Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) has tapped former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Jim Hall to serve as an outside adviser to help the utility oversee the extensive safety improvement initiatives under way within its natural gas operations. Hall and his firm, Hall & Associates, are to focus in particular on ensuring that PG&E’s plans are effectively addressing the safety recommendations that have emerged during the past year through various audits and other inquiries into the San Bruno, CA, pipeline accident in September 2010. The recommendations are included in the final reports issued by the California Public Utilities Commission Independent Review Panel and the NTSB (see NGI, Oct. 3).

The Senate confirmed Mark P. Wetjen, former policy adviser to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), to a five-year term on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), succeeding departing Commissioner Michael Dunn.For nearly seven years Wetjen worked for CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler, who recommended him for the seat. Wetjen was nominated by President Obama in May. Wetjen is joining the Commission at a critical time as it proceeds to implement reforms under Dodd-Frank. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, the ranking Republican on the agriculture panel, expressed concern that Wetjen would be “parachuted” into the middle of the rulemaking process at the CFTC (see related story).

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