Appellate Briefs

Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, et al. v. FERC Nos. 10-1389 and 10-1407 Opposition to motion for stay of pipeline construction pending judicial review. Circuit D.C. Cir.

Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General for the State of CT, et al. and Public Citizen, Inc., et al. Nos. 08-74439 and 08-74443 Rulemaking codifying and, in certain respects, modifying FERC standards for obtaining and retaining market-based rates for public utilities, at 18 CFR Part 35, Subpart H; consistency of market-based rate program with statutory requirements of advance notice and filing and just and reasonable rates. Market-Based Rates for Wholesale Sales of Electric Energy by Public Utilities, Order No. 697, 119 FERC ¶ 61,295 (2007), order on reh'g and clar.,123 FERC ¶ 61,055 (2008). Circuit 9th Cir.

Petersburg Municipal Power & Light v. FERC No. 10-1096 Issuance of preliminary permit to City of Angoon, after lottery to select among same-day filings by multiple applicants, to study Ruth Lake Project in Alaska. City of Angoon, Alaska, et al., 129 FERC ¶ 62,101 (2009), reh'g denied, 130 FERC ¶ 61,219 (2010). Circuit D.C. Cir.

MarkWest Michigan Pipeline Co. v. FERC No. 10-1075 Rejection of indexed rate increase for oil pipeline that is inconsistent with 2006 settlement and applicable regulations. MarkWest Michigan Pipeline Co., L.L.C., 126 FERC ¶ 61,300 (2009), reh’g denied, 130 FERC ¶ 61,084 (2010). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Alcoa Power Generating Inc. v. FERC No. 10-1066 Denial of petition for declaratory order, finding that State of North Carolina timely acted on application for Clean Water Act section 401 water quality certification within one year. Alcoa Power Generating Inc., 129 FERC ¶ 61,028 (2009), reh'g denied, 130 FERC ¶ 61,037 (2010). Circuit D.C. Cir.

New York Regional Interconnect v. FERC No. 09-1309 Conditional acceptance of New York ISO transmission planning process, submitted in compliance with Order No. 890; eligibility of new transmission projects for cost allocation and recovery. New York Indep. System Operator, Inc., 125 FERC ¶ 61,068 (2008), order on reh'g, 126 FERC ¶ 61,320 (2009), order on reh'g, 129 FERC ¶ 61,045 (2009). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Dynegy Midwest Generation, et al. v. FERC Nos. 09-1306, et al. Acceptance of Schedule 2-A, revising Midwest ISO open access transmission tariff to institute zone-based compensation to transmission owners for reactive power. Midwest ISO Transmission Owners, 122 FERC ¶ 61,305 (2008), reh'g denied, 129 FERC ¶ 61,041 (2009). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Northern Natural Gas Co. v. FERC No. 09-1252 Order on remand from Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Co. v. FERC, 513 F.3d 242 (D.C. Cir. 2008), finding that, in light of settlements, Burlington need not refund Kansas ad valorem taxes to pipelines on sales of natural gas, and that pipelines must return refunds paid back to Burlington (and cannot recover those amounts from pipeline customers). Burlington Res. Oil & Gas Co. and Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co., 123 FERC ¶ 61,151 (2008), reh’g denied, 128 FERC ¶ 61,151 (2009). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Brian Hunter v. FERC No. 10-1017 Latest appeal objecting to the FERC’s jurisdiction to investigate whether a natural person (Hunter) who traded natural gas futures contracts, having a direct effect on the price of natural gas, violated the FERC’s anti-market manipulation regulations under 18 C.F.R. § 1c.1, implementing section 4A of the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. § 717c-1. Brian Hunter, 130 FERC ¶ 61,030 (2010) (order denying reh’g), and earlier orders. Circuit D.C. Cir.

City of Idaho Falls, Idaho, et al. v. FERC Nos. 09-1120, et al. Updated list of charges hydropower licensees must pay for their use of federal lands; whether Commission erred in failing to initiate new notice and comment rulemaking. Update of the FERC's Fee Schedule for Annual Charges for the Use of Government Lands, 74 Fed. Reg. 8184 (Feb. 24, 2009), reh'g denied, 129 FERC ¶ 61,095 (2009). Circuit D.C. Cir.

L.S. Starrett Co. v. FERC No. 10-1470 Finding that rehabilitation of Starrett's Crescent Street Dam Project in Worcester County, Mass., adding generating/turbine capacity of project, requires FERC license. L.S. Starrett Co., 129 FERC ¶ 62,053 (2009), reh'g denied, 130 FERC ¶ 61,112 (2010). Circuit 1st Cir.

Transm. Agency of N. Cal., et al. v. FERC Nos. 09-1213, et al. Orders accepting the California ISO's establishing an Integrated Balancing Authority Area made up of SMUD and Turlock, in order to price import and export transactions with those entities consistently with the ISO's Locational Marginal Pricing rate design. California Indep. System Operator Corp., 124 FERC ¶ 61,271 (2008), order on rehearing, 128 FERC ¶ 61,103 (2009). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Indiana Utility Regulatory Comm'n v. FERC No. 10-1635 Transmission rate incentives for Pioneer project, a high voltage transmission line in Indiana that will connect PJM Interconnection and Midwest ISO and will facilitate the development of new wind generation. Pioneer Transmission, LLC, 126 FERC ¶ 61,281 (2009), order on reh'g & clar., 130 FERC ¶ 61,044 (2010). Circuit 7th Cir.

Maryland Pub. Serv. Comm'n, et al. v. FERC No. 09-1296 Denial of complaint regarding prices set for capacity in PJM's Reliability Pricing Model for delivery years governed by completed RPM auctions. Maryland Pub. Serv. Comm'n, et al. v. PJM Interconn., L.L.C., 124 FERC ¶ 61,276 (2008), reh'g denied, 127 FERC ¶ 61,274 (2009). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Flint Hills Resources Alaska, et al. v. FERC Nos. 08-1270, et al. Order affirming ALJ after hearing, concerning the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) Carriers' 2005 and 2006 interstate rate filings; finding that proposed rates are not just and reasonable, and ordering refunds; rejecting State of Alaska's discrimination claim seeking additional refunds based on disparity between interstate and intrastate rates. BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc., et al., Opinion No. 502, 123 FERC ¶ 61,287 (2008), order on reh'g & comp., 125 FERC ¶ 61,215 (2008), order on reh'g, 127 FERC ¶ 61,317 (2009). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Apache Corp. v. FERC No. 09-1204 Issuance of certificates authorizing, among other things, lease of natural gas transmission capacity from Enogex to Midcontinent; impact of lease on Enogex's captive customers receiving interruptible service under NGPA § 311. Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC and Enogex Inc., 124 FERC ¶ 61,089 (2008), order on reh'g & clarification, 127 FERC ¶ 61,164 (2009). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Western Refining Southwest, et al. v. FERC No. 09-60947 Dismissal of complaint concerning capacity release agreement not within FERC jurisdiction over oil pipeline transportation but subject to state court jurisdiction to resolve property rights under private contract. Western Refining Southwest Inc., et al. v. TEPPCO Crude Pipeline, LLC, 127 FERC ¶ 61,288 (2009), reh’g denied, 129 FERC ¶ 61,053 (2009). Circuit 5th Cir.

Flint Hills Alaska v. FERC and United States Nos. 09-1236, et al. Order affirming ALJ initial decision on valuation (specifically, processing cost adjustment) of West Coast Heavy Distillate cut of Trans Alaska Pipeline System crude oil; issues on appeal are effective date and length of refund period. BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc., et al., 122 FERC ¶ 61,236 (2008), order on compl., 125 FERC ¶ 61,254 (2008), reh’g denied, 128 FERC ¶ 61,169 (2009). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Murray Energy Corp.et al. v. FERC No. 09-1207 Authorization to commence construction of 8-mile stretch of Rockies Express-East Pipeline, crossing lands underlain by coal reserves and mined areas controlled by the Murray Companies. Rockies Express Pipeline, LLC, 128 FERC ¶ 61,045 (2009), order on rehearing of 3/19/09 unpublished letter order. Circuit D.C. Cir.

Flint Hills Resources Alaska,et al. v. FERC Nos. 06-1361, et al. Acceptance of tariff sheets filed to comply with Opinion No. 481 series of orders (concerning Trans Alaska Pipeline System “Quality Bank”); application of Nelson-Farrar Inflation Adjustment Index to processing costs for Heavy Distillate and Resid cuts. BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc., et al., 116 FERC ¶ 61,208 (2006), reh’g denied, 118 FERC ¶ 61,056 (2007), order on voluntary remand, 124 FERC ¶ 61,153 (2008), order on reh’g, 127 FERC ¶ 61,039 (2009); Trans Alaska Pipeline System, 119 FERC ¶ 61,254 (2007), reh’g denied, 120 FERC ¶ 61,279 (2007). Circuit D.C. Cir.