The White House’s newly issued Statement of Administration Policy, announcing that President Obama would veto current, bipartisan congressional legislation to authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline does a couple of things. First, it announces that the new era of cooperation between the president and the new Congress on issues that have consensus support –… Keep reading →
The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve was established at a time when US refining configuration and oil production profile looked very different. Given new realities, Energy Secretary Moniz is calling for system modifications. “The Government Accountability Office warned in 2006 that in an emergency, refineries configured to use heavy crude would not be able to efficiently… Keep reading →
So the new Congress has been sworn in back in Washington, and the nation gears up for the first big clash between the Republican-controlled Congress and President Obama. What will the first major battle be: health care; taxes; immigration? No, the first big clash appears destined to be over the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project and the potential for over 1,000 miles of right of way subject to potential eminent domain.
It’s that time of the year again when world leaders, CEOs, thought leaders, power brokers and dignitaries from business and politics alike descend on the small Swiss ski resort of Davos for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2015. This year’s gathering is scheduled for January 21-24 and Davos is sure to be bursting at… Keep reading →
The big news today was an announcement that President Obama will not sign Keystone XL oil pipeline legislation currently working its way through congress. Interestingly, the announcement was made at the same time major oil and gas industry trade group American Petroleum Institute President Jack Gerard delivered the annual State of American Energy address, in… Keep reading →
U.S. Passes New Sanctions Authorizing Statute – Sends Russia Frigid End of Year Message
President Obama: U.S. will “review and calibrate” sanctions in response to Russia’s actions
On December 18, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Ukraine Freedom and Support Act of 2014 (“the Act”), the latest move in a series of sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and the EU over the past year (full coverage of the Russia sanctions can be found here). While the Act gives the president authority to implement new sanctions against Russia, President Obama has declined to enforce the new provisions at this time. The strategy behind this move is unclear, though it appears to be a “wait and see” approach with the hope that even just the threat of new U.S. sanctions will curb Russia’s destabilizing efforts in Ukraine and the wider Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions. It is also believed that the U.S. administration wants to continue to remain in lock-step with the EU and its imposition of sanctions against Russia.
An international organisation is not a State, and is only afforded immunity to the extent granted by statute. It is relatively uncommon for international organisations to come before the English courts, though economically and politically they can be very influential. Assuranceforeningen Gard Gjensidig v International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund [2014] EWHC 3369 (Comm) is a rare example of how the courts will interpret immunity legislation in the context of international organisations.
The Israeli regulator’s decision to reopen a natural gas agreement because of a monopoly issue jeopardizes the country’s gas export potential and its ability to attract foreign capital, as well as threatening to complicate relations with Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and Egypt. Yesterday, Israel’s Antitrust Authority announced it was considering whether to cancel an agreement… Keep reading →
Some interesting perspective on New York’s decision to ban hydraulic fracturing – from neighboring Pennsylvania, where safe fracking has lifted the state economy while directly benefiting cities and towns all across the commonwealth. Jeffrey Sheridan, press secretary for Governor-elect Tom Wolf’s transition team (to the Philadelphia Business Journal): “Governor-elect Wolf opposes a ban, and he… Keep reading →
On December 18, 2014, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released revised draft guidance on the consideration of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.[1] The CEQ previously issued this guidance in draft form in February 2010.[2] Rather than finalize that draft, the CEQ opted to issue significantly revised draft guidance and open a 60-day public comment period, which closes on February 23, 2015.[3]
