On January 31, 2018, in proceedings to condemn easements for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project, the US District Court for the Western District of Virginia ruled that the pipeline company’s preliminary injunction motions for pretrial possession of the easements would
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.
Latest from PipelineLaw - Page 7
FERC Rules on State Waiver of Section 401 Water Quality Certification
On January 11, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) denied Constitution Pipeline Company, LLC’s Petition for a Declaratory Order that New York had waived its ability to act under section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) by failing…
FERC to Review Natural Gas Pipeline Certification Policies in the New Year
By Clare Ellis
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the Commission) announced last month that it will review its policies governing the certification process for natural gas pipelines. The announcement was made by FERC Chairman Kevin J. McIntyre on December 21, 2017,…
Insurance Mitigates Cyber-Related Risk
In today’s interconnected society, cyber breaches are inevitable. As the saying goes, it is not a matter of if, but when, an organization will be breached. This is particularly true for businesses in the energy sector, which is one of…
Senate Confirms Susan Parker Bodine as New Head of EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance Office
As reported in The Nickel Report, on Thursday, the Senate confirmed Susan Parker Bodine as the Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (“OECA”). OECA, the chief enforcement arm of EPA, coordinates the…
Legislators Request Action on Pipeline Infrastructure Attacks, and DOJ Responds
By Clare Ellis
After a string of highly publicized attacks on energy pipelines in different areas of the country, several Congressmen addressed a letter to US Attorney General Jeff Sessions last month, asking that the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) respond to…
Recently Confirmed FERC and PHMSA Leaders Push Forward Pipeline Projects and Bring Renewed Focus to Pipeline Safety
By Clare Ellis & Sarah Quiter
Recent months have seen the appointment and confirmation of top posts in key pipeline regulatory agencies, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). While developments are generally good news for the pipeline…
Federal Judge Declines to Shut Down Dakota Access Pipeline While Corps Corrects Errors in Environmental Review
Once large infrastructure projects, such as oil and natural gas pipelines, receive federal government approval, they are often the target of legal challenges from opposition groups. Opponents repeatedly argue that the environmental review, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act…
FERC: Water Quality Certification Waiver Period for Pipeline Projects Begins Upon Receipt of a Written Request for Certification
By Clare Ellis
On September 15, 2017, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the Commission) issued an order in which it concluded that delays by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC or the Department) in processing Millennium Pipeline Company’s application…
Second Circuit Upholds State Veto of Constitution Pipeline Project Via Denial of Water Quality Certification
By Clare Ellis
As previously reported on PipelineLaw, the ongoing controversy over an April 2016 decision by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC or the Department) to deny a Clean Water Act (CWA) water quality certification to Constitution Pipeline Company (Constitution…