Category Archives: Oil & gas

USDOT proposes new regulations for transportation of crude oil

This past week, United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (pdf) and an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (pdf) that seeks to improve the safe transportation of large quantities of flammable materials by rail. The … Continue reading

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Public information concerns over oil shipments

In the wake of recent railway accidents involving crude oil shipments, the United States Department of Transportation issued an emergency order requiring railroad companies to notify state officials of specific route details and oil volume on trains shipping one million … Continue reading

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EPA seeking comments on proposal to require disclosure of fracking fluids

The EPA is seeking comments on a proposal that would require or incentivize the voluntary disclosure of fluids used in hydraulic fracturing or “fracking.” Non-disclosure of fracking fluids has been a hot topic in recent years and people still debate … Continue reading

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DOT issues new guidelines for shipping crude oil by rail

In response to recent crude oil tank car derailments in North America, the US Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued new actions this week. The DOT issued … Continue reading

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Railway accidents involving crude oil raise alarms

The Bakken area is one of the largest crude oil producing regions in the United States. The recent surge of production in the Bakken region is due to the increased use of hydraulic fracturing to access oil and gas from … Continue reading

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Keystone Pipeline review process extended

On April 18, 2014 the State Department extended the length of time the eight federal agencies have to submit their views on the Keystone Pipeline permit application. Since the pipeline crosses an international boundary, the State Department ultimately decides whether … Continue reading

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