Regulatory

Texas Eastern Transmission’s (Tetco) Uniontown-to-Gas City Expansion Project (U2GC) is poised to enter partial service, with the Spectra Energy pipeline having received FERC approval on Tuesday to place some project facilities online.

As open dockets for pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects groan under the weight of numerous objections from landowners and others, FERC has published guidance on “best practices” for stakeholder outreach. Projects will have an easier time in the regulatory process if developers try to make friends with the locals, the Commission said.

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead wants to update the state’s two-year-old energy strategy, potentially adding initiatives. He plans to start the information-gathering process with a series of six public meetings Aug. 4-19, he said.

FERC staff Thursday announced environmental reviews of several natural gas projects: Annova LNG Brownsville; Dominion Transmission Inc.’s Leidy South Expansion; Trans-Pecos Pipeline LLC’s Presidio, TX, Border Crossing; Texas LNG Brownsville LLC; and the Rio Grande LNG project.

National support has swiftly fallen short of volunteering to pay for Canadian oil and natural gas export pipeline projects.

Industry groups are prepping for review of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed voluntary Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program, through which oil and natural gas companies could make and track commitments to reduce methane emissions.

After months of hearings, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday unveiled a lengthy, comprehensive energy bill that calls for, among other things, the expedited review of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and associated infrastructure, and for any related legal challenges to such exports.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has signed an agreement to work cooperatively with federal and state officials to preserve greater sage grouse habitat on working rangelands.

Alaska may not conduct 3-D seismic exploration and drilling in the 1.5-million coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), according to a U.S. District Court ruling issued in Alaska Tuesday. It is the latest blow to the state’s long-running effort to assess the area’s resource potential.