[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 30 (Monday, February 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3339]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 14, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP94-183-000, et al.]

 

El Paso Natural Gas Co., et al.; Natural Gas Certificate Filings

February 4, 1994.

    Take notice that the following filings have been made with the 
Commission.

1. El Paso Natural Gas Co.

[Docket No. CP94-183-000]

    Take notice that on January 14, 1994, El Paso Natural Gas Company 
(``El Paso''), a Delaware corporation, whose mailing address is Post 
Office Box 1492, El Paso, Texas, 79978, filed an application at Docket 
No. CP94-183-000, pursuant to section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act 
(``NGA'') and Sec. 157.5 et seq., of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission's (``Commission'') Regulations Under the NGA, for an order 
granting abandonment authority effective January 1, 1996, and 
terminating certain certificates of public convenience and necessity in 
effect on such date to the extent such certificates apply to El Paso's 
gas gathering, dehydration, purification, and products extraction 
facilities, with appurtenances.
    El Paso states that it intends, effective January 1, 1996, to 
complete a major corporate restructuring in which all of El Paso's gas 
gathering, treating, and processing functions will be transferred to 
and assumed by El Paso Field Services Company (``Field Services''), El 
Paso's wholly-owned subsidiary. After facility transfer, El Paso will 
no longer perform any gathering, dehydration, purification, or products 
extraction activities, nor will it own any facilities for that purpose.
    El Paso states that, first, it desires abandonment authorization 
only with respect to those facilities that the Commission finds 
constitute nonjurisdictional gathering or processing facilities under 
section 1(b) of the NGA. Second, Field Services requires and, in its 
Petition for Declaratory Order filed concurrently with El Paso's 
abandonment application, requests a determination that it may establish 
the rates, terms, and conditions for the nonjurisdictional services it 
provides through negotiations with the parties requesting such 
services. With respect to gathering facilities that were certificated, 
El Paso seeks and order: (1) Determining that the facilities are not 
jurisdictional facilities; and (2) upon said determination, granting 
abandonment authority with respect to any certificate that would 
otherwise be in the effect on January 1, 1996, to the extent such 
certificate applies to a nonjurisdictional facility. All of the 
certificated facilities for which abandonment is sought constitute 
nonjurisdictional gathering or processing facilities under the primary 
function test developed in Farmland Industries Inc., 23 FERC 61,063 
(1983), it is asserted.
    El Paso states that the certificated facilities which constitute 
part of El Paso's gathering systems, and for which abandonment is 
requested represent only $77.418,883 of gross plant out of a total of 
$519,464,972 of gross plant for all facilities to be transferred to 
Field Services and, on a net plant basis, only $43,151,458 out of the 
$221,296,764 of total gathering system net plant (as of November 30, 
1993).
    In addition, El Paso states that although it will cease to provide 
gathering and related services currently being rendered under its part 
284 Transportation Service Agreements (``TSA''), Field Services, as 
described in its Petition for Declaratory Order, intends to offer to 
provide all of such services on an open-access basis. Thus, there will 
be no interruption of the services available to any party currently 
receiving service under such a TSA.
    In addition to its part 284 transactions, El Paso sets forth that 
in a few instances El Paso provides transportation services pursuant to 
arrangements that are filed as ``special rate schedules'' in Volume No. 
2 of El Paso's FERC Gas Tariff. Special Rate Schedule Z-8 is a 
Gathering Agreement between El Paso and TOC-Rocky Mountain Inc., as 
successor to Tenneco Oil Company, dated May 9, 1984, providing for 
gathering services in the San Juan Basin. Special Rate Schedule Z-9 is 
a similar Gathering Agreement between El Paso and Conoco Inc. also 
dated May 9, 1984, and providing for gathering services in the San Juan 
Basin. Inasmuch as all of the facilities required for performance under 
the Agreements will be transferred to Field Services, El Paso intends 
to assign the two Agreements to Field Services effective January 1, 
1996. El Paso requested Commission authorization to cancel special Rate 
Schedules Z-8 and Z-9 and for such abandonment authorization as may be 
necessary for that purpose.
    El Paso also requests such authorization as may be necessary to 
abandon services under special Rate Schedule T-14 (Volume No. 2 
Combination Agreement with Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America) 
insofar as it provides for gathering or related services utilizing the 
facilities to be transferred to Field Services. In addition, with 
respect to certain exchange arrangements contained in El Paso's Volume 
No. 2 Tariff which provides for El Paso to redeliver gas received on 
its mainline system to delivery points on its gathering system, El Paso 
intends to enter into appropriate arrangements with Field Services to 
accomplish the redeliveries required and thus does not request any 
Commission authorization with respect to such arrangements. El Paso 
sets forth that Field Services will provide service as an open-access 
transporter and specifically intends to provide any necessary gathering 
services.
    El Paso states that the conveyance of El Paso's gathering 
facilities to Field Services on January 1, 1996, will not have any 
impact on El Paso's existing gas sales obligations and arrangements, 
nor will it affect El Paso's performance under any existing gas 
purchase contract.
    El Paso avers that all mainline services currently provided by El 
Paso will continue to be provided in accordance with El Paso's FERC Gas 
Tariff. No material rate issues are raised by the transfer of these 
facilities. Finally, there will be no adverse environmental effects 
from the abandonment proposed herein.
    Comment date: February 25, 1994, in accordance with Standard 
Paragraph F at the end of this notice.

2. Columbia Gas Transmission

[Docket No. CP94-202-000]

    Take notice that on January 28, 1994, Columbia Gas Transmission 
Corporation (Columbia Gas), 1700 MacCorkle Avenue, SE., Charleston, 
West Virginia 25314-1599, filed in Docket No. CP94-202-000 a request 
pursuant to Sections 157.205 and 157.211 of the Commission's 
Regulations under the Natural Gas Act for authorization to install a 
new point of delivery for interruptible transportation service to 
Commonwealth Gas Services, Inc. (Commonwealth), as existing customer, 
under its blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP86-240-000, all as 
more fully set forth in the request which is on file with the 
Commission and open to public inspection.
    Columbia Gas states that Commonwealth has requested the new point 
of delivery. Columbia Gas indicates that the estimated maximum daily 
quantity and the estimated annual quantity of natural gas that it will 
provide through the new delivery point is 55,000 Dth and 20,075,000 
Dth, respectively. Columbia Gas further states that the quantities to 
be provided through the new delivery point will be provided on an 
interruptible basis and therefore, there is no impact on Columbia Gas' 
existing design day and annual obligations to its customers as a result 
of the construction and operation of the new point of delivery for 
interruptible transportation service.
    Comment date: March 21, 1994, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
G at the end of this notice.

3. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.

[Docket No. CP94-205-000]

    Take notice that on January 31, 1994, Tennessee Gas Pipeline 
Company (Tennessee), P.O. Box 2511, Houston, Texas 77252, filed a prior 
notice request with the Commission in Docket No. CP94-205-000 pursuant 
to Section 157.205 of the Commission's Regulations under the Natural 
Gas Act (NGA) for authorization to operate three existing delivery 
point facilities (which were constructed under Section 311(a) of the 
Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978) under Tennessee's blanket certificate 
issued in Docket No. CP82-413-000 pursuant to Section 7 of the NGA, all 
as more fully set forth in the request which is open to public 
inspection.
    Tennessee proposes to operate the Franklin Gas Lift delivery point 
in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana; the Hurricane Sales delivery point in 
Putnam County, West Virginia; and the Plymouth Sales delivery point in 
San Patricio County, Texas, under its blanket certificate. Tennessee 
asserts that since it now renders significant transportation service 
under its Subpart G blanket certificate, operation of the delivery 
points would provide more flexibility in using its facilities to the 
benefit of all customers on Tennessee's system. Tennessee states that 
the delivery of natural gas volumes through these existing delivery 
points would not impact Tennessee's peak day and annual deliveries; 
that its tariff permits the proposed activity; and that it has 
sufficient capacity to accommodate the proposed changes without 
detriment or disadvantage to Tennessee's other customers.
    Comment date: March 21, 1994, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
G at the end of this notice.

4. Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation

[Docket No. CP94-206-000]

    Take notice that on January 31, 1994, Texas Eastern Transmission 
Corporation (Texas Eastern) 5400 Westheimer Court, Houston, Texas 
77056-5310, filed in Docket No. CP94-206-000, a request pursuant to 
Sections 157.205 and 157.211 of Commission's Regulations under the 
Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205) for authorization to install a new 
delivery point in order to deliver natural gas to Kentucky Utilities 
Company (KUC) under the blanket certificate issue in Docket No. CP82-
535-000 pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas all as more fully set 
forth in the request that is on file with the Commission and open to 
public inspection.
    Texas states that it proposes to install a new delivery in order to 
deliver natural gas under the agreement covering service for KUC under 
Rate Schedule IT-1. Texas Eastern states that the peak and average day 
deliveries at the point will be 100,000 Dth/d.
    Texas Eastern also states that the installation of the delivery 
point will have no effect on Texas Eastern's peak day or annual 
deliveries. Texas Eastern submits that its proposal will be 
accomplished without detriment or disadvantage to Texas Eastern's other 
customers.
    The delivery point will be located on Texas Eastern's 30-inch Line 
Nos. 10 and 15 at M.P. 438-28 in Garrard County, Kentucky. The 
facilities will include two 12-inch taps to be installed by Texas 
Eastern on Texas Eastern's Line Nos. 10 and 15. KUC will cause to be 
installed approximately 11 miles of 20-inch pipeline from Mete Station 
No. 72926 to its existing facilities in Mercer County, Kentucky. The 
approximate cost of such facilities 109,000 and will be 100% 
reimbursable by KUC.
    Comment date: March 21, 1994, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
G at the end of this notice.

5. Southern California Gas Co.

[Docket No. CP94-207-000]

    Take notice that on February 1, 1994, Southern California Gas 
Company (SoCalGas), 555 West Fifth Street, Los Angeles, California 
90013-1011, filed an application in Docket No. CP94-207-000. The 
application requests authorization under Section 3 of the Natural Gas 
Act, and the issuance of a Presidential Permit under Executive Order 
10485, as amended by Executive Order 12038. SoCalGas seeks the Section 
3 authorization and the Presidential Permit so that it may construct, 
connect, operate, and maintain certain natural gas pipeline and 
metering export facilities. The export facilities will be located in 
Imperial County, California, near the International Boundary between 
the United States and the Republic of Mexico.
    SoCalGas proposes to construct and operate the following export 
facilities:
    (1) One metering station consisting of one 8-inch turbine meter run 
and one 12-inch turbine meter run; and,
    (2) Either approximately:
    (a) 900 feet of 16-inch diameter pipeline, with appurtenances, 
connecting the meter station to the border, (Bowker Road Alternative); 
or,
    (b) 4,800 feet of 16-inch diameter pipeline, with appurtenances, 
connecting the meter station to the border, (Calzada Justo Sierra 
Alternative).
    SoCalGas says that it will notify the Commission of the particular 
site of the border crossing no later than May 1, 1994. The export 
facilities will have a capacity of 40,000 Mcf per day. SoCalGas 
estimates the cost of the Bowker Road Alternative to be about 
Sec. 350,000 and the cost of the Calzada Justo Sierra Alternative to be 
about Sec. 590,000.
    SoCalGas says that the export facilities will be used to provide 
natural gas transportation service from receipt points on the SoCalGas 
systems to the United States--Mexico border. The rates for this service 
will be rates on file with, and approved by, the California Public 
Utilities Commission. Any third-party shippers or exporters will be 
required to obtain the proper export authorization from the United 
States Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy.
    A connecting pipeline to receive the exported natural gas will be 
built on the Mexican side of the border and operated by Petroleos 
Mexicanos. SoCalGas also describes certain other related facilities 
which are scheduled to be built by it in Imperial County. SoCalGas says 
that these facilities, (about 31 miles of pipeline, with 
appurtenances), are under the jurisdiction of the California Public 
Utilities Commission. SoCalGas says that they will be used to serve 
native California natural gas load, in conjunction with the export 
transportation service.
    SoCalGas says that this overall project will permit the export of 
natural gas to the City of Mexicali, Mexico, to serve both the existing 
local distribution system in Mexicali and industrial end-users in the 
Mexicali area. SoCalGas says that these customers presently use 
propane-air, liquefied petroleum gas, diesel fuel, high sulfur fuel oil 
and other petroleum products. SoCalGas says that the replacement of 
these products by natural gas will result in a reduction in air 
pollution in the U.S.-Mexico border area.
    SoCalGas requests that approval of this application be granted no 
later than June 1, 1994.
    Comment date: February 25, 1994, in accordance with Standard 
Paragraph F at the end of this notice.

6. Northern Natural Gas Company

[Docket No. CP94-209-000]

    Take notice that on February 1, 1994, Northern Natural Gas Company 
(Northern), 1111 South 103rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1000, filed 
in Docket No. CP94-209-000 a request pursuant to Sections 157.205 and 
157.212 of the Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 
CFR 157.205, 157.212) for authorization to construct and operate new 
facilities to provide additional natural gas deliveries to Peoples 
Natural Gas Company, a Division of UtiliCorp United Inc. (Peoples), 
under Northern's blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP82-401-000 
pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act, all as more fully set 
forth in the request that is on file with the Commission and open to 
public inspection.
    Northern proposes to install a small volume measuring station and 
appurtenant facilities as a new delivery point to accommodate a new 
service by Peoples to Dodge City Cooperative Exchange, a commercial 
end-user. Northern indicates that the delivery point would be located 
at an existing farm tap in Section 34, T27S, R25W, Ford County, Kansas, 
and states that the gas would be provided to Peoples under Northern's 
currently effective transportation service agreement and rate 
schedules. Northern advises that the peak day and annual volumes are 
expected to be 24 Mcf per day and 5,000 Mcf, respectively. Northern 
estimates that the facilities would cost $1,890 which would be paid by 
Peoples as a contribution in aid of construction.
    Comment date: March 21, 1994, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
G at the end of this notice.

7. El Paso Field Services Company

[Docket No. CP94-184-000]

February 7, 1994.
    Take notice that on January 14, 1994, El Paso Field Services 
Company (Field Services), El Paso Natural Gas Company's (El Paso) 
wholly-owned subsidiary, filed a petition for declaratory order in 
Docket No. CP94-184-000, pursuant to 18 CFR 385.207, requesting that 
the Commission declare that certain gathering and production area 
services proposed to be transferred from El Paso and assumed by Field 
Services will no longer be subject to the Natural Gas Act and the 
Commission's jurisdiction, as more fully set forth in the petition 
which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection.
    Specifically, Field Services seeks a declaratory order from the 
Commission finding that the rates, terms, and conditions applicable to 
gas gathering and other production area services to be rendered by 
Field Services commencing January 1, 1996, will not be affirmatively 
regulated by the Commission but instead may be established through 
negotiations between Field Services and the shippers receiving such 
services, consistent with the Commission's decision in Northwest 
Pipeline Corp., 59 FERC 61,115 (1992).
    Field Services states that El Paso is filing concurrently with its 
petition an application under Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act to 
abandon, effective January 1, 1996, certain certificated facilities 
which are used to perform the gathering and production area services.
    Field Services asserts that it has been established and organized 
to provide, on a stand-alone basis, non-jurisdictional production area 
services and upon the transfer of the facilities described in its 
petition, will effectively step into El Paso's shoes with respect to 
gathering and other production area services now being provided by El 
Paso and will continue to provide these services on an uninterrupted 
basis.
    Comment date: February 25, 1994, in accordance with the first 
paragraph of Standard Paragraph F at the end of this notice.

Standard Paragraphs

    F. Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before the comment date, 
file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20426, a motion to intervene or a protest in accordance with the 
requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 
CFR 385.214 or 385.211) 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 the 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 application 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 and/or permission and approval 
for the proposed abandonment are 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 applicant to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
    G. Any person or the Commission's staff may, within 45 days after 
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 Sec. 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 therefor, 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 Sec. 7 of the Natural Gas Act.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-3339 Filed 2-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P