96-5952. Colorado Interstate Gas Company, et al., Natural Gas Certificate Filings  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 13, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 10339-10341]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-5952]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    [Docket Nos. CP96-212-000, et al.]
    
    
    Colorado Interstate Gas Company, et al., Natural Gas Certificate 
    Filings
    
    March 6, 1996.
        Take notice that the following filings have been made with the 
    Commission:
    
    1. Colorado Interstate Gas Company
    
    [Docket No. CP96-212-000]
    
        Take notice that on February 26, 1996, Colorado Interstate Gas 
    Company (CIG), Post Office Box 1087, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80944, 
    filed in Docket No. CP96-212-000 a request pursuant to Section 157.205 
    and 157.212 of the Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act 
    (18 CFR 157.205 and 157.212) for authorization to operate in interstate 
    commerce certain facilities previously constructed or operated to 
    effectuate transportation services pursuant to Section 311 of the 
    Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA), and to construct and operate a new 
    delivery facility. CIG makes such request, under its blanket 
    certificate issued in Docket No. CP83-21-000 pursuant to Section 7 of 
    the Natural Gas Act, all as more fully set forth in the request on file 
    with the Commission and open to public inspection.
        Specifically, CIG indicates that it has constructed the following 
    facilities for the purpose of Section 311 transportation:
    
    Cattle Guard Delivery Facility in Sherman County, Texas
    Gooseberry Creek Delivery Facility in Washakie County, Wyoming
    Dudley Bluffs Delivery Facility in Rio Blanco County, Colorado
    Wilburton Delivery Facility in Morton County, Kansas
    
        CIG seeks certificate authorization to construct and operate the 
    Town of Burlington, Wyoming Delivery Facility which is proposed to be 
    installed in Big Horn County, Wyoming.
        By its request, CIG seeks authority to operate these facilities 
    pursuant to the blanket certificate provision of Section 7(c) of the 
    NGA so that any transportation shipper, without regard to Section 311 
    of the NGPA, may receive service when capacity on these facilities is 
    available.
        CIG indicates that the operational constraints under Section 311, 
    have made it difficult for CIG to compete and be market responsive, 
    because Section 311 does not provide the operational flexibility 
    provided under Section 7.
        CIG states that it believes that it would experience no significant 
    impact on its peak day or annual requirements resulting from the 
    operation of the subject facilities in interstate commerce, and that 
    operation other than strictly for Section 311 purposes can be performed 
    without detriment or disadvantage to CIG's other existing customers.
        Comment date: April 22, 1996, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
    G at the end of this notice.
    
    2. Columbia Gas Transmission Corp.
    
    [Docket No. CP96-213-000]
    
        Take notice that Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (Columbia), 
    a Delaware corporation, having its
    
    [[Page 10340]]
    principal place of business at 1700 MacCorkle Avenue, S.E., Charleston, 
    West Virginia 25314-1599, filed on February 28, 1996, an abbreviated 
    application pursuant to Sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, 
    as amended, for a certificate of public convenience and necessity 
    authorizing: (i) an increase in the performance capabilities of certain 
    existing storage fields; (ii) the construction and operation, 
    upgrading, and replacement of certain natural gas facilities; (iii) the 
    abandonment of certain natural gas facilities and certain base storage 
    gas; and (iv) such other authorizations and/or waivers as may be deemed 
    necessary to implement Columbia's Market Expansion Project (Project), 
    all as more fully set forth in the application on file with the 
    Commission and open to public inspection.
        Columbia proposes to make certain improvements at a total estimated 
    cost of approximately $350 million (in current year dollars) to expand 
    the capacity of its pipeline and storage systems in order to serve 
    customers' requests for new or increased firm services. Columbia 
    requests that it be granted rolled-in rate treatment for the Project's 
    costs.
        In total, Columbia will provide 506,795 dekatherms per day (dth/d) 
    of additional daily firm entitlements, comprised of 417,931 dth/d of 
    Firm Storage Service (FSS) and Storage Service Transportation (SST); 
    88,864 dth/d of Firm Transportation Service (FTS); and 24,197,764 dth 
    of additional FSS Storage Contract Quantity (SCQ), to be phased in over 
    a three-year period beginning in 1997.
        Columbia proposes construction in its storage and transmission 
    systems. The proposed storage system work includes increasing the 
    performance capabilities of 14 existing storage fields by constructing 
    and operating certain new facilities and replacing certain facilities 
    in order to increase seasonal turnover of approximately 18,500 MMcf and 
    additional maximum deliverability of approximately 370 MMcf/d. This 
    work also includes increasing the maximum capacity of Columbia's 
    Crawford Storage Field by approximately 10,200 MMcf. Columbia also 
    proposes to confirm the storage boundaries for certain of its storage 
    fields. Columbia's proposed transmission work includes construction of 
    approximately 88 miles of new pipeline, replacement of approximately 
    8.5 miles of existing pipeline and increasing the maximum Allowable 
    Operating Pressure of approximately 282 miles of pipeline.
        Further, Columbia proposes to construct, relocate (abandon and re-
    install) and uprate approximately 35,750 total horsepower at 14 
    existing transmission compressor stations; approximately 18,500 total 
    horsepower at two new transmission compressor stations; and increase 
    certificated horsepower levels of nine existing units at six 
    transmission stations by a total of 5,579 horsepower. In addition, 
    Columbia proposes to modify, upgrade, or construct 14 measuring and 
    appurtenant facilities which relate to increases in Maximum Daily 
    Delivery Obligations and new points of delivery associated with 
    Columbia's firm service increases.
        The Commission's Staff will defer processing Columbia's proposal 
    pending the submission of complete environmental information which is 
    necessary to evaluate its application.
        Comment date: March 27, 1996, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
    F at the end of this notice.
    
    3. Transwestern Pipeline Company
    
    [Docket No. CP96-214-000]
    
        Take notice that, on February 27, 1996, Transwestern Pipeline 
    Company (Transwestern), 1400 Smith Street, Houston, Texas 77002, filed 
    an abbreviated application in Docket No. CP96-214-000, pursuant to 
    Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the Commission's 
    regulations, for authorization to abandon, by sale to West Texas Gas, 
    Inc. (WTG), 59 farm tap facilities located in Texas and New Mexico, 
    along with the related service Transwestern renders through those 
    facilities, all as more fully set forth in the application, which is on 
    file with the Commission and open to public inspection.
        Transwestern states that the farm tap facilities it seeks to 
    abandon, by sale to WTG, are currently jurisdictional. The subject 
    facilities are located downstream of Transwestern's first above-ground 
    valve, and consist of the pipe, measuring instruments, regulating 
    equipment, relief devices, valves, fittings, fence and other equipment 
    appurtenant to each farm tap. Transwestern states that it will retain 
    the facilities upstream of each first above-ground valve, including the 
    valve and associated riser.
        Transwestern further states that: (1) WTG already provides service 
    to customers at 24 of the subject farm taps under an interruptible 
    transportation agreement with Transwestern; (2) another 20 of the 
    subject farm tap facilities are being served under agreement with 
    Transwestern (under Transwestern's Rate Schedule FTS-2); and (3) 
    Transwestern's records list the remaining 15 farm tap facilities as 
    ``inactive'' or ``no flows.''
        According to Transwestern, after it abandons and WTG acquires the 
    subject facilities, WTG will operate them as part of its local 
    distribution activities, subject to the jurisdiction of the applicable 
    state regulatory authority. Transwestern asserts that the public 
    convenience and necessity requires the approval of the proposed 
    abandonment, by sale to WTG, because: (1) Transwestern no longer has a 
    merchant function; (2) entities such as WTG have assumed the merchant 
    role and now engage in the sale and distribution of gas to former 
    Transwestern customers; (3) the subject facilities will remain in place 
    after the proposed change in ownership and will continue to be operated 
    by WTG, since WTG has no plans to abandon service through these 
    facilities; and (4) the proposed change in ownership will enable 
    Transwestern to operate its own system more efficiently and 
    effectively.
        Comment date: March 27, 1996, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
    F at the end of this notice.
    
    4. Northern Natural Gas Company
    
    [Docket No. CP96-215-000]
    
        Take notice that on February 28, 1996, Northern Natural Gas Company 
    (Northern) filed an application pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural 
    Gas Act and Sections 157.7 and 157.18 of the Commission's Regulations, 
    for approval to abandon, by sale to West Texas Gas, Inc. (WGT), certain 
    pipeline facilities with appurtenances, in Irion and Reagan Counties, 
    Texas, and services rendered thereby. Northern also requests permission 
    and approval to abandon, by sale to WGT, certain small volume measuring 
    stations, with appurtenances, located in various counties in Texas, all 
    as more fully set forth in this request which is on file with the 
    Commission and open to public inspection.
        Comment date: March 27, 1996, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
    F at the end of this notice.
    
    5. CNG Transmission Corporation
    
    [Docket No. CP96-222-000]
    
        Take notice that on February 29, 1996, CNG Transmission Corporation 
    (CNGT), 445 West Main Street, Clarksburg, West Virginia 26301, filed in 
    Docket No. CP96-222-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(c) of the 
    Natural Gas Act to increase the horsepower at CNGT's Finnefrock 
    Compressor Station (Unit #4) in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, all as 
    more fully set forth in the application which is on file with the 
    Commission and open to public inspection.
    
    [[Page 10341]]
    
        CNGT requests authorization to increase the certificated operating 
    horsepower of its Unit #4 at Finnefrock Compressor Station from 3,400 
    to 4,000 horsepower. CNGT states that it will not be necessary to 
    modify any facilities as a result of the upgrade.
        Comment date: March 27, 1996, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
    F at the end of this notice.
    
    Standard Paragraphs
    
        F. Any person desiring to be heard or make any protest with 
    reference to said filing should on or before the comment date file with 
    the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., 
    Washington, D.C. 20426, a motion to intervene or a protest in 
    accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice 
    and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) and the Regulations under 
    the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.10). All protests filed with the 
    Commission will be considered by it in determining the appropriate 
    action to be taken but will not serve to make the protestants parties 
    to the proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party to a proceeding 
    or to participate as a party in any hearing therein must file a motion 
    to intervene in accordance with the Commission's Rules.
        Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
    and subject to jurisdiction conferred upon the Federal Energy 
    Regulatory Commission by Sections 7 and 15 of the Natural Gas Act and 
    the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, a hearing will be 
    held without further notice before the Commission or its designee on 
    this filing if no motion to intervene is filed within the time required 
    herein, if the Commission on its own review of the matter finds that a 
    grant of the certificate is required by the public convenience and 
    necessity. If a motion for leave to intervene is timely filed, or if 
    the Commission on its own motion believes that a formal hearing is 
    required, further notice of such hearing will be duly given.
        Under the procedure herein provided for, unless otherwise advised, 
    it will be unnecessary for the applicant to appear or be represented at 
    the hearing.
        G. Any person or the Commission's staff may, within 45 days after 
    the issuance of the instant notice by the Commission, file pursuant to 
    Rule 214 of the Commission's Procedural Rules (18 CFR 385.214) a motion 
    to intervene or notice of intervention and pursuant to Section 157.205 
    of the Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205) a protest 
    to the request. If no protest is filed within the time allowed 
    therefore, the proposed activity shall be deemed to be authorized 
    effective the day after the time allowed for filing a protest. If a 
    protest is filed and not withdrawn within 30 days after the time 
    allowed for filing a protest, the instant request shall be treated as 
    an application for authorization pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural 
    Gas Act.
    Lois D. Cashell,
    Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 96-5952 Filed 3-12-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
    
    

Document Information

Published:
03/13/1996
Department:
Energy Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
96-5952
Dates:
April 22, 1996, in accordance with Standard Paragraph G at the end of this notice.
Pages:
10339-10341 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket Nos. CP96-212-000, et al.
PDF File:
96-5952.pdf