Environmental

Attorney General Janet Reno and Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) Administrator Carol M. Browner have urged Capitol Hilllawmakers not to approve legislative language that would exemptcoal-fired utilities from legal action for their alleged violationsof the Clean Air Act (CAA).

On the heels of a decision showing that Canadian landowners canforce changes, the National Energy Board has called hearings on 38objections to the route of Alliance Pipeline Project.

A major pipeline group fired off an angry letter Friday askingthe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider a “policydecision” that would force pipelines to shell out at least $280million – money that would have to be diverted from expansionprojects – for “unproven” technology to meet a 90%-reduction targetfor nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

Environmental activist Anne Marie Mueser, taking her battleagainst Sonat’s northern Alabama extension one step further, hasaccused Commissioner Curt Hebert Jr. of potentially compromisinghis impartiality in the case by corresponding with the pipeline andother supporters of the project. She suggested that Hebert, whovoted for an amended certificate for the Sonat project last week,should have considered recusing himself from the case [see relatedstory].

Environmental activist Anne Marie Mueser has accusedCommissioner Curt Hebert Jr. of potentially compromising hisimpartiality in a case involving Southern Natural Gas Co.’s (Sonat) northern Alabama project – a proceeding that is scheduled forrehearing at FERC’s bi-monthly meeting today. She thinks Hebertshould consider recusing himself from the case.

The 1 Bcf/d Vector Pipeline project won preliminary approval onnon-environmental grounds from FERC yesterday. The Commission saidno evidence was produced to demonstrate the Midwest project, whichwould link the Chicago, IL, and Dawn, ON, gas transportation hubs,was not required by the public convenience and necessity.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s final plan for reducingsmog-causing emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in 22 easternstates and the District of Columbia should create an additional 1Tcf of gas demand by 2003, said Bruce Craig of the Natural GasSupply Association.

Natural gas should be a big winner as a result of theEnvironmental Protection Agency’s final plan for reducingsmog-causing emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) that was releasedyesterday. The plan calls for a reduction of 1.1 million tonsannually, or 28%, in 22 eastern states and District of Columbia by2007. States clean air plans come due in September 1999 and neededcontrols must be in place by 2003.