Vote

Corbett wants an impact fee, but his proposal is closer to the House version. Still, following the Senate vote, he offered limited praise for the measure, calling it “a significant step forward toward finalizing a strong and sensible Marcellus Shale legislative package…While productive discussions are ongoing and continue to resolve the various issues related to the Marcellus Shale, [Wednesday’s] action reaffirms the strong commitment of the Senate to achieve out common goals of safe and responsible natural gas development in Pennsylvania.”

The House of Representatives could vote out pipeline safety legislation “as early as next week,” an official with the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) said Friday.

The House of Representatives could vote out pipeline safety legislation “as early as next week,” said an official with the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America said Friday.

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin appears poised to call a special session of the legislature in mid-December to discuss, and hopefully pass, a compromise Marcellus Shale regulatory reform bill.

Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Egan-Jones Proxy Services have recommended that Southern Union Co. shareholders vote in favor of the company’s proposed acquisition by Energy Transfer Equity LP, Southern Union said Monday. ISS said the Energy Transfer offer is “significantly higher than Southern Union’s all-time high trading price prior to the initial announcement of the merger.” Egan-Jones said the proposed deal is a “desirable approach in maximizing shareholder value.” A special meeting of shareholders is scheduled for 11 a.m. EST Dec. 9. Williams has also pursued Southern Union but has been repeatedly rebuffed (see Daily GPI, Oct. 13).

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) later this month plans to consider adopting water quality regulations that would apply to all natural gas development projects in the basin, including the construction and operation of all gas wells, regardless of the target geologic formation, whether a well is for production or exploration, or whether high-volume or low-volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is being considered.

The Senate Appropriations Commission Thursday was poised to vote out along partisan lines a spending bill that provides the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) with an 18% hike in funding for fiscal 2012 to implement reforms under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act.

A panel of West Virginia lawmakers approved three amendments to a draft Marcellus Shale regulatory reform bill on Monday, recommending that the state expand the public notice and comment period over drilling activities and change the way it hires natural gas well inspectors.

A Republican-led House Energy and Commerce subcommittee last Wednesday voted out by voice vote legislation that is favorable to existing natural gas pipelines, distribution lines and offshore gathering facilities. Meanwhile, the fallout from last September’s San Bruno, CA, gas pipeline explosion continued to roil stakeholders in California.