Brown Has Golden State Thinking Big Even In Tough Times During the 30-plus years Barbara O'Connor has known California Gov. Jerry Brown (D), she says the man once derided as "Gov. Moonbeam" has developed a well-deserved reputation as... Read More

A landmark federal study on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) shows no evidence that chemicals from the natural gas drilling process moved up to contaminate drinking water aquifers at a Western Pennsylvania drilling site. Richard Hammack, a geologist with... Read More

By Katerina E. Milenkovski Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently proposed several changes to its general permits for oil and gas well site production operations. These changes would: · Incorporate requirements from... Read More

ENVIRONMENT: The NORTH CAROLINA Senate approves SB 820, legislation that would legalize the natural gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the Tar Heel State. The measure moves to the House (NEWS & OBSERVER [RALEIGH])... Read More

ENVIRONMENT The WYOMING Game and Fish Commission approves a plan to allow hunters to kill up to 52 wolves in the Equality State this fall (IDAHO STATESMAN [BOISE]). • The HAWAII House gives final approval to HB 2296, which would bar the import... Read More

By J. Cullen Howe, Environmental Law Specialist, Arnold & Porter LLP Hydraulic fracturing (fracking), a process used by the oil and gas industry for more than 60 years, has attracted the national spotlight. By injecting fluids and other materials... Read More

By Steven M. Siros, Partner, Jenner & Block A recent study by the Colorado School of Public Health has linked hydraulic fracturing to elevated levels of petroleum hydrocarbons in the air near drilling sites. The study, to be published in Science... Read More

My partner Dean Pappas and I recently had an article published by Best's Review (February 2012) that looks at the potential risks that arise from hydrofracking operations, and the extent to which a typical homeowner's insurance policy covers the... Read More

By Brian J. Smith, J.D., Texas Wesleyan School of Law I. Introduction "Fracing is now essential to economic production of oil and gas and commonly used throughout Texas, the United States, and the world," and as worldwide demand for... Read More

KASICH CONTINUES PUSH FOR DRILLING TAX: Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) renewed his call to impose steeper oil and gas drilling taxes on out-of-state oil companies in order to pay for an income tax cut for Buckeye State residents, telling reporters, "The... Read More

Prior posts have noted groundwater contamination associated with natural gas produced from deep shale deposits by hydraulic fracturing. A study by researchers (with no industry contributions) concludes that such pollution results not from liquids pumped... Read More

FRACKING REMAINS A HOT TOPIC IN MANY STATES: The controversial process of hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking," has boiled over in numerous statehouses this year. The battle has often come down along party lines, with Republicans heavily... Read More

ENVIRONMENT The ILLINOIS Senate approves HB 4119, which would ban the sale or possession of shark fins, a delicacy often used in Chinese cooking. The measure moves to Gov. Pat Quinn (D) for review (QUAD-CITY TIMES [DAVENPORT]). • VERMONT Gov... Read More

CUOMO WANTS NY PRE-FRACKING HEALTH REVIEW: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said last week he will not issue a final decision on whether to allow hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," until the Empire State has further studied the potential impact... Read More

ENERGY: The OHIO House and Senate approve SB 315, which requires greater disclosure of chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, process to extract natural gas from underground shale deposits. The measure also requires water sampling within... Read More