On May 25, 2023, the United States Supreme Court again weighed in on what is to be considered a “water of the United States” (“WOTUS”) under the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) in Sackett v. EPA, 143 S. Ct. 1322 (2023). The fundamental holding in Sackett is that the only...
Firm News
BLM Proposes Raising Minimum Bonding by 15 – 20x Current Levels
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently proposed raising the minimum bonding requirements by a factor of 15 for individual federal leases, raising the minimum amount from $10,000 to $150,000, and by a factor of 20 for statewide bonds, raising the minimum amount...
Texas Railroad Commission Moves Closer to Establishing Regulatory Framework for CO2 Sequestration
The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) adopted new rules governing carbon capture and sequestration and storage at its August 22, 2023, Open Meeting. The rules go into effect on September 11, 2023, and are intended to align with the requirements of Environmental...
Say Goodbye to COGCC
This week marks the end of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and the beginning of the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC). Senate Bill 2023-285, which was signed into law May 22, 2023, expands the Commission’s regulatory authority...
New Mexico Oil and Gas Regulators Send $40M Message: Noncompliance is Expensive
New Mexico’s oil and gas regulators levied some of the largest fines in state history on June 29, seeking over $40M from Amerdev, an Austin-based oil and gas company, for alleged violations of the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act (“AQCA”) and other oil...
New Water Law Going Into Effect in July 2023 Enables New Mexicans to Band Together To Provide Improved Water Resources
The 2023 New Mexico Legislative Session saw the enactment of the Regional Water System Resiliency Act, which enables the creation of regional water authorities to strengthen New Mexico’s aging water infrastructure by enabling water user associations and other...
Renowned Energy and Environmental Attorney, Miguel Suazo, Joins Beatty & Wozniak
DENVER (April 18, 2023) — Beatty & Wozniak is elated to announce that Miguel Suazo has joined the firm as Shareholder, effective April 2023. Based in the Santa Fe, New Mexico office, Suazo is recognized for his distinguished accomplishments and remarkable client...
Beatty & Wozniak Promotes Theresa Sauer to Equity Shareholder
DENVER (February 21, 2023) — Beatty & Wozniak is delighted to announce that Theresa Sauer has been promoted to Equity Shareholder, effective January 2023. Based in the Denver, Colorado office, Sauer embodies a commitment to excellence and collaboration that allows...
Beatty & Wozniak Welcomes Jacob Haseman to its Sheridan Office
DENVER (January 24, 2023) — Beatty & Wozniak is pleased to announce that Jacob T. Haseman has joined the firm as a Shareholder based in their Sheridan, Wyoming office. Haseman focuses his practice on onshore development and regulatory work in front of the Wyoming...
Federal Issue Brief – Potential Permian Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area
Federal Action: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering a discretionary redesignation of certain Permian Basin counties in southeast New Mexico and West Texas as ozone nonattainment areas under the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standard...