2010-30163. Ryckman Creek Resources, LLC; Notice of Application

November 23, 2010.

Take notice that on November 8, 2010, Ryckman Creek Resources, LLC (Ryckman), 3 Riverway, Suite 1110, Houston, TX 77056, filed in Docket No. CP11-24-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part 157 and 284 of the Commission's regulations seeking authorization construct and operate an underground natural gas storage facility to provide up to 35 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of working gas capacity in Uinta County, Wyoming, all as more fully set forth in the application, which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. This filing may also be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC at [e-mail] or call toll-free, [phone] or TYY, [phone].

Ryckman requests that the Commission issue an order granting it: (1) A certificate of public convenience and necessity to develop, construct, own, operate and maintain a new interstate natural gas storage facility to be developed from an existing partially depleted oil field in Uinta County, Wyoming; (2) a blanket certificate under Part 284, Subpart G, of the Commission's regulations authorizing Ryckman to provide open-access non discriminatory natural gas storage and related services with pre-granted abandonment of such services; (3) a blanket certificate under Part 157, Subpart F, of the Commission's regulations authorizing Ryckman to construct, acquire, operate and abandon certain facilities in accordance with the Commission's regulations; (4) authorization to charge market-based rates for the proposed natural gas storage and hub services, including interruptible wheeling services; (5) approval of the pro forma FERC Gas Tariff pursuant to which Ryckman will provide open-access, non-discriminatory natural gas storage and hub services, including interruptible wheeling services, consistent with the Commission's policies; and (6) waiver of certain Commission regulations and requirements that have been found to be inapplicable to storage providers granted market-based rate authority.

Any questions regarding this application should be directed to Thomas Wynne, Ryckman Creek Resources, LLC, 3 Riverway, Suite 1110, Houston, Texas 77056, telephone [phone], or facsimile [phone], or e-mail [e-mail].

On April 26, 2010, the Commission staff granted Ryckman's request to use the pre-filing process and assigned Docket No. PF10-18-000 for this proceeding during the pre-filing review of the Ryckman Creek Storage project. Now, as of the filing of Ryckman's application on November 8, 2010, the pre-filing process for this project has ended. From this time forward, Ryckman's proceeding will be conducted in Docket No. CP11-24-000, as noted in the caption of this Notice.

Pursuant to section 157.9 of the Commission's regulations, 18 CFR 157.9, within 90 days of this Notice, the Commission's staff will either complete its environmental assessment (EA) and place it into the Commission's public record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or issue a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review. If a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review is issued, it will indicate, among other milestones, the anticipated date for the Commission's staff issuance of the EA for this proposal. The filing of the EA in the Commission's public record for this proceeding or the issuance of a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review will serve to notify federal and state agencies of the timing for the completion of all necessary reviews, and the subsequent need to reach a final decision on a request for federal authorization within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's EA.

There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of this project. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or before the comment date stated below, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) and the Regulations under the NGA (18 CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies of all documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties. A party must submit 14 copies of filings made with the Commission and must mail a copy to the applicant and to every other party in the proceeding. Only parties to the proceeding can ask for court review of Commission orders in the proceeding.

However, a person does not have to intervene in order to have comments considered. The second way to participate is by filing with the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as possible, an original and two copies of comments in support of or in opposition to this project. The Commission will consider these comments in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but the filing of a comment alone will not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. The Commission's rules require that persons filing comments in opposition to the project provide copies of their protests only to the party or parties directly involved in the protest.

Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of this project should submit an original and two copies of their comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commenters will be placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive copies of the environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings associated with the Commission's environmental review process. Environmental commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commenters will not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court review of the Commission's final order.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, protests and interventions in lieu of paper using the “eFiling” link at http://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 14 copies of the protest or intervention to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1) (iii) and the instructions on the Commission's web site under the “e-Filing” link.

Comment Date: December 15, 2010.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.