Fracking: Law and Policy

PART I - THE BACKDROP

Chapter 1. SCOPE

• § 1.01 What Is Fracking?
• § 1.02 What Is Shale?
• § 1.03 How Did Fracking Begin?
• § 1.04 How Are Shale Formations Found?
• § 1.05 Where Are the Shale Formations?
• § 1.06 What Is the Controversy?
• § 1.07 Who Are the Stakeholders?

Chapter 2. THE SCIENCE OF FRACKING

• § 2.01 Technical Framework
• § 2.02 Hydrology
• § 2.03 Geology
• § 2.04 Chemistry
• § 2.05 Petrology
• § 2.06 Other Rock Sciences
• § 2.07 Engineering
• § 2.08 Agricultural Sciences
• § 2.09 Environmental Science
• § 2.10 Climatology
• § 2.11 Computer Science
• § 2.12 Social Sciences

Chapter 3. JURISDICTION

• § 3.01 Federal
• § 3.02 State
• § 3.03 Municipal
• § 3.04 Overlapping, Concurrent, and Conflicting Jurisdiction

Chapter 4. FEDERAL STATUTORY FRAMEWORK

• § 4.01 Comprehensive Federal Fracking Law
• § 4.02 Safe Drinking Water Act
• § 4.03 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
• § 4.04 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
• § 4.05 Energy Policy Act
• § 4.06 Clean Water Act
• § 4.07 Clean Air Act
• § 4.08 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
• § 4.09 National Environmental Policy Act
• § 4.10 Toxic Substances Control Act
• § 4.11 Natural Gas Act
• § 4.12 Natural Gas Policy Act
• § 4.13 Pipeline Safety Act
• § 4.14 Interstate Commerce Act
• § 4.15 National Forest Management Act
• § 4.16 Federal Land Policy and Management Act
• § 4.17 Mineral Leasing Act
• § 4.18 Endangered Species Act
• § 4.19 Migratory Bird Treaty Act
• § 4.20 Marine Mammal Protection Act
• § 4.21 Securities Exchange Act

Chapter 5. REGULATORY INFRASTRUCTURE

• § 5.01 U.S. Department of the Interior
• § 5.02 U.S. Department of Energy
• § 5.03 U.S. Department of Transportation
• § 5.04 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• § 5.05 U.S. Department of Defense
• § 5.06 U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• § 5.07 U.S. Department of Agriculture
• § 5.08 U.S. Department of Labor
• § 5.09 U.S. Department of Commerce
• § 5.10 U.S. Department of State
• § 5.11 Independent Federal Agencies
• § 5.12 Executive Office of the President
• § 5.13 The EPA/DOI/DOE Memorandum of Understanding
• § 5.14 State and Local Agencies
• § 5.15 Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission
• § 5.16 International Energy Agency

Chapter 6. THE FRACKING FRONTIER

• § 6.01 Introduction
• § 6.02 Air Pollution
• § 6.03 Odor Management
• § 6.04 Dust Control
• §6.05 Water Supply and Consumption
• § 6.06 Water Pollution
• § 6.07 Noise Pollution
• § 6.08 Light Intrusion
• § 6.09 Truck Traffic
• § 6.10 Erosion and Sedimentation
• § 6.11 Livestock, Pets, and Food Safety
• § 6.12 Crops and Soil
• § 6.13 Seismic Activity
• § 6.14 Wildlife Habitat
• § 6.16 Radioactivity
• § 6.17 Pipeline Corrosion and Mishaps
• § 6.18 Coastal Zone Management
• § 6.19 Climate Change
• § 6.20 Aesthetic and Visual Impacts
• § 6.21 Social Costs

Chapter 7. THE ECONOMICS OF FRACKING

• § 7.01 Scope
• § 7.02 Mineral Rights and Royalties
• § 7.03 Banking and Insurance
• § 7.04 Real Estate Market
• § 7.05 Tourism and Recreation

PART II - THE LITIGATION LANDSCAPE

Chapter 8. THEORIES OF LIABILITY

• § 8.01 Strict Liability
• § 8.02 Negligence
• § 8.03 Negligence Per Se
• § 8.04 Specific Statutory Breach
• § 8.05 Fraud
• § 8.06 Breach of Contract
• § 8.07 Nuisance
• § 8.08 Trespass
• § 8.09 Waste
• § 8.10 Other Causes of Action

Chapter 9. INITIAL PLEADINGS AND PROCEDURES

• § 9.01 Case Evaluation
• § 9.02 Identification of Defendants
• § 9.03 Forum Selection
• § 9.04 Sample Pleadings
• § 9.05 Case Management
• § 9.06 Lone Pine Orders

Chapter 10. PRETRIAL DISCOVERY AND INVESTIGATION

• § 10.01 Purpose of Discovery
• § 10.02 What Information Is Useful?
• § 10.03 Third-Party Discovery and Investigative Resources
• § 10.04 Freedom of Information Act
• § 10.05 Records Retention Laws
• § 10.06 Spoliation of Evidence
• § 10.07 Open Public Meetings
• § 10.08 Conventional Discovery Techniques

Chapter 11. THE FRACKING TRIAL

• § 11.01 The Unique Science Aspect
• § 11.02 The Admissibility Hurdle
• § 11.03 The Humanization Theme
• § 11.04 Motions in Limine and Other Exclusionary Devices
• § 11.05 Judicial Notice
• § 11.06 Admitting Hearsay Documents

Chapter 12. DAMAGES AND REMEDIES

• § 12.01 Bodily Injury Claims
• § 12.02 Diminution of Property Value
• § 12.03 Remediation Claims
• § 12.04 Medical Monitoring
• § 12.05 Equitable Remedies
• § 12.06 Punitive Damages

Chapter 13. WORKER SAFETY AND INJURY CLAIMS

• § 13.01 Overview
• § 13.02 Transportation and Unloading Injuries
• § 13.03 Excavation and Trenching Injuries
• § 13.04 Rigging Up/Rigging Down
• § 13.05 Drilling Operations
• § 13.06 Chemical Handling
• § 13.07 Silica Dust
• § 13.08 Tripping Out/Tripping In
• § 13.09 Casing Operations
• § 13.10 Blowout Prevention Controls
• § 13.11 Maintenance-Related Injuries
• § 13.12 Special Services
• § 13.13 Workover Injuries
• § 13.14 Well Completion Injuries
• § 13.15 Accident Prevention ;

PART III - PUBLIC POLICY, SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS, AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Chapter 14. MINERAL LEASING LAW AND POLICY

• § 14.01 Statutory Law
• § 14.02 Regulations
• § 14.03 Split Estates
• § 14.04 Fracking Contract Provisions
• § 14.05 Implied Covenants
• § 14.06 Cooperation and Consolidation
• § 14.07 Public Policy

Chapter 15. INDUSTRY REPORTING ISSUES

• § 15.01 Haphazard Chemical Reporting
• § 15.02 Under-Reporting Risks and Events
• § 15.03 Over-Reporting Profits and Reserves
• § 15.04 Section 1504 Disclosures
• § 15.05 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

Chapter 16. CORPORATE RISK MANAGEMENT AND BEST PRACTICES

• § 16.01 Reducing Risk
• § 16.02 Reducing Surface Footprint
• § 16.03 Reducing Water Consumption
• § 16.04 Methane Management
• § 16.05 Ensuring Well Integrity

Chapter 17. SHAREHOLDER AND STAKEHOLDER PROTECTION

• § 17.01 Building Corporate Transparency
• § 17.02 Achieving Regulatory Compliance
• § 17.03 Developing Adaptive Organizations

Chapter 18. INSURANCE AND RISK

• § 18.01 Casualty Loss Risk
• § 18.02 Risk Allocation
• § 18.03 Commercial General Liability
• § 18.04 Operator’s Extra Expense
• § 18.05 Environmental Site Liability
• § 18.06 Environmental Impairment Liability
• § 18.07 Employment Practices Liability
• § 18.08 Business Interruption
• § 18.09 Property Insurance
• § 18.10 Storage Tank Liability
• § 18.11 Contractors Pollution Liability
• § 18.12 Pollution Liability Coverage
• § 18.13 Cleanup Cost Cap Insurance
• § 18.14 Civil Authority
• § 18.15 Ingress/Egress Coverage
• § 18.16 Directors and Officers
• § 18.17 Errors and Omissions
• § 18.18 Rigs, Cargo, and Equipment Coverage
• § 18.19 Workers’ Compensation
• § 18.20 Homeowner’s Insurance
• § 18.21 Motor Vehicle Insurance
• § 18.22 Specialty Lines and Portfolio Products
• § 18.23 Mandatory Fracking Insurance

Chapter 19. OPTIMIZING CITIZEN ACTIVISM

• § 19.01 The Value of Organized Activism
• § 19.02 The Risk of Extremism
• § 19.03 The Contamination of Misinformation
• § 19.04 The Pursuit of Evidence
• § 19.05 The Need for Engagement
• § 19.06 Activist Groups

Chapter 20. PUBLIC POLICY

• § 20.01 Environmentally Sensitive Fracking
• § 20.02 Innovation and Efficiency
• § 20.03 Frackonomics
• § 20.04 Domestic Initiatives
• § 20.05 The International Frontier

Glossary

Table of Cases

Table of Statutes and Regulations

Index