News & Articles

On Monday, December 19, 2016, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Department of Transportation (DOT) published an interim final rule (IFR) that revises the Federal pipeline safety regulations to address critical safety issues related to downhole facilities, including wells, wellbore tubing, and casing, at underground natural gas storage facilities.

On December 14, 2016, EPA signed its proposed Kraft Pulp Residual Risk and Technology Review rule covering 40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart MM (a.k.a. “MACT II”) for recovery furnaces, lime kilns and smelt dissolving tanks at kraft pulp mills.

Earlier this week, Amazon was the first company to complete a fully autonomous drone delivery in the United Kingdom. While the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) currently prohibits such autonomous flights here in the United States, this development will help spur the conversation forward.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued an Advisory Bulletin (ADB-2016-07) to owners and operators of natural gas pipelines. The bulletin provides guidance on identifying and periodically verifying High Consequence Areas (HCAs).

On December 13, 2016 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its scientific report on the impacts from hydraulic fracturing activities on drinking water. The EPA’s report concludes that hydraulic fracturing activities can impact drinking water resources under some circumstances. As part of the report, EPA identified conditions under which impacts from hydraulic fracturing activities can be more frequent or severe. The report also identifies uncertainties and data gaps. These uncertainties and data gaps limited EPA’s ability to fully assess impacts to drinking water resources both locally and nationally.