FERC chairman seeks to overcome 'rubber stamp' label

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Kevin McIntyre told state utility commissioners Tuesday that he is bothered by the “rubber stamp” label given to the commission by critics and is seeking changes to the panel’s pipeline review system.

“One phrase that bothers me at my tenure at FERC is the term ‘rubber stamp,'” McIntyre said at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Winter Policy Summit. “It fails to recognize the excellent work done by the commission and staff over many, many years to ensure adequate and careful review of pipeline projects.”