Alleging

Facing a ballot measure by its opponents that it’s alleging is illegal, NorthernStar Natural Gas’s proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal along the Columbia River in Oregon received county approval Monday for upgrading its three-mile-long access road to the site as a last major local permitting milestone, the company announced. Bradwood Landing now looks to the final FERC environmental impact report (EIR) expected around late June as its next major milestone, a Portland, OR-based spokesperson told NGI Wednesday.

FERC Thursday rejected a complaint alleging that Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) would violate federal regulations and the U.S. Constitution by levying a fee on natural gas-fired generators to gain access to its intrastate gas pipeline.

The Supreme Court last week rejected a $40 billion lawsuit by Enron Corp. investors alleging securities fraud by Wall Street investment banks that had done business with the former energy merchant. The rejection came without comment.

The Supreme Court Tuesday rejected a $40 billion lawsuit by Enron Corp. investors alleging securities fraud by Wall Street investment banks that had done business with the former energy merchant. The rejection came without comment.

North American natural gas producer EnCana Corp. has been slapped with an environmental charge alleging that the company constructed a natural gas pipeline through a wildlife area in southeastern Alberta without a permit.

North American natural gas producer EnCana Corp. has been slapped with an environmental charge alleging that the company constructed a natural gas pipeline through a wildlife area in southeastern Alberta without a permit.

With maximum fanfare two federal regulatory agencies blew the whistle on Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP) and three of its subsidiaries, alleging that they attempted to manipulate physical natural gas prices at the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) delivery hub in the fall of 2005 in Hurricane Rita’s aftermath. The charges against ETP relating to the physical market came at the same time the agencies cited the failed Amaranth hedge fund for allegedly manipulating the natural gas futures market (see related story).

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Thursday filed a civil lawsuit against Nicor Inc.’s former CEO, CFO and treasurer alleging that they committed financial fraud between 1999 and 2002.

Spokane, WA-based Avista Corp announced it has agreed to a $9.5 million settlement to end a class action lawsuit field by investors five years ago alleging that the company and senior executives committed fraud and other securities law violations. The deal still need to be approved by U.S. District Court Judge Fed Van Sickle in Spokane.