Oil and Gas

CalGEM Releases Discussion Draft Rule to Phase Out Fracking by 2024

On May 21, 2021, the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) released a pre-rulemaking draft regulation that would prohibit CalGEM from approving applications for permits to conduct well stimulation treatments after January 1, 2024.  This rulemaking comes in response to Governor Newsom’s recent decision to unilaterally ban fracking.  Comments on the pre-rulemaking draft regulation are […]

California Gov. Newsom to Unilaterally Ban Fracking by 2024

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to ban hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as ‘fracking,’ by 2024 in an April 23 press release.  As part of his personal longer-term goal to end all oil extraction in the state by 2045, the governor directed the California Department of Conservation’s Geologic Energy Management (CalGEM) Division to immediately […]

Biden Pledges 52% Decrease in GHG by 2050

President Biden hosted a virtual climate change summit of world leaders on April 22, 2021, during which he pledged to decrease U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52 percent from 2005 levels no later than 2030 – supposedly putting the U.S. on track to achieve a net-zero carbon economy by 2050. In furtherance of this commitment, […]

President Biden Attempts to Gut Oil and Gas

On April 22, 2021, President Biden announced at the Leader’s Summit on Climate a target for the United States to achieve a 50 to 52 percent reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas pollution by the year 2030. Notably, and without any evidence, the Biden Administration’s announcement states this goal will provide jobs […]

Industry Challenges Biden Administration over Executive Order Halting Energy Development

Almost immediately upon taking the oath of office, President Biden signed Executive Order No. 14008 (EO 14008 or EO). Among other actions, EO 14008 (available HERE) “paused” oil and natural gas development on federal public lands and in offshore waters of the United States. (See EO 14008 HERE). In response to EO 14008, fourteen states […]

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland Revokes Trump Streamlined NEPA Review

Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland issued two Secretarial Orders to prioritize action on climate change and to revoke numerous Trump-administration Secretarial Orders that encouraged fossil fuel energy production and streamlined NEPA review for energy and infrastructure projects on DOI-managed land. On Friday, April 19, 2020, Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland […]

Mark Chatterton Appointed as California Deputy State Director of Energy and Minerals

On April 7, 2021, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the appointment of Mark Chatterton as the Deputy State Director of Energy and Minerals in California.  (See https://www.blm.gov/press-release/bureau-land-management-welcomes-two-new-members-leadership-team-california.)  In this new role, Chatterton will be responsible for oversight of oil, gas and geothermal development as well as hard rock mining for metallic and industrial […]

Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.