Clinton

After nearly an eight-month wait, President Bush officially has nominated Joseph T. Kelliher to a five-year term on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, putting to rest persistent reports that his nomination was in jeopardy. Kelliher will replace current Commissioner Linda K. Breathitt whose term expires June 30 of this year, a White House spokeswoman said.

California’s governor met with President Clinton in the WhiteHouse Wednesday and came away with an extension of the federalenergy secretary’s emergency order for another week, assuring thestate it can count on extra electricity supplies when needed. Thestate’s independent grid operator indicated it has been receivingabout 300 MW of power under the emergency mandate over the past twoweeks.

The final remaining maritime boundary treaty between Mexico andthe United States, signed Friday by President Clinton and MexicanPresident Ernesto Zedillo, will give Mexico nearly two-thirds of amineral-rich area that is thought to contain huge amounts ofuntapped oil and gas. Known as the Western Gap, the area has servedas a platform between both countries in the western gap of the Gulfof Mexico, beyond the 200-mile range that officially definesnational territories.

Some say the long-awaited pipeline safety reauthorizationlegislation that was unveiled by the Clinton administration earlierlast 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 andstrengthens the role of states in inspecting pipelines.

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.

While FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker said he’s honored by beingrenominated to the Commission by President Clinton earlier thismonth, Commissioner Vicky Bailey may be contemplating a jobelsewhere.

President Clinton last week signed a bill into law thatestablishes a multi-million dollar federal loan-guarantee programto help independent oil and natural gas producers recover from theeffects of depressed crude oil prices. The measure was passed bythe House earlier this month, and approved by the Senate in June.

President Clinton signed into law this week a bill thatestablishes a multimillion dollar federal loan-guarantee program tohelp independent oil and natural gas producers recover from theeffects of depressed crude oil prices. The measure was passed bythe House earlier this month, and approved by the Senate in June.

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.