Awaited

Some say the long-awaited pipeline safety reauthorizationlegislation that was unveiled by the Clinton administration earlierthis week is a pipeline’s worst nightmare come true. It imposestougher safety standards, gives the Department of Transportation(DOT) more inspection muscle, quadruples the amount of civilpenalties for violators, enhances criminal enforcement of violatorsand strengthens the role of states in inspecting pipelines.

With a striking new drilling success confirming that thelong-awaited time has arrived for making a start on developingnatural gas in the Canadian North, natives and authorities thereare laying out welcome mats.

Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) of the House energy and powersubcommittee said yesterday he’s “optimistic” that long-awaitedlegislation to restructure the electricity industry will be signedinto law next year.

FERC has unveiled its long-awaited final rule on expeditedcomplaint procedures, the focus of which is a “very innovative”fast-track process for resolving “highly time-sensitive” industrydisputes within 20 days after a response is filed. This compares toFERC’s target of up to 60 days for most standard complaints. TheCommission voted out the order notationally after its bi-weeklymeeting last Wednesday.

FERC has unveiled its long-awaited final rule on expeditedcomplaint procedures, the focus of which is its fast-track processfor resolving industry disputes within 20 to 60 days after aninitial complaint is filed. The Commission voted out the ordernotationally late Wednesday.

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson last week said long-awaitedClinton administration legislation to restructure the retail powerindustry would be on congressional lawmakers’ desks after theyreturn from Easter recess in mid-April.

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson yesterday said the long-awaitedClinton administration bill to restructure the retail powerindustry would be on congressional lawmakers’ desks after theyreturn from Easter recess in mid-April.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said last week that it plans tosend the long-awaited Clinton administration’s legislation onretail choice for electricity customers to Capitol Hill in thelatter half of March.

FERC is expected to announce the long-awaited outcome of itssweeping FERC First review to staff members at various “townmeetings” within the Commission beginning this Wednesday, but it’sunclear if the results will be publicly disclosed this week.