Three environmental groups sued California’s Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) earlier this week, contending that DOGGR’s issuance of more than 200 oil drilling permits violates the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The suit (pdf) charges DOGGR with “turning a blind eye” to the claimed risks associated with oil drilling and associated hydraulic […]
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 Tuesday, January 15, 2013, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California will conduct a hearing on cross-motions for summary judgment filed by the parties in Center for Biological Diversity v. Bureau of Land Management. The case, filed December 8, 2011, by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Sierra Club, challenges the Bureau of […]
Hinson Gravelle & Adair LLP attorney Eric Adair was interviewed for and quoted in a December 18, 2012, Platts report (subscription required). The report, which discussed the draft hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” regulations (pdf) recently proposed by California’s Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources (DOGGR), is reprinted below. For more information regarding California’s proposed fracking regulations, […]
As we previously reported, on August 29, 2012, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) gave notice of its intent to sue the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Last week, BLM responded (pdf) to CBD’s notice, rejecting CBD’s central contention that BLM has unlawfully failed to reinitiate consultation under the […]
On October 16, 2012, four environmental groups filed a state court action alleging that California’s Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) has failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in the permitting process for oil and gas operations, including hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in the state. A copy of the […]
On August 29, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) gave notice of its intent to sue the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). CBD’s notice asserts that BLM has unlawfully failed to reinitiate consultation under the ESA in connection with claimed risks to various ESA-listed species caused by hydraulic […]