Nominated

Northwest said nominated northbound volumes through Kemmerer Compressor Station and the Plymouth South constraint point continue to substantially exceed design capacity, impacting the pipeline’s operational integrity. As a result, effective Wednesday until further notice Northwest is declaring OFOs at both points If scheduled quantities for Wednesday’s gas day exceed the design capacity of 655,000 Dth/d at Kemmerer or 536,300 Dth/d at Plymouth South, Northwest will provide shippers with their contract-specific, realignment or must-flow OFO obligations by 4 p.m. MST.

John Bryson, the retired CEO of Edison International, was nominated Tuesday by President Obama to be the next secretary of commerce, replacing Gary Locke, the former Washington governor who is leaving the federal Cabinet post. A former chief regulator in California and a founding attorney of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Bryson will continue the U.S. Commerce Department’s efforts to increase the nation’s competitiveness in the global marketplace, according to the White House. Obama said Bryson “understands what it takes to succeed in the 21st century economy.”

Energy industry attorney Joshua Epel has been nominated as chair of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) after being selected by Gov. John Hickenlooper earlier in April to replace Ronald Binz, whose term expired earlier in the year. The nomination is awaiting confirmation by the Colorado legislature, whose current session ends in mid-May. Epel is currently the assistant general counsel at DCP Midstream LLC, a Denver-based gatherer/processor of natural gas and a 50-50 venture between Spectra Energy and ConocoPhillips. Epel is also the chairman of the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission, a position he will leave if he is confirmed to head the PUC. Hickenlooper said Epel brings a “broad range of experience in energy and environmental policy.” If confirmed, Epel will replace Binz, who was appointed in January 2007 and served past the expiration of this four-year tern, resigning April 8.

New Mexico’s newly elected Gov. Susana Martinez has nominated former astronaut and U.S. senator Harrison Schmitt as the state’s secretary for Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources. The governor’s announcement follows a decision to dismiss the state’s environmental board tied to a cap-and-trade proposal. Schmitt is charged by the new governor to “harness and develop” energy sources in New Mexico as a means of reviving the state’s sputtering economy and creating new jobs. Schmitt’s nomination is subject to confirmation by state lawmakers. He said he will work with the governor to “enhance New Mexico’s potential” as “a leader in energy and natural resource development.” With an undergraduate degree from the California Institute of Technology and a doctorate degree from Harvard University, Schmitt earned an Air Force jet pilot’s wings in 1965 and Navy helicopter wings two years later. He participated in the National Aeronautical and Space Administration’s scientist-astronaut program beginning in 1965, and provided support for the Apollo 11 mission, before flying into space as part of the Apollo 17 mission. He landed on the Moon Dec. 11, 1972.

New Mexico’s newly elected Gov. Susana Martinez has nominated former astronaut and U.S. senator Harrison Schmitt as the state’s secretary for Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources. The governor’s announcement follows a decision to dismiss the state’s environmental board tied to a cap-and-trade proposal in the opening days of her new administration (see Power Market Today, Jan. 10).

Southern California Gas declared a high-linepack OFO for Saturday, with Buy-Back penalties applying to deliveries exceeding 10% of nominated quantities.

In a surprise move last Monday, FERC Commissioner Suedeen Kelly, who was nominated for a third term at the agency in March, announced that she has decided to decline the nomination (see NGI, March 23).

Transportation attorney Cynthia L. Quarterman — who was directer of Minerals Management Service (MMS) in the Clinton administration — was nominated by President Obama to be administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) at the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has signed agreements for nominated capacity on a planned expansion of the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline system to deliver volumes into Canadian and U.S. markets from the producer’s planned Bear Head liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal, which is scheduled to start up in 2008.