Drilling and Fracking: Who Regulates?

Environmental Law & Property Rights Practice Group Teleforum

The techniques of directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas have been around for generations. Over the past ten years, however, the techniques have been combined for use in hard (“tight”) rock formations that contain significant amounts of hydrocarbons. The combination of these techniques in tight shale formations has unleashed a flood of natural gas and oil, changing America’s, and the world’s, energy landscape. Traditionally, most regulation of oil and gas drilling has been done at the state level. Increasingly, however, the Federal government has become involved in this regulation and there have been calls for additional Federal regulatory involvement. State governmental agencies generally believe they are fully capable of regulating oil and gas drilling and have superior expertise to that of the Federal government. Supporters of Federal governmental involvement believe, however, that uniform drilling, fracking, air aggregation and other regulatory provisions are more protective of the environmental and are preferable to a plethora of state laws. Our speakers come from industry, state government and an environmental advocacy organization and are uniquely qualified to discuss and debate this important and cutting edge topic. Featuring Mr. Jason Hutt of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP; Mr. Scott Perry of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Mr. Craig Segall of the Sierra Club Environmental Law Program; and Mr. Joel Burcat of Saul Ewing LLP as the moderator.

The techniques of directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas have been around for generations. Over the past ten years, however, the techniques have been combined for use in hard (“tight”) rock formations that contain significant amounts of hydrocarbons. The combination of these techniques in tight shale formations has unleashed a flood of natural gas and oil, changing America’s, and the world’s, energy landscape. Traditionally, most regulation of oil and gas drilling has been done at the state level. Increasingly, however, the Federal government has become involved in this regulation and there have been calls for additional Federal regulatory involvement. State governmental agencies generally believe they are fully capable of regulating oil and gas drilling and have superior expertise to that of the Federal government. Supporters of Federal governmental involvement believe, however, that uniform drilling, fracking, air aggregation and other regulatory provisions are more protective of the environmental and are preferable to a plethora of state laws. Our speakers come from industry, state government and an environmental advocacy organization and are uniquely qualified to discuss and debate this important and cutting edge topic.

Featuring:

• Mr. Jason Hutt, Partner, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
• Mr. Scott Perry, Deputy Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
• Mr. Craig Segall, Associate Attorney, Sierra Club Environmental Law Program
• Moderator: Mr. Joel Burcat, Partner, Saul Ewing LLP

Call begins at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Teleforum calls are open to all dues paying members of the Federalist Society. To become a member, sign up here. As a member, you should receive email announcements of upcoming Teleforum calls which contain the conference call phone number. If you are not receiving those email announcements, please contact us at 202-822-8138.