In an unusual move Thursday, the Senate Energy and NaturalResources Committee forwarded the nomination of FERC CommissionerWilliam L. Massey to the full Senate for approval immediatelyfollowing his confirmation hearing.

Rather than scheduling a business meeting, as in normally done,members of the Senate panel conferred just off the floor and votedby unanimous consent to report Massey, who is seeking a second termat FERC, favorably out of committee.

“It’s not too surprising that it went this quickly,” said DerekJumper, a spokesman for the committee. Massey was a”non-controversial” candidate and already was a sittingcommissioner seeking renomination, he noted.

Sen. Majority Leader Trent Lott’s (R-MS) office said it wasunlikely that the Senate would take up Massey’s nomination prior torecessing Friday because it had a full docket. The chamber isexpected to consider his re-appointment after it returns on July6th.

At the confirmation hearing, which was short andnon-confrontational, Sen. Dale Bumpers (D-AR) referred to Massey as”one of the shining lights” at the Commission. During his firstterm, he took the lead in formulating merger policy at FERC,Bumpers noted, and has gained the reputation as a “deep thinker.” A Democrat, Massey was chief counsel to Bumpers for most of the1980s. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) called him “another talentedperson” from Arkansas.

The issues raised at the hearing were not directly related tonatural gas. They involved whether FERC has the authority to removehydroelectric dams, whether the Commission has the authority toorder electric transmission companies to relinquish theirfacilities to independent system operators, whether it shouldoversee the transmission facilities of the Tennessee ValleyAuthority and Bonneville Power Authority, criticism of the pace atwhich FERC moves on electric-related mergers, and repeal of thePublic Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA).

Massey was first nominated by President Clinton and confirmed bythe Senate in May 1993. His current term expires June 30th, but hewill continue serving on the Commission while the Senate considershis nomination. If re-appointed, his second term would expire June30, 2003.

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