Committee

It is still to be determined whether FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. will repair or replace the damaged nuclear reactor head at its Davis-Besse nuclear plant in Ohio, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has established a special oversight panel to monitor corrective actions and evaluate the readiness of the plant to return to service.

The refusal of the Democrat-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee to approve the nomination of Judge Charles Pickering to the federal bench last week is expected to tie up future nominations in the upper chamber for the foreseeable future, including the nomination of Joseph T. Kelliher to fill the vacancy on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Plans by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to mark up emergency legislation designed to provide relief to the troubled California wholesale energy markets were delayed yesterday after last-minute negotiations broke out between Democrats and Republicans over the measure.

In a rebuff to the Senate Republicans’ omnibus energy bill, theranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural ResourcesCommittee plans to introduce his own comprehensive energylegislation this week, according to a spokeswoman.

In a rebuff to the Senate Republicans’ energy package, theranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural ResourcesCommittee plans to introduce his own comprehensive energylegislation either later this week or early next week, according toa spokeswoman.

Chairman W.J. “Billy” Tauzin of the House Energy and CommerceCommittee made a remark during a House hearing yesterday that castsome doubt on whether Curt. L. Hebert is actually chairman of FERCon a permanent basis.

State regulators and consumer advocates expressed deep concernover gas prices yesterday at the winter committee meetings of theNational Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners inWashington, D.C. But industry officials expressed guarded optimismabout supply and pointed to recent price decreases and drillingefforts as evidence the situation is improving.

Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-AK), chairman of the Senate Energycommittee, yesterday announced plans to hold hearings on theCalifornia energy crisis within the next week. The chairman echoedthe Bush administration’s position that California must take thelead in solving its problem with support from FERC, theadministration and Congress.

Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) said recently the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee plans to begin tackling the issue of transporting Alaska’s North Slope natural gas to the Lower 48 market when Congress reconvenes in September.