A district court granted summary judgment for the Forest Service in a challenge against its determination that a mining company had "valid existing rights" (VER) at a uranium mine in the Kaibab National Forest when DOI withdrew public lands around the Grand Canyon from new mining claims. A Native Am...
The Mine Safety and Health Administration canceled a program policy letter that was issued on July 29, 2019, to provide guidance on escapeways and refuges used by underground metal and nonmetal miners in emergency situations.
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement proposed to clarify regulations concerning notification of regulatory authorities of possible violations of any requirement of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to streamline the process for the Office's coordination with regulatory authorities in order to minimize duplication of inspections, enforcement, and administration of the Act.
A district court upheld DOI's renewal of two mineral leases that had previously been rejected for a copper-nickel mine in Superior National Forest. Businesses and environmental groups argued that DOI's authority to reconsider its decision to renew was limited to ministerial or inadvertent errors, an...
A district court dismissed constitutional challenges to Colorado's forced pooling statute, under which property owners were required to allow oil and gas companies to extract their minerals. A group of property owners argued the statute violated the First Amendment by requiring non-consenting owners...
In a partially published opinion, a state appellate court set aside Kern County's approval of an ordinance amendment proposed by oil and gas industry groups to streamline the permitting process for new oil and gas wells. Environmental groups, community groups, and a local farm argued that the enviro...
A state appellate court reversed the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' decisions to deny petitions for a contested-case hearing and issue mine and dam safety permits for a proposed copper-nickel-platinum mine in northeastern Minnesota. Environmental groups petitioned the Department for a he...
FERC's Office of Energy Projects announced the availability of its final Guidance for Horizontal Directional Drill Monitoring, Inadvertent Return Response, and Contingency Plans, which intends to assist the natural gas industry in preparing horizontal directional drilling project plans for FERC staff review.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration, pursuant to a court order in United Steelworkers v. Mine Safety and Health Administration, 49 ELR 20101 (D.C. Cir. 2019), reinstated regulatory provisions for examinations of working places in metal and nonmetal mines.