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RCA grants expedited consideration for pipeline
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska has granted expedited consideration in an application by Marathon Oil for connection of the Kenai-Nikiski pipeline with the Kenai Kachemak pipeline, and in the matter of the regulation of the Kenai-Nikiski pipeline under the Alaska Pipeline Act.
The commission said that in addition to granted the motion for expedited consideration, it also granted a motion for extensions of time filed by Marathon to file a proposed connection agreement between the Kenai-Nikiski pipeline and the soon-to-be-completed Kenai Kachemak pipeline.
Issues relating to the regulatory status of the Kenai-Nikiski pipeline have been transferred to a separate docket and an administrative law judge has been appointed for the proceedings.
The commission said it is granting Marathon's motion to extend the filing date for a proposed connection agreement to July 11. Marathon has requested expedited consideration, and the commission said that as soon as Marathon files the connection agreement, it will begin its public notice and comment period.
The commission has also granted Marathon's motion for an extension of time to reply to Unocal's opposition. Marathon's response to Unocal's comments and to any other comments filed by July 14 will be July 28.
The commission said it would determine if a hearing or additional briefing is necessary after it has received comments in both dockets and Marathon's response to Unocal's opposition. Opportunity to object to Marston Blythe Marston has been appointed administrative law judge for both dockets. The commission said it is providing Marston's background to provide the parties an opportunity to object to her appointment. She represented ARCO Alaska and Exxon Corp. some years ago when she worked for the law firm of Bogle & Gates. Later, while not associated with Bogle & Gates, she represented BP Exploration (Alaska) in limited small contract matters and in the Amerada Hess tax case.
Marston managed Alaska legal matters for Unocal Alaska Resources for a nine-month period.
Marston's husband, Gordon Pospisil, worked for ARCO from 1985 to 2000; he now works for BP.
The commission said it does not believe that Marston's former clients or her spouse's employment create a conflict requiring her exclusion as an administrative law judge. Marston is an independent contractor, not an employee of the commission.
Parties have 10 days to object to the appointment.
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