Canada’s National Energy Board has established a mediation process for the resolution of landowner objections during detailed route hearings for oil and natural gas pipelines and power lines. The board sent out for comment in January 2001 a draft of its proposed Mediation Practice Direction to various landowners, landowner representatives and industry stakeholders across the country. It also sought comments and suggestions for using alternative dispute resolution tools for other types of applications. The board has now reviewed and analyzed comments received and, in light of the overall support indicated by many of the respondents, has decided to implement a voluntary mediation process at the detailed route stage of its proceedings. This will provide an alternative method for landowners and companies to resolve disputes over the detailed routes of pipelines and power lines. The board has revised the draft Mediation Practice Direction and incorporated many of the suggestions made by the participants, and will make the process available, if it is requested. For a copy of the draft Mediation Practice Direction, visit the NEB’s web site at https://www.neb.gc.ca/pubs/pdmdro.pdf .

The Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse, a Petroleum Place company, announced that it acted as advisor and broker in two negotiated transactions: Jones Energy, Ltd.’s sale of its 2001 Texas Panhandle divestment package to Newfield Exploration; and Emerald Gas Co.’s sale of its Black Warrior Basin package to Dominion Exploration & Production. Terms of both transactions were not disclosed. Subsequent to the completion of both transactions, Petroleum Place, Inc. announced the formation of Petroleum Place Energy Advisors LP, a new company that will exclusively handle negotiated transactions. The Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse provides Internet-enabled transaction and brokerage services for the acquisition and divestiture of oil and gas properties. Petroleum Place is an Internet marketplace serving the upstream petroleum industry. The Petroleum Place Web site (www.petroleumplace.com), was launched in 1995.

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