Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) will put the oil and natural gas industry on the hot seat Wednesday when his Oversight and Government Reform Committee takes a look at the exemptions in federal environmental and health requirements for onshore energy development. The hearing also is expected to explore the potential impact of oil and natural gas activity on the environment and health of populations living near production areas. Not one producer will testify at the hearing. Instead, the House committee will hear from the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy council; Trout Unlimited, a conservation group; the Endocrine Disruption Exchange, an international group that focuses on human health and environmental problems; and a medical toxicologist. In addition, officials from the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management and the Environmental Protection Agency are due to testify.

The Nevada Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has requested a briefing in Las Vegas Wednesday by utilities and representatives of interstate pipeline companies on how the state’s growing need for natural gas can be met in the future. While supplies for the next two years appear stable, the PUC staff has warned that, shrinking pipeline capacity and reduced deliveries from Canada and traditional supply basins may pinch the state’s future demands. Gas fuels 80% of Nevada Power Company‘s electrical generating capacity and 75% of Sierra Pacific‘s capacity. According to the PUC, reduced supplies could impact both the reliability and cost of electrical generation. The PUC has asked that the briefing address what could happen to natural gas demands if the proposed coal-fired Ely Energy Center is not built on time. The briefing will be conducted by the PUC staff and the CEOs of the state’s two gas utilities, Southwest Gas and Sierra Pacific. Presentations are scheduled to be made by representatives of several wholesale interstate pipeline companies: El Paso Natural Gas, Transwestern Pipeline Co., Paiute Pipeline Co., Kern River Gas Transmission Co. and TransCanada.

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