by David Bradley
Natural Gas Intelligence

The Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E) has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in which it claims FERC has refused to release documents in response to an October 2013 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request related to alleged maneuvering by former Chairman Jon Wellinghoff to have Norman Bay, President Obama’s nominee to head the Commission, follow him to that position.

Emails and records that E&E says the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission “acknowledges exist,” could demonstrate that Wellinghoff  attempted to reclassify Bay as a career employee in a Senior Executive Service (SES) position.

“This practice, known as ‘burrowing,’ is frowned upon by the SES, particularly during election years, given the potential for abuse,” E&E said.

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