Officials

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to sit down withIllinois’ Nicor Gas officials this week to discuss how the companydisposes of its used gas regulators after investigators foundmercury contamination at a scrapyard used by the company. EPAalready has begun testing five Nicor service centers and otherscrapyards for mercury contamination.

With the distraction of the Democratic Convention in town thisweek, Los Angeles elected officials face a critical vote today onthe city’s future strategy for remaining relatively energyindependent through its operation of the nation’s largest municipalelectric utility.

In what state officials say would be a boon to the oil and gasindustry in Oklahoma, oil and gas drillers are expected to add totheir tax exemptions for certain types of activities underlegislation now awaiting Gov. Frank Keating’s signature. As ofFriday afternoon, Keating had taken no action on the bill, but hehas until June 10 to sign or veto it.

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline officials predict there couldbe a service delay and a rate increase on its 164,000 MMBtu/d SaintJohn lateral because clearing work has been stopped illegally byunion workers. Work was scheduled to begin last Monday on theproject, but union laborers physically prevented clearing by HEFIndustries Ltd., the hired excavation/clearing contractor, whichuses non-union labor.

In what state officials say would be a boon to the oil and gasindustry in Oklahoma, oil and gas drillers are expected to add totheir tax exemptions for certain types of activities underlegislation now awaiting Gov. Frank Keating’s signature.

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline officials predict there couldbe a service delay and a rate increase on its 164,000 MMBtu/d SaintJohn lateral because clearing work has been stopped illegally byunion workers. Work was scheduled to begin Monday on the project,but union laborers have physically prevented clearing by HEFIndustries Ltd., the hired excavation/clearing contractor, whichuses non-union labor.

Although officials at the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC), which oversees electric power grid reliability for Northeastern North America, are forecasting sufficient electricity supplies to meet demand this summer, they cautioned last week that reserves are low.

Although officials at the Northeast Power Coordinating Council(NPCC), which oversees electric power grid reliability forNortheastern North America, are forecasting sufficient electricitysupplies to meet demand this summer, they cautioned yesterday thatreserves are low.

MCN Energy Group Inc. is selling its 35% interest in Jonah GasGathering Co. to Green River Pipeline, LLC — a move top MCNofficials say is related to the company’s desire to focus attentionon its Midwest-to-Northeast region. Green River, MCN’s partner,will pay $45 million in exchange for the stake in the venture.