Stakeholder

Idaho regulators last Friday asked for stakeholder and general public comments on a long-term planning document by Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities that forecasts 20 years of low gas prices and demand by its retail residential and business natural gas customers in the northern panhandle of the state.

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is seeking stakeholder comments on eight planned lease sales scheduled in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico (GOM) over the next five years, excluding Lease Sale 229 in the Western GOM and Lease Sale 227 in the Central GOM because information for those sales has been completed. In late June Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued the final version of the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017, which includes 10 potential lease sales (see NGI, July 2) and BOEM now is asking stakeholders for information about potential leasing and development of these areas, including geological, environmental and biological conditions; archaeological resources, socioeconomic factors and potential concerns about conflicts with other uses. BOEM also is initiating the next stage of environmental and socioeconomic analysis for Western GOM Lease Sale 233 and Central GOM Lease Sale 231, proposed for 2013 and 2014, respectively, by publishing a notice of intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement to build on the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the Western and Central GOM lease sales. The FEIS provides baseline analysis in support of 10 lease sales scheduled in the Central and Western GOM, and it evaluates baseline conditions and potential environmental effects of leasing, exploration and development in those two offshore regions.

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is seeking stakeholder comments on eight planned oil and natural gas lease sales scheduled in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico (GOM) over the next five years. The call for information does not include Lease Sale 229 in the Western GOM and Lease Sale 227 in the Central GOM because calls for comments and information on those two sales have already been completed.

A study of the biggest risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking), as well as recommended policies to reduce those risks, has been launched by an arm of the nonpartisan Resources for the Future (RFF).

Colorado unveiled a proposed new set of guidelines for oil and natural gas production in the state in a series of stakeholder meetings last Tuesday in Denver, drawing questions and concerns from the industry. The proposal won’t be posted on the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission’s (O&G commission) website until Dec. 14 to allow some initial feedback from stakeholders to be included. The deadline for finalizing the new rules is July 1 next year.

Colorado unveiled a proposed new set of guidelines for oil and natural gas production in the state in a series of stakeholder meetings Tuesday in Denver, drawing questions and concerns from the industry. The proposal won’t be posted on the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission’s (O&G Commission) website until Dec. 14 to allow some initial feedback from stakeholders to be included. The deadline for finalizing the new rules is July 1 next year.

After years of regulatory processing and stakeholder settlements, California regulators last week unanimously established “firm access rights” (FAR) for wholesale natural gas customers on the Sempra Energy utilities’ gas transmission and storage system. It was recognized that stakeholders see the new system as far from perfect, and the utility was directed to take steps to fine tune the program before it becomes fully implemented in 2008.

After years of regulatory processing and stakeholder settlements, California regulators Thursday unanimously established “firm access rights” (FAR) for wholesale natural gas customers on the Sempra Energy utilities’ gas transmission and storage system. It was recognized that stakeholders see the new system as far from perfect, and the utility was directed to take steps to fine tune the program before it becomes fully implemented in 2008.

The Department of Energy (DOE) sent out a notice last Tuesday requesting public and stakeholder comments on the outlook for natural gas supply and demand through 2015. The agency is looking for input on what role the federal government should play, what data and analyses are required to complete such an assessment, and what might be among the methods for balancing supply and demand, such as demand side management practices or alternative supply sources for example.