Conduct

FERC has set Dec. 3 for a technical conference in Anchorage, AK on its proposed regulations governing the conduct of open seasons for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System. The Commission’s action comes after President Bush signed into law last month a bill that provides for an $18 billion federal loan guarantee for the construction of the remaining 1,600 miles of the project. FERC expects to issue a proposed rule by about Nov. 18. The public would have until Dec. 17 to comment on FERC’s notice of proposed rulemaking. The law requires FERC to complete the regulations by Feb. 10, 2005.

FERC on Tuesday said it will issue on Nov. 18 proposed regulations governing the conduct of open seasons for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System. The Commission’s action comes nearly two weeks after President Bush signed into law a bill that provides for an $18 billion federal loan guarantee for the construction of the remaining 1,600 miles of the project. The public would have until Dec. 17 to comment on FERC’s notice of proposed rulemaking, with issuance of a final rule scheduled for Feb. 9. The Commission also plans to hold a technical conference around Dec. 6-10 at a site to be determined in Alaska to receive comment on the proposed open-season regulations.

FERC on Tuesday said it will issue on Nov. 18 proposed regulations governing the conduct of open seasons for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System. The Commission’s action comes nearly two weeks after President Bush signed into law a bill that provides for an $18 billion federal loan guarantee for the construction of the remaining 1,600 miles of the project. The public would have until Dec. 17 to comment on FERC’s notice of proposed rulemaking, with issuance of a final rule scheduled for Feb. 9. The Commission also plans to hold a technical conference around Dec. 6-10 at a site to be determined in Alaska to receive comment on the proposed open-season regulations.

Denver-based producer Bill Barrett Corp. began seismic gas exploration activity on the West Tavatus Plateau in Utah on Saturday, one day after The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) withdrew its request for a federal court in Washington, DC, to issue a preliminary injunction barring the producer from moving forward, said a spokesman for the company.

Multiple environmental groups are suing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for authorizing Bill Barrett Corp. to conduct the Stone Cabin 3-D seismic gas exploration project on the West Tavaputs Plateau of eastern Utah this summer, possibly endangering cultural resources, such as rock art, cliff dwellings and other structures in nearby Nine Mile Canyon.

The Western Interstate Energy Board, the energy wing of the Western Governors Association, voted last week to have the California Energy Commission (CEC) conduct a new western natural gas forecast.

The Western Interstate Energy Board, the energy wing of the Western Governors Association, voted this week to have the California Energy Commission (CEC) conduct a new western natural gas forecast.

Building on its announcement earlier in the month, Petrosearch Corp. said it has organized another five subsidiaries to conduct oil and natural gas exploration activities in various parts of the United States. This brings the total number of exploration subsidiaries to nine.

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) inspector general has agreed to conduct a “preliminary inquiry” into allegations that FERC Chairman Pat Wood and Commissioner Nora M. Brownell gave advance notice to Wall Street analysts of how they intended to vote in pending high-profile cases involving manipulation of western energy markets, according to Sens. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).