By Ahuva Battams, Miguel Suazo, and Raj Lahoti Texas Operators Should Prepare Now for Mandatory Electronic Filing The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) has announced that, effective September 1, 2026, it will no longer accept hard-copy submissions for several commonly used oil and gas regulatory forms. Operators that currently rely on paper filings should begin […]
By DeAnza Valencia The momentum behind geothermal energy development is accelerating on two fronts simultaneously. On June 2, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Geothermal Energy Advancement Act (H.R. 5631), sponsored by Reps. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) and Susie Lee (D-Nev.), by voice vote. The package consolidates six separate bills targeting the permitting […]
By Raj Lahoti and Miguel Suazo When it comes to produced water use and reuse, Texas and New Mexico are on the same road but at very different mileposts. Texas is drafting permit mechanics for the land application of treated produced water. New Mexico is still deciding whether to authorize broader off-oilfield reuse at all. […]
By Ahuva Battams On May 20, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated a final enforcement order issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) against Florida Gas Transmission Co. (Florida Gas). The Court held that PHMSA acted arbitrarily and capriciously by imposing enforcement actions beyond the scope of […]
By Ahuva Battams On May 18, 2026, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a new Statement of Policy on transporting hazardous liquids and carbon dioxide in non-steel pipelines, marking an important development for pipeline operators, manufacturers, and project developers navigating evolving infrastructure needs. The policy reinforces that operators do not need a […]
By Craig Rowland On April 14, 2026, the Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) published guidance for operators to claim Recycled Produced Water Credits under ECMC Rule 905.c.(6). Approved by the ECMC in 2025, the rule requires operators to use a certain percentage of Recycled Produced Water and Recycled Produced Water Alternative for Well Stimulations. […]
By Ahuva Battams On April 24, 2026, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published 40 rulemaking actions to update, clarify, or amend federal pipeline safety regulations (49 C.F.R. Parts 190–199). These include: The Final Rules made editorial and technical corrections to Parts 191, 192, and 195, most of which become effective August 3, […]
Geothermal energy developers working on federal lands have a new tool in their permitting toolkit. Effective April 28, 2026, BLM established a new categorical exclusion (CE) that allows the agency to approve notices of intent for small-scale geothermal exploration projects—disturbing up to 10 acres of land—to proceed without preparing a full Environmental Assessment (EA) or […]
Beatty & Wozniak is pleased to announce the relocation of our Denver office, effective May 1, 2026. The firm is now located at: 1801 California Street, Suite 3650Denver, CO 80202 This move marks an important milestone in the firm’s growth as we continue to expand our team and our expertise. The new office provides a […]
Practical Implications for Projects in Ozone Nonattainment Areas By Bret Sumner, and Raj Lahoti A recent Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) decision vacating Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) approval of a large scale federal natural gas development project in Wyoming addresses how Clean Air Act (CAA) general conformity analyses must account for emissions from […]