Appellate Briefs

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.

N. Cal. Power Agency, et al. v. FERC Nos. 09-72762, et al. Supplemental Brief, filed 1/4/2011 Orders on remand from Bonneville Power Admin. v. FERC, 422 F.3d 908 (9th Cir. 2005), eliminating refund obligation for sales by non-jurisdictional (governmental) entities during 2000-2001 Western energy crisis; whether the Commission retroactively reset the market clearing price. San Diego Gas & Electric Co. v. Sellers of Energy and Ancillary Services, 121 FERC ¶ 61,067 (2007), order on clar., 121 FERC ¶ 61,188 (2007), reh'g denied, 127 FERC ¶ 61,191 (2009). Circuit 9th Cir.

Richard Blumenthal v. FERC No. 09-1220 ISO New England's collection of administrative costs for calendar year 2009, including executive compensation. ISO New England, Inc., 125 FERC ¶ 61,392 (2008), reh'g denied, 127 FERC ¶ 61,254 (2009). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Maine Pub. Utils. Comm'n, et al. v. FERC (Supplemental Brief) Nos. 06-1403, et al. Approval and implementation of contested settlement, developing Forward Capacity Market as an alternative to locational installed capacity mechanism to assure sufficient generation capacity in New England. Devon Power LLC, 115 FERC ¶ 61,340 (2006), order on reh'g and clar., 117 FERC & 61,133 (2006); ISO New England, Inc., et al., 117 FERC ¶ 61,132 (2006), reh'g denied, 119 FERC ¶ 61,044 (2007). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Fishermen Interested in Safe Hydrokinetics v. FERC No. 09-72920 Preliminary permit to study proposed hydrokinetic Green Wave Mendocino Project, to be located in Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mendocino County, CA; whether FPA requires the Commission to develop a comprehensive plan for waters off the coast of CA, OR and WA. Green Wave Energy Solutions, LLC, 127 FERC ¶ 62,093 (2009), reh'g denied, 128 FERC ¶ 61,034 (2009). Circuit 9th Cir.

Hoopa Valley Tribe v. FERC No. 09-1134 Denial of motion filed by Hoopa Valley Tribe to impose interim license conditions, during relicensing proceeding, to impose ramping rate and minimum flow conditions to protect trout. PacifiCorp, 125 FERC ¶ 61,196 (2008), reh'g denied, 126 FERC ¶ 61,236 (2009). Circuit D.C. Cir.

State of Oregon, et al. v. FERC Nos. 09-70269, et al. Authorization to Bradwood Landing to site, construct and operate a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Columbia River in Clatsop County, Oregon, and to construct, own and operate 36.3 miles of pipeline from the LNG terminal to an interconnection with Northwest Pipeline Corp. in Cowlitz County, Washington. Bradwood Landing LLC and NorthernStar Energy LLC, 124 FERC ¶ 61,257 (2008), reh'g denied, 126 FERC ¶ 61,035 (2009). Circuit 9th Cir.