03-7582. Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Application

March 24, 2003.

Take notice that on March 14, 2003, Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (Columbia), 1700 MacCorkle Avenue, SE., Charleston, West Virginia 25314, filed in Docket No. CP03-65-000, pursuant to section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), for permission and approval to abandon by sale to Columbia Natural Resources, Inc., a Texas corporation, certain natural gas pipeline facilities located in West Virginia, and the service provided through such facilities. In addition, Columbia requests that the Commission find the abandoned facilities to be gathering, and therefore exempt from the Commission's jurisdiction, all as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. This filing is available for review on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov using the “FERRIS” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail] or toll-free at [phone], or for TTY, contact [phone].

The facilities proposed for abandonment by sale is Columbia's Stafford Compressor Station. The Stafford Compressor Station consists of one 360 horsepower Ajax DPC compressor unit and appurtenances and is located in Mingo County, West Virginia. Columbia states that the facilities, constructed in the early 1980's as field gas compression, currently compress local production to pipeline pressure for delivery into Columbia's mainline system. However, Columbia states that the facilities are no longer an integral part of its transmission system and that the long-term needs of its customers will be best served through a divestiture of the facilities. Columbia does not propose the abandonment of any services as a result of the facility abandonment. Columbia proposes to relocate its existing receipt point from the suction side of the compressor station to an existing interconnection located on the discharge side of the station. Columbia notes that the facilities will be sold for their depreciated book cost at the time of closing, estimated to be $347,495.

Any questions regarding the application should be directed to Fredric J. George, Senior Attorney, Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation, P.O. Box 1273, Charleston, West Virginia 22030-0146 at [phone].

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 in the proceeding with the Commission and must mail a copy to the applicant and to every other party. 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 Commissions' 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. The 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.

Protests and interventions 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 under the “e-Filing” link. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings.

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.

Comment Date: April 14, 2003.

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.