin warns the pipeline industry about Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI), which is frequently used on pipe transporting heavy crude oil. Such products are often heated for more efficient transport, thus the pipe is wrapped with foam…