The reaction to and analysis of the recent decision (pdf) issued by Judge Paul Grewal in Center for Biological Diversity v. Bureau of Land Management has been extensive and fascinating. While the decision will impede the ability of oil and gas operators to conduct hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, operations on certain federal lands in California, […]
On April 15, 2013, four bills that would regulate hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in California received passing votes in the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources. We previously summarized each of the four bills under consideration – AB 7 (Wieckowski), AB 288 (Levine), AB 669 (Stone), and AB 982 (Williams). Since that summary, Assembly Member Wieckowski substantially […]
On April 4, 2013, California’s Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Board) issued an investigative enforcement order to Vintage Production California (Vintage) arising out of allegations of improper disposal of fluids from hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” The order (pdf) arises out of an October 6, 2012, video recently posted to YouTube. The video (below) […]
In a hearing conducted today, Senator Fran Pavley’s comprehensive fracking bill, SB 4 (pdf), survived its first test before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water. The bill received a favorable 6-2 vote (Democrats Pavley, Evans, Hueso, Jackson, Monning, and Wolk in favor, Republicans Cannella and Fuller opposed) and will now move to the […]
On April 5, 2013, California’s Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) announced two additional stakeholder workshops to seek input on the “discussion draft” of proposed regulations (pdf) on hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” Having already conducted such workshops in Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and Sacramento, DOGGR will now conduct workshops in Santa Barbara and Monterey […]
The California legislature has been very active in the current session in proposing legislation that would regulate, directly or indirectly, the oil well stimulation technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” We have previously reported on certain of the bills pending in the current session. (See here and here.) The level of legislative activity in […]
On February 27, 2013, California’s Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) announced the second in a series of at least three stakeholder workshops to seek input on the “discussion draft” of proposed regulations (pdf) on hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” The workshop, which is designed to receive input from industry, the environmental community, other regulators, […]
Two new bills have been introduced in California to regulate the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in the state. The first bill, Senate Bill 395 (pdf), was introduced on February 20, 2013, by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, a Democrat representing Senate District 19. The bill would add two sections to California’s Health and Safety Code […]
Hinson Gravelle & Adair LLP attorney Eric Adair will speak at the 2013 California Water Law & Policy Conference, scheduled for April 22-23 at the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. Mr. Adair’s presentation — “Hydraulic Fracturing in California: Energy Boom or Environmental Calamity?” — will begin at 8:45 a.m. on April 23 and will address, among […]
Two important events will take place over the next ten days in California’s ongoing efforts to regulate the oil and gas well production stimulation technique of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” First, on Tuesday, February 12, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water and the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality will meet in joint session to […]