Clears

In a decision that effectively clears the way for the implementation of tougher wastewater regulations for natural gas drilling operations in Pennsylvania’s prolific Marcellus Shale area, the state’s Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has indicated that it does not intend to take any formal action on the regulations, according to committee chairperson Mary Jo White (R-21st).

In last week’s story titled “Sweeping Financial Regulatory Reform Clears Senate” (see NGI, May 24), NGI incorrectly stated that both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission carried out legal action against Amaranth Advisors LLC and its principal over the manipulation of gas futures prices in 2006. Both agencies have carried out legal action only against Amaranth Advisors LLC. NGI regrets the error.

The House Wednesday approved by voice vote a resolution that clears the way for Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) to become secretary of the Interior Department under an Obama administration.

The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) issued a record of decision Thursday that clears the way for it to proceed with an alternative energy and alternate use program for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

FERC on Monday affirmed an administrative law judge (ALJ) ruling that clears the way for Tennessee Gas Pipeline to build an interconnect to the Columbia Gulf Transmission-operated portion of a transportation system along the coast of Louisiana that the two pipelines jointly maintain and operate.

Dynegy Inc. last Monday said that FERC has approved the company’s previously announced plans to purchase from Exelon Corp. all of the outstanding capital stock of ExRes SHC Inc., the parent company of Sithe Energies Inc. and Sithe Independence LP.

U.S. antitrust regulators this week cleared Royal Dutch/Shell Group’s plan to merge its two holding companies, The Hague-based Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., which owns 60% of the company, and London-based Shell Transport & Trading Co Ltd., which owns 40%.

FERC on Thursday gave Cheyenne Plains Gas Pipeline Co., a subsidiary of El Paso Corp., the green light to begin service on the “remaining portion” of its 380-mile pipeline that transports natural gas from the prolific Rocky Mountain region to markets in the Midcontinent and Midwest.

FERC on Thursday gave Cheyenne Plains Gas Pipeline Co., a subsidiary of El Paso Corp., the green light to begin service on the “remaining portion” of its 380-mile pipeline that transports natural gas from the prolific Rocky Mountain region to markets in the Midcontinent and Midwest.