Reconsider

Defending its hostile takeover attempt for Denver-based BarrettResources Corp., Royal Dutch/Shell Group’s CEO Walter van de Vijversent a letter to Barrett’s board of directors Wednesday calling the$55 a share offer a “full and fair value” for the gas-richindependent. Barrett has rejected Shell’s offer and is nowconsidering strategic alternatives (see Daily GPI, March 12).

A broad coalition of gas and electric trade groups has askedFERC to reconsider a July rehearing decision that prompted it topurge any reference to immediate relief from its final rule oncomplaint procedures.

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.

Four major gas associations last week urged FERC to reconsider”as soon as possible” an April rule requiring interstate pipelinesto conduct electronic communication using only electronic datainterchange (EDI) over the Internet by June 1, 1999.