Administrative

FERC Thursday ordered an administrative law judge (ALJ) hearing to determine whether certain natural gas futures trading activities by Amaranth Advisors LLC, seven affiliates and two former traders violated the agency’s anti-manipulation regulations.

Broadwater Energy LLC and Broadwater Pipeline LLC have filed an administrative appeal with the Department of Commerce asking 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.

Broadwater Energy LLC and Broadwater Pipeline LLC have filed an administrative appeal with the Department of Commerce asking 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.

A FERC administrative law judge (ALJ) last Tuesday granted enforcement staff’s request to issue subpoenas for several nonparty companies to appear or produce documents at the hearing of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP, which stands accused of manipulating physical natural gas prices at the Houston Ship Chanel (HSC) and Waha trading hub on various dates from December 2003 through December 2005.

A FERC administrative law judge (ALJ) Tuesday granted enforcement staff’s request to issue subpoenas for several nonparty companies to appear or produce documents at the hearing of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP, which stands accused of manipulating physical natural gas prices at the Houston Ship Chanel (HSC) and Waha trading hub on various dates from December 2003 through December 2005.

Following a conference with parties Monday, FERC Chief Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Curtis Wagner Jr. ruled that the manipulation charges against Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP) and affiliates and the allegations against Oasis Pipeline LP and affiliates are different and should be considered in two separate hearings.

Michael J. Cianci Jr. has been appointed a FERC administrative law judge (ALJ). Cianci currently is the senior reservist for the U.S. Air Force Environmental Law and Litigation Division, serving in the rank of colonel. Since 2001 he has served as ALJ for the Social Security Administration in Cleveland and Phoenix. He also was the chief ALJ for the Phoenix office for more than two years. “Judge Cianci’s broad experience in both government and the private sector, including his positions as a chief judge and litigation attorney, along with his extensive knowledge of regulatory, environmental and natural resource issues will serve FERC very well,” said Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher. FERC’s Chief ALJ Curtis Wagner Jr. said Cianci’s “exceptional background…will be of great value in meeting our mission responsibilities.” From 1991 to 2001 Cianci worked for the Air Force as a civilian counsel in the Environmental Law and Litigation Division, where his case work included issues involving the Clean Water Act, third-party site clean-up issues and water rights litigation. He managed a field litigation office at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and supported water rights litigation for the Air Force throughout the West. Cianci previously worked in the Arizona attorney general’s office as an assistant attorney general representing several boards and commissions, including the State Land Department. Cianci also worked as a litigation attorney with the Arizona law firms of Snell and Wilmer, and Mariscal, Weeks, McIntyre and Friedlander. After graduating from law school in 1978, Cianci served as a circuit trial counsel and assistant staff judge advocate with the Air Force where he was responsible for prosecuting major criminal cases over a five-state area, including murder, rape, espionage and robbery cases. Cianci graduated from the University of Arizona Law School in Tucson. In 1988 Cianci received a masters of law degree in Law and Marine Affairs from the University of Washington Law School, with a concentration in environmental and water law. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Michael J. Cianci Jr. has been appointed a FERC administrative law judge (ALJ), the Commission announced Monday.

A FERC administrative law judge (ALJ) has certified and recommended that FERC approve Algonquin Gas Transmission’s proposed contested settlement that attempts to resolve a number of natural gas quality and interchangeability issues associated with the transportation of regasified liquefied natural gas (LNG) on its pipeline system.