Recent Biden Administration Orders Affecting the Energy Industry
In his first week in office, President Biden and administration officials have issued various Executive Orders, memoranda and other agency directives reversing previous Trump Administration policies and/or establishing new policies for federal agencies, which some have characterized as a fossil fuel freeze….
Seismic Operations Held Subject to Notice and Negotiation Requirements of Surface Owners Protection Act
In a July 28, 2015 opinion, the New Mexico Court of Appeals (Court of Appeals) determined that geophysical seismic operations constitute “oil and gas operations” under NMSA 1978, § 70-12-5(A) of the Surface Owners Protection Act (SOPA), thereby subjecting an operator to strict…
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No Mora Moratorium on Drilling
United States District Court Judge James Browning issued a lengthy opinion on January 19, 2015 invalidating Mora County’s “Community Rights and Local Self-Government Ordinance”, enacted by the County in 2013, that prohibited oil and gas development by corporations in the county. See SWEPI,…
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New Mexico Oil & Gas Commission Adopts New Fracking Disclosure and Horizontal Well Rule, and Considers “Pit Rule” Amendments
The New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission is considering three important changes to its rules. On November 15, 2011, the Commission adopted a new disclosure rule proposed by the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association which requires operators using hydraulic fracturing when completing a well to…
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New Mexico Oil & Gas Association Proposes Fracking Rule, and “Pit Rule” Amendment
The New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission is considering three important changes to its rules. On November 15, 2011, the Commission adopted a new disclosure rule proposed by the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association which requires operators using hydraulic fracturing when completing a well to file…
POSTED IN: Alerts