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Inflation Reduction Act
Advisory Committee Meetings May Add Insight to Policy Priorities
Oil and gas pipeline technical advisory committee meetings will be held on December 13-15 in Washington, D.C. The agenda covers updates on PHMSA pipeline safety programs and policy issues. The oil and gas peer review committees, comprised of federal and...
Congress and DOJ Consider Existing Protections as Pipeline Sabotage Increases
In response to questions from lawmakers on whether federal law adequately provides for the prosecution of “criminal activity against infrastructure,” the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently committed to “vigorously” prosecute those who damage “critical energy infrastructure in violation of federal...
Deregulation at DOT: Direction Unknown
A year ago, the oil and natural gas industry was preparing comments and responses to several expansive proposed rules issued by the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). With the advent of the Trump Administration...
The Lobby Shop: Shedding Light on the Solar Trade Case
Josh sits down with Paul Nathanson, George Felcyn, and Frank Maisano to discuss the U.S. International Trade Commission's controversial Section 201 solar imports case. From the history of Section 201 petitions to the motives of this case's plaintiffs to the...
Underground Natural Gas Storage IFR Comment Period Reopened
On October 19, 2017, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced an additional comment period on its December 19, 2016 interim final rule (IFR) which established minimum federal safety standards for underground natural gas storage facilities. PHMSA will...
NAS Recognizes Utility of Performance Based Rules
In October 2017, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) issued a pre-publication report on “ Designing Safety Standards for High Hazard Industries .” Sponsored by PHMSA (and many years in the making), the Report focuses on oil and gas pipelines...
The Lobby Shop: Replacing the Clean Power Plan featuring Jeff Holmstead
Josh and Liam discuss the latest developments at the EPA regarding the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan (CPP) with our Bracewell colleague Jeff Holmstead, former assistant administrator of the EPA for Air and Radiation and current head of Bracewell's Environmental...
DOT Requests Comments on Regulatory Review
The Department of Transportation formally requested public comment on existing rules and “other agency actions,” including but not limited to guidance documents and policy statements, that are good candidates for repeal, replacement, suspension, or modification without compromising safety. This request...
The Bid Submission Process - Some Practical Tips
This overview provides some practical tips on managing the process of submitting a competitive bid tender as well as some suggestions to avoid common pitfalls. Also included are some best practices that will help make a complex and demanding task easier.
Oil and Gas Pipeline Industry in an Evolving Legal Landscape
Our Pipelaws.com contributors published an article in the ABA Trends September and October issue on the evolving legal landscape in which the oil and gas pipeline industry operates.
Judicial Review of PHMSA Order: Limitations of Agency Deference
The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals reversed several key aspects of a PHMSA Final Order in a recent opinion issued on August 14, 2017. That decision is significant for the fact that few final actions by this agency have...
PHMSA Offers to Assist Operators Impacted by Hurricane Irma
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, PHMSA issued a press release regarding hurricane preparedness and response. As operators implemented hurricane preparedness plans to minimize the impact of the storm, PHMSA noted several significant allowances for pipeline systems impacted by the...
Go West? What the NYSE Has to Offer for Gulf IPOs
Saudi Aramco’s planned IPO has put the region’s companies in sharp focus for global investors. As GCC nations continue to experience shifts in economic activity, including less government spending, more companies (both state and privately owned) are looking to IPOs...
Hurricane Harvey Relief for Employees
Following Hurricane Harvey and its resulting destruction, many employees are in need of financial assistance and/or early access to retirement funds. We will highlight how employers can make direct financial assistance payments to their affected employees on either a taxable...
Impacts of Hurricane Harvey: Underscoring the Importance of Planning, Preparedness & Response
As the waters begin to recede from our nation’s energy capital following Hurricane Harvey’s unprecedented rainfall in the state of Texas, the full impacts of Hurricane Harvey are beginning to become more apparent. Beyond the incredible toll on the residents...