United States DC Circuit

Given that competition for interstate natural gas pipeline rates has every reasonable prospect of preventing seriously monopolistic pricing, together with the non-cost advantages, like flexibility, and the experimental nature of a particular "lighthanded" regulation, FERC's decision to grant a two-year experimental waiver of the gas rate ceilings on releases of firm capacity neither violated the Natural Gas Act, nor constituted an arbitrary or capricious agency decision.

Appellate Information

• Argued 11/29/2001
• Decided 04/05/2002
• Published 04/05/2002

Judges

• Before:  EDWARDS and TATEL, Circuit Judges, and WILLIAMS, Senior Circuit Judge.

Court

• United States DC Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Thomas J. Eastment argued the cause for petitioners Opposing Lifting of Rate Cap.   With him on the briefs were John P. Elwood, Douglas W. Rasch, Frederick T. Kolb, Stan Geurin, Paul B. Keeler, Bruce A. Connell, Charles J. McClees, Jr., Linda Geoghegan, Dena E. Wiggins, Katherine P. Yarbrough, Edward J. Grenier, Jr., David M. Sweet, John W. Wilmer, Jr. and Joseph D. Lonardo., James D. McKinney, Jr. argued the cause for petitioners Opposing Limitation on Lifting of Rate Cap to Exclude Pipeline Short-Term Service.   With him on the briefs were John J. Wallbillich, James L. Blasiak, John H. Burnes, Jr., Paul I. Korman, B.J. Becker and Paul W. Mallory., Michael E. McMahon and Henry S. May, Jr. argued the cause for petitioners and supporting intervenors on Multiple Issues Related to Segmentation.   With them on the briefs were Joan Dreskin, Robin Nuschler, Kurt L. Krieger, Robert T. Hall, III, John R. Schaefgen, Jr., James D. McKinney, Jr., John J. Wallbillich, James L. Blasiak, John H. Burnes, Jr., Paul I. Korman, B.J. Becker, Paul W. Mallory, Brian D. O'Neill, Bruce W. Neely, David P. Sharo, Merlin E. Remmenga, R. David Hendrickson, Daniel F. Collins, G. Mark Cook, J. Curtis Moffatt, Susan A. Moore, Rodney E. Gerik, Steven E. Hellman, Judy M. Johnson, Catherine O'Harra and Richard D. Avil, Jr., Frank X. Kelly argued the cause for petitioner Enron Interstate Pipelines Opposing Change in Capacity Allocation at Secondary Points.   With him on the briefs were Steve Stojic, Drew J. Fossum and Maria K. Pavlou., James L. Blasiak argued the cause for petitioners and intervenors Opposing Changes in Penalties.   With him on the briefs were E. Duncan Getchell, Jr., Brian D. O'Neill, Bruce W. Neely, David P. Sharo, Merlin E. Remmenga, Kurt L. Krieger, Robin Nuschler, Rodney E. Gerik, Steven E. Hellman, Mike McMahon, J. Curtis Moffatt, Susan A. Moore, Joan Dreskin, John H. Burnes, Jr., B.J. Becker, Judy M. Johnson, Catherine O'Harra, Robert T. Hall, III and John R. Schaefgen, Jr., Henry S. May Jr. and Mark K. Lewis argued the cause for petitioners and intervenor Opposing Limitations on the Right-Of-First-Refusal.   With them on the briefs were Bruce F. Kiely, Niki Kuckes, Edward J. Grenier, Jr., Barbara K. Heffernan, Debra Ann Palmer, William T. Miller, Joshua L. Menter, Denise C. Goulet and Jennifer N. Waters., Catherine O'Harra, Henry S. May, Jr., Judy M. Johnson, S. Scott Gaille, Rodney E. Gerik, Steven E. Hellman, James D. McKinney, Jr., John J. Wallbillich, Carl M. Fink, Lee A. Alexander, Robin Nuschler, Kurt Krieger, John H. Burnes, Jr., Paul I. Korman, B.J. Becker and Paul W. Mallory were on the briefs for petitioners and intervenors., Philip B. Malter argued the cause and filed the briefs for petitioner on Discount Adjustments., Thomas J. Eastment argued the cause for petitioners Opposing New Rate and Service Options.   With him on the briefs were Joshua B. Frank, Douglas W. Rasch, Frederick T. Kolb, Stan Geurin, Bruce A Connell, Charles J. McClees, Jr., Linda Geoghegan, David M. Sweet, John W. Wilmer, Jr., Joseph D. Lonardo, Denise C. Goulet and Robert S. Tongren., Christopher J. Barr argued the cause for petitioners and intervenors Opposing Limitations on Pre-Arranged Releases. With him on the briefs were C. Brian Meadors, Frank H. Markle, Barbara K. Heffernan, Debra Ann Palmer and Denise C. Goulet.  Kent D. Murphy and Mary E. Buluss entered appearances., Karen A. Hill, Jeffrey M. Petrash, Kenneth T. Maloney and Edward B. Myers were on the brief for intervenors in support of Lifting the Rate Cap.   Jeffrey L. Futter entered an appearance., Joan Dreskin, Henry S. May, Jr., Judy M. Johnson, Catherine O'Harra, Rodney E. Gerik, Steven E. Hellman, James D. McKinney, Jr., John J. Wallbillich, R. David Hendrickson, Daniel F. Collins, Carl M. Fink, Lee A. Alexander, Robert T. Hall, III, John R. Schaefgen, Jr., Michael E. McMahon, J. Curtis Moffatt, Susan A. Moore, Frank X. Kelly, Steve Stojic and Shelley A. Corman were on the brief for intervenor Interstate Pipeline.  Stefan M. Krantz entered an appearance., Thomas J. Eastment, Dena E. Wiggins, Katherine P. Yarbrough, James M. Bushee, Edward J. Grenier, Jr., Kirstin E. Gibbs, Jeffrey M. Petrash, A. Karen Hill, William T. Miller, John P. Gregg, Joshua L. Menter, Frederick T. Kolb, Stan Geurin, Bruce A. Connell, Peter G. Esposito, Jennifer N. Waters, Douglas W. Rasch, Philip B. Malter, David M. Sweet, John W. Wilmer, Jr., Glenn W. Letham, Denise C. Goulet, Barbara K. Heffernan, Debra Ann Palmer, Charles J. McClees Jr., Linda Geoghegan, Bruce F. Kiely, Mark K. Lewis and Niki Kuckes were on the brief for intervenors Amoco Production Company, et al.  Lois M. Henry, Jennifer S. Leete, William H. Penniman and Irwin A. Popowsky entered appearances.


• For Appellees:
  
• Dennis Lane, Solicitor, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Andrew K. Soto and Lona T. Perry, Attorneys, argued the causes and filed the brief for respondent., Mark R. Haskell argued the cause for intervenors in support of respondent on Multiple Issues Related to Segmentation and Changes in Capacity Allocation.   With him on the brief were Peter G. Esposito, Dena E. Wiggins, Katherine P. Yarbrough and Edward J. Grenier, Jr.