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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,    

                  Plaintiff,

                  v.

KEYSPAN CORPORATION

                  Defendant.

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ECF CASE

Civil Case No.: 10-cv-1415 (WHP)

Filed 02/23/2010



PLAINTIFF UNITED STATES'
EXPLANATION OF CONSENT DECREE PROCEDURES

Plaintiff United States of America ("United States") submits this memorandum summarizing the procedures for entry of the proposed Final Judgment as set forth by the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 16(b)-(h) (the "APPA"), which applies in civil antitrust cases brought and settled by the United States. As described below, the APPA provides that certain events must occur prior to the Court signing and entering the proposed Final Judgment to resolve this case.

  1. Today, Plaintiff has filed a Complaint, proposed Final Judgment, Competitive Impact Statement, and Stipulation between Plaintiff and Defendant KeySpan Corporation ("Stipulation").

  2. The Stipulation contains the parties' agreement that, after compliance with the APPA, the Court may enter the proposed Final Judgment. The APPA requires that Plaintiff publish the proposed Final Judgment and the Competitive Impact Statement in the Federal Register and in certain newspapers at least sixty (60) days prior to entry of the proposed Final Judgment. The notice will inform members of the public that they may submit comments about the proposed Final Judgment to the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division (see 15 U.S.C. §§ 16(b)-(c)).
  1. During the sixty-day period, Plaintiff will consider, and at the close of that period respond to, any comments that it has received, and it will publish the comments and Plaintiff's responses in the Federal Register.

  2. After the expiration of the sixty-day period, Plaintiff will file with the Court the comments and Plaintiff's responses, and Plaintiff either will ask the Court to enter the Final Judgment (subject to any proposed revisions) or will withdraw its consent to entry of the Final Judgment, as provided in Section IV(A) of the Stipulation and Order (see 15 U.S.C. § 16(d)).

  3. If Plaintiff requests that the Court enter the Final Judgment after compliance with the APPA, 15 U.S.C. §§ 16(e)-(f), then the Court may enter the Final Judgment without a hearing, provided that the Court concludes that the Final Judgment is in the public interest.

    Respectfully submitted,


FOR PLAINTIFF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


_______________/s________________
David E. Altschuler
Jade A. Eaton
Trial Attorneys
United States Department of Justice
Antitrust Division
Transportation, Energy & Agriculture Section
450 5th Street, NW, Suite 8000
Washington, DC 20530
Telephone: (202) 307-6316
jade.eaton@usdoj.gov
david.altschuler@usdoj.gov 		   

Dated: February 22, 2010