text_combined: northern natural gas yesterday enron settled procedural dispute dynegy northern natural gas settlement allows dynegy exercise option acquire pipeline dismisses texas lawsuit extends enron right repurchase june 30 reached settlement part efforts bring enron bankruptcy would like keep northern natural still 9 000 miles safe profitable interstate pipelines base rebuild core businesses settlement provides best opportunity resolve pipeline issue quickly pursue 10 billion damage claim dynegy also allows us avoid substantial costs distractions protracted litigation state courts want see positive future employees working northern natural gas copy message stan horton explaining decision employees enron transportation services ken dear ets colleague thursday enron entered settlement dynegy exercise option acquire northern natural gas pipeline settlement allows dynegy exercise option assume interim control pipeline enron pursues damage claim dynegy respect enron corp carefully weighed substantial costs turmoil litigating possession issue would create company employees northern natural gas consequently enron corp decided contest interim possession allow transfer northern natural gas dynegy larger issues affecting future resolved company concluded settlement enron able resolve issue quickly well avoid legal cost burden distractions business protracted litigation state court northern natural gas employees believe decision allow steer clear dispute focus day day satisfaction running valuable successful business beginning immediately working achieve smooth transition align appropriate resources assure continued safe reliable efficient operation northern natural gas many years run high quality cost conscious profitable businesses ets keep good work stan