July 05, 2026 to July 11, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning oil and gas production, wells, drilling, petroleum and fuels refining, pipelines, LNG, hydrocarbons, and all Landman fans. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining: Hearing on Public Lands Management, Offshore Decommissioning, and Oil & Gas Oversight: On July 15, 2026, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee will conduct an open hearing covering S.1791 (special management areas in Colorado), S.4239 (reporting on decommissioning offshore oil and gas wells, platforms, and pipelines), S.4715 (offshore oil and gas operator standards and decommissioning escrow accounts), and related bills affecting public lands, oil and gas operations, and royalties.

Federal Government News

PHMSA Proposes Major Update to Pipeline Repair Regulations

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a proposed rulemaking on July 8 to modernize and clarify anomaly response criteria in federal safety regulations for hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipelines. The notice outlines plans to incorporate advanced engineering methods and performance-based assessments, extending certain recent gas transmission pipeline criteria to hazardous liquid lines. The proposed reforms would standardize failure pressure ratio-based response timelines, update definitions and reporting requirements, and harmonize several technical evaluation standards, including the introduction of modern models for assessing metal loss and crack features. PHMSA estimates annual savings of approximately $390 million for the industry as a result of streamlining repair criteria while maintaining safety protocols, and will seek further comments until September 8, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

BOEM Sets Date and Final Notice for Gulf of America OCS Lease Sale BBG3

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced the Final Notice of Sale for the Gulf of America Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale BBG3, scheduled for August 12, 2026. The sale, mandated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will offer all available unleased blocks in the region, subject to specific exclusions for environmental and international boundaries. The lease terms match those used in Lease Sale 254, with a minimum bonus bid of $25 per acre in shallow water and $100 per acre in deeper water, and a standard 10-year primary term for deepwater tracts. Royalty rates remain at 12.5 percent. The package includes updates to lease stipulations and bidder instructions, as well as information on geophysical data submission requirements.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House CEQ Announces Selections for Permitting Innovators Expo

On July 9, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced the technology solutions selected for the inaugural Permitting Innovators Expo scheduled for July 31, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Chosen from industry submissions addressing needs identified in the Permitting Technology Action Plan, the selected tools aim to advance federal permitting processes through document analysis, workflow management, and data integration. Federal agencies and industry leaders will review these solutions, which CEQ will also promote in a solutions catalog later this year.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

FERC Opens Environmental Review for the Desert Southwest Expansion Project

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) began preparing an environmental review for the proposed Desert Southwest Expansion Project by Transwestern Pipeline Company, LLC. The application covers over 700 miles of new natural gas pipeline and eight compressor stations across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. FERC is soliciting public and agency input on environmental, safety, land use, and cultural impacts, with comments due by August 5, 2026. Public scoping sessions, both in-person and virtual, are scheduled later in July and early August to gather stakeholder feedback before FERC completes its assessment.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Interior Department Adjusts Civil Monetary Penalties for Onshore Oil and Gas Operations and Coal Trespass

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a notice on July 9 stating that civil penalty levels for onshore oil and gas operations and coal trespass will remain unchanged for 2026, pursuant to guidance from the Office of Management and Budget. The BLM will continue to use the penalty rates established in 2025 due to the absence of updated CPI data required for further inflation adjustments. Existing penalties include those for noncompliance, inspection failure, and documentation violations, with maximums ranging from $1,368 to $68,445 depending on violation type.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

EMRTAI Authorization Act of 2026

Bill 9616, the EMRTAI Authorization Act of 2026, was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Sources: www.congress.gov

CHARM Act

Bill 9617, titled the CHARM Act, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 9, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

DEF Act

Bill 9618, the DEF Act, was introduced and sent to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for review.

Sources: www.congress.gov

SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026

H.R. 8770, the SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026, addresses transportation and public works and has been placed on the Union Calendar, No. 641, as of July 9, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Common Sense 250 Act of 2026

Bill 9600, the Common Sense 250 Act of 2026, was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on July 6, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Chevron offers rival drillers its chemical technology to boost shale oil output: Chevron is making proprietary chemical technology available to other operators to increase shale oil production.
• What are the risks of an LNG tanker explosion?: Reuters examines safety risks and mitigation strategies for LNG tanker incidents.
• Oil jumps after settlement as US revokes general license for Iran oil sales: US action on Iranian oil sales propels global crude prices upward.
• EU drafts 'electrification' plan to curb oil and gas use, after Iran war disruption: The European Union prepares an energy strategy to reduce oil and gas reliance following conflict in Iran.
• India's ONGC plans to build 13 million bbl national strategic oil reserve: India's ONGC announced plans to create a 13-million-barrel oil storage facility.
• Canada carves role for gas in clean power grid strategy: Canada outlines a continued role for natural gas in its clean electricity grid.
• Strategic oil reserve buying set to support crude demand through 2028: International strategic oil reserve acquisitions are expected to bolster crude market demand through 2028.
• TotalEnergies to discuss Syria offshore exploration contract, CEO says: TotalEnergies leadership addresses talks on a prospective Syrian offshore hydrocarbons contract.
• The Rise and Fall of the Fracking Phenomenon: Politico explores the rapid expansion and subsequent contraction of US fracking.

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