Some in the natural gas industry are growing increasingly uneasythat the re-appointment of William Massey to a second term at theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission appears to be stalled at theWhite House.

The Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA) said it plans to senda letter to President Clinton this week, voicing its support forMassey’s renomination and urging the White House to take quickaction. Massey’s current term expires at the end of this month, butin the event the White House fails to act by then, he couldcontinue to serve under a grace period that would last until theend of the current congressional term.

“He’s done a great job. But as we’ve seen that isn’t always aguarantee” of re-appointment, noted NGSA spokeswoman CharlotteLeGates. “So we are strongly supporting his renomination throughletters and so forth. I guess if that indicates concern, yeah we’reconcerned” about his nomination, LeGates told NGI.

At this point, it’s not clear whether Massey’s renominationsimply has been relegated to low priority at the White House, orwhether there are other factors at work. Sen. Dale Bumpers (D-AR)has contacted the White House, and is working with it to moveMassey’s nomination along, Capitol Hill aides said. Masseypreviously was a member of the senator’s staff.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which mustapprove Massey’s renomination, said it hasn’t heard a peep from theWhite House yet. “I don’t want to be trite” about his nomination,but “we’re still wondering as much if we’ll ever hear from theWhite House on a successor for DOE,” said Derek Jumper, a committeepress aide. Energy Secretary Federico Pena plans to leave thedepartment at the end of the month.

Deputy Energy Secretary Elizabeth Moler, former chair of FERC,”would naturally be the person to ascend,” he noted, but the WhiteHouse has been “pretty mum” on this, as well as on reports thatBill Richardson, U.N. ambassador to the United States, is beingconsidered as a front-runner for the job

“It doesn’t seem that the White House is very concerned aboutany of their nominees right now,” Jumper said. But some in the gasindustry are, particularly about Massey. “He is terrificallyexperienced. He’s very good in terms of the analysis of theindustry. He really understands why the Commission is there – whichis because you’re trying to regulate monopolies,” said NGSA’sLeGates.

The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA)doesn’t believe the delay means the Massey nomination is introuble. “The White House is just slow. I guess they’re all worriedabout different things, like Supreme Court appeals,” said LorraineCross, vice president for regulatory affairs. “We certainly supporthim,” and fully expect him to be renominated, she said.

Susan Parker

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