01-3153. Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Application

February 1, 2001.

Take notice that Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (Columbia), a Delaware Corporation, having its principal place of business at 12801 Fair Lakes Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-0146, filed on January 23, 2001, an abbreviated application pursuant to sections 7(c) and 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), as amended, for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to perform certain facility enhancements. Columbia states that it has agreed to provide firm transportation service for up to 140,000 Dth/d (40 MDth/d annually and an additional 100MDth/d from June 31 through August 31 annually) to Northeast Ohio Natural Gas Corporation for redelivery to First Energy Trading Services, Inc., both wholly owned subsidiaries of First Energy Corp., all as more fully described in the application.

In this connection, Columbia requests NGA section 7(c) and 7(b) authorization for the following:

• Increase the MAOP of its entire Line L-2542 from 400 psig to 630 psig and a portion of its Line V from 500 psig to 550 psig and to operate the pipelines at the higher pressures. The location of this portion of the project is Wayne, Lucas, and Holmes Counties, Ohio.
• Construct two 4,500 hp electric driven compressor units, a building and appurtenances at its existing Wellington Compressor Station located in Lorain County, Ohio.
• Abandon by replacement seven existing compressor units with a combined horsepower of 4,320, four existing gas coolers, an existing building and appurtenances at Wellington Compressor Station.

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 February 22, 2001 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 may issue a preliminary determination on non-environmental issues prior to the completion of its review of the environmental aspects of the project. This preliminary determination typically considers such issues as the need for the project and its economic effect on existing customers of the applicant, on other pipelines in the area, and on landowners and communities. For example, the Commission considers the extent to which the applicant may need to exercise eminent domain to obtain rights-of-way for the proposed project and balances that against the non-environmental benefits to be provided by the project. Therefore, if a person has comments on community and landowner impacts from this proposal, it is important either to file comments or to intervene as early in the process as possible.

Comments and protests may be filed electronically via the internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's web site at http://www.ferc.fed.us/​efi/​doorbell.htm.

If the Commission decides to set the application for a formal hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, the Commission will issue another notice describing that process. At the end of the Commission's review process, a final Commission order approving or denying a certificate will be issued.

Under the procedure herein provided for, unless otherwise advised, it will be unnecessary for Applicant to appear or be represented at the hearing.

David P. Boergers,

Secretary.