Administrative

A FERC administrative law judge (ALJ) Friday issued an initial decision finding that former Amaranth natural gas trader Brian Hunter had manipulated the gas futures market between February and April 2006, which subsequently took a toll on physical gas contracts over which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has jurisdiction.

A coalition of 89 House Democrats led by Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Tuesday urging him to take administrative action to protect energy-rich Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Utah from development while Congress continues to work on legislation to designate them as wilderness.

FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff last Wednesday upheld an administrative law judge’s (ALJ) decision to dismiss a former Amaranth natural gas trader’s request for a mistrial. The ALJ hearing into whether Brian Hunter manipulated natural gas futures prices ended earlier this month.

FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff Wednesday upheld an administrative law judge’s (ALJ) decision to dismiss a former Amaranth natural gas trader’s request for a mistrial. The ALJ hearing into whether Brian Hunter manipulated natural gas futures prices ended last week.

Chief Administrative Law Judge Curtis L. Wagner Jr. Friday suspended FERC enforcement proceedings against Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP), saying that the two sides are in settlement negotiations to resolve the pending charges against the Dallas, TX-based energy company.

Chief Administrative Law Judge Curtis L. Wagner Jr. Friday suspended FERC enforcement proceedings against Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP), saying that the two sides are in settlement negotiations to resolve the pending price manipulation charges against the Dallas, TX-based energy company.

FERC Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Bruce Birchman last Monday certified under seal a joint offer of settlement that, if ultimately approved by the agency, would resolve all charges that Energy Transfer Partners’ Oasis Pipeline LP and affiliates discriminated against nonaffiliated shippers and charged excessive rates in violation of Section 311 of the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA).

FERC Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Bruce Birchman Monday certified under seal a joint offer of settlement that, if ultimately approved by the agency, would resolve all charges that Energy Transfer Partners’ Oasis Pipeline LP and affiliates discriminated against nonaffiliated shippers and charged excessive rates in violation of Section 311 of the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA).

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has stayed for 60 days the closure of the decision record in an administrative appeal filed by Broadwater Energy LLC and Broadwater Pipeline LLC, which have asked the agency to overturn New York regulators’ opposition to the construction of a proposed floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and associated pipeline to be located in the New York waters of Long Island Sound.