E9-23518. Colorado Interstate Gas Company; Notice of Application

September 23, 2009.

Take notice that on September 10, 2009, Colorado Interstate Gas Company (CIG) filed in the above referenced docket an application pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), and Part 157 of the Commission's regulations for an order granting a certificate of public convenience to construct and operate the new North Raton Lateral, with appurtenances, in southern Colorado. The project is hereafter referred to as the Raton 2010 Expansion Project. CIG proposes to construct approximately 118 miles of 16-inch diameter pipeline with a total capacity of approximately 130,000 dekatherms per day, all as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. The 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, please contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail] or toll free at [phone], or TTY, contact [phone].

Specifically, the Raton 2010 Expansion Project consists of (i) approximately 118.6 miles of 16-inch diameter pipeline in Las Animas, Huerfano, Pueblo, and El Paso Counties, Colorado; (ii) new incremental rates related to the cost of service on the new lateral; and (iii) minor modifications to existing compressor and meter stations to allow CIG to transport the additional volumes from the proposed expansion. The Raton 2010 Expansion Project has a design capacity of approximately 130,000 Dth per day subject to long-term firm transportation agreements to move the gas from the Raton Basin to an interconnect with CIG's mainline in El Paso County, Colorado. The estimated costs of the project are approximately $132 million.

Any questions concerning this application may be directed to Richard Derryberry, Director, Regulatory Affairs, Colorado Interstate Gas Company, P.O. Box 1087, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80944, by phone at [phone], or by fax at [phone].

On June 24, 2008 the Commission staff granted CIG's request to utilize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Pre-Filling Process and assigned Docket No. PF08-25-000 to staff activities involving the Raton 2010 Expansion Project. Now, as of the filing of CIG's application on September 10, 2009, the NEPA Pre-Filling Process for this project has ended. From this time forward, CIG's proceeding will be conducted in Docket No. CP09-464-000, as noted in the caption of this Notice.

Pursuant to Section 157.9 of the Commission's rules, 18 CFR 157.9, within 90 days of this Notice the Commission 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 staff's issuance of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) or 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 complete all Federal authorizations within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's FEIS or 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 commentors 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 commentors will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commentors 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.

Comment Date: October 14, 2009.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.