U. S. Supreme Court Issues Ruling on the Clean Water Act as to WetlandsBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, June 2023On May 25, 2023, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision as to the jurisdiction of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency on the Clean Water Act insofar as it pertains to the regulation of wetlands in Sackett v. EPA.
Fifth District Appellate Court to Consider Mineral Tenancy in Common IssueBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2023The appellate court recently considered whether or not Illinois law provides that a tenant in common owning at least half of the mineral interest in land possesses an unfettered right to drill for oil and gas without the permission of the co-tenant.
USEPA Proposes Further Rules to Limit Methane EmissionsBy Craig R. HedinEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, January 2023The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued proposed supplemental rules to update, strengthen, and expand its November 2021 proposals with respect to methane emissions from new and existing sources in the oil and gas industry.
2023 Oil and Gas Assessment ScheduleBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, December 2022In November, the 2023 Oil and Gas Assessment Schedule was approved.
Illinois Supreme Court Addresses Riparian Rights Along Non-Navigable StreamsBy John H. HendersonMineral Law, December 2022On June 16, 2022, the Illinois Supreme Court issued a decision in Holm v. Kodat to determine whether Illinois law granted a riparian owner on a non-navigable river or stream the right to use that waterway to cross the property of another riparian owner without that owner’s permission.
Update of REGROW ActBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, December 2022An update on the Revive Economic Growth and Reclaim for Orphan Wells Act.
USEPA Proposes Further Rules to Limit Methane EmissionsBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, December 2022The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued proposed supplemental rules to update, strengthen, and expand its November 2021 proposals with respect to methane emissions from new and existing sources in the oil and gas industry.
Special Warranty DeedsBy Craig R. HedinReal Estate Law, October 2022In many instances mineral deeds are executed with limiting language with respect to the warranty of the interest conveyed. These deeds are commonly referred to as special warranty deeds.
Special Warranty DeedsBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, September 2022In many instances mineral deeds are executed with limiting language with respect to the warranty of the interest conveyed. These deeds are commonly referred to as special warranty deeds.
Status of Application Under REGROW ActBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, September 2022An update on the status of the application of the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals under the REGROW Act.
Department Submits Application Under REGROW ActBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, June 2022The Department of Interior guidance issued to date indicates that Illinois could be eligible for the initial grant funding of up to $25 million under the REGROW Act.
Legislation Increases FeesBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, June 2022An overview of Senate Bill 3626, which was signed into law in May and provides for an increase in various operational fees and addresses to a limited extent the status of temporary abandonment wells.
Tax Deed EpilogueBy John C. Robison, Jr.Real Estate Law, April 2022A purchaser of a royalty interest at a tax sale acquires the lessor’s royalty, which entitles the purchaser to receive payments for produced oil from the lessee until the lessor’s royalty terminates upon the lapse of the oil and gas lease in which the lessor’s royalty originated.
Illinois to Participate in Infrastructure Law to Address Orphaned WellsBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2022In November of 2021, President Biden signed into law a $1 trillion infrastructure bill that included the REGROW Act, which includes funds to plug and remediate orphan wells in various states.
Proposed LegislationBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2022An overview of the recent legislation proposed by the Office of Oil and Gas Resource Management.
Tax Deed EpilogueBy John C. Robison, Jr.Mineral Law, March 2022A purchaser of a royalty interest at a tax sale acquires the lessor’s royalty, which entitles the purchaser to receive payments for produced oil from the lessee until the lessor’s royalty terminates upon the lapse of the oil and gas lease in which the lessor’s royalty originated.
IDNR Adopts Amendments to RegulationBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, December 2021Amendments to the spacing requirements for oil wells were recently adopted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and went into effect on October 2021.
