[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43791-43793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20919]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP95-682-000, et al.]
Williams Natural Gas Company, et al. Natural Gas Certificate
Filings
August 16, 1995.
Take notice that the following filings have been made with the
Commission:
1. Williams Natural Gas Company
[Docket No. CP95-682-000]
Take notice that on August 10, 1995, Williams Natural Gas Company
(Applicant), P.O. Box 3288, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74101, filed in Docket No.
CP95-682-000, a request pursuant to Section 157.205 of the Regulations
under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205) for authorization to abandon
by reclaim approximately 3.5 miles of the Cambridge 16-inch pipeline
and to construct approximately 3.5 miles of replacement 6-inch pipeline
located in Cowley County, Kansas, under the authorization issued in
Docket No. CP82-479-000 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.
The portion of 16-inch pipeline to be replaced is of 1917 vintage
and experienced a blowout. This line has been isolated and will be
removed in order for the smaller replacement line to be installed in
the same ditch. The replacement line will be operated at higher
pressures to offset the larger pipe size that operated at lower
pressures, thus maintaining the same delivery capability of 134,800 Mcf
per day.
The total construction cost is estimated to be $605,440, the
estimated reclaim cost is $21,440, and the estimated salvage value is
$31,600.
Comment date: October 2, 1995, in accordance with Standard
Paragraph G at the end of this notice.
2. Questar Pipeline Company
[Docket No. CP95-650-000]
Take notice that on July 31, 1995, Questar Pipeline Company
(Questar Pipeline), 79 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111,
filed in Docket No. CP95-650-000 an application pursuant to Section
7(b) of the Natural Gas Act for permission and approval to abandon
certain certificated facilities by transfer (spindown) to Questar Gas
Management Company (QGM), a wholly owned, unregulated subsidiary of
Questar Pipeline that will be involved in the gathering, treating,
dehydration, purification, field compression and processing of natural
gas, and in the operation of various field facilities, all as more
fully set forth in the application on file with the Commission and open
to public inspection.
Questar Pipeline proposes to transfer to QGM all of its gathering
facilities and services by sale at net book value, effective January 1,
1996. Questar Pipeline states that the assets to be transferred to QGM
include: (1) Certificated gathering facilities, including certain
gathering facilities certificated to perform a limited transmission
function, (2) a single transmission facility and (3) noncertificated
gathering facilities. It is stated that the facilities are located in
the states of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, and as of May 31, 1995, the
certificated portion of the facilities had a gross plant investment
value of $7,366,119.
Questar Pipeline describes the facilities as follows:
(1) Certificated Gathering (Moxa Arch) Facilities.
(a) Lateral Nos. 1127, 1128, 1129 and 1130 (formerly Questar
Pipeline's jurisdictional Lateral Nos. 35, 34 and 50). It is stated
that these laterals were found to perform a gathering function by order
issued May 17, 1994, in Docket Nos. CP93-431-000 and -001, although the
original certifications remain until proper abandonment is sought.\1\
\1\ See 68 FERC para.61,103 at p. 61,568 (1994).
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(b) Powder Wash Compressor Unit No. 1-A. It is also stated that
this compressor was found to perform a gathering function by order
issued July 8, 1994, in Docket No. CP93-706-000, although the original
certification remains until proper abandonment authority is sought.\2\
\2\ See 68 FERC para.61,044 at p. 61,145 (1994).
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(2) Gathering Facilities Certificated for Limited Transmission
Function.
(a) Jurisdictional Tap Line No. 94 (formerly referred to as
gathering Lateral Nos. 703, 722 and 829) and the Henry's Fork
Compressor Station, and Metering and Regulating Station.
(3) Certificated Transmission Facility.
(a) Emigrant Trail Measuring and Regulating Station. This facility
is said to comprise 786 feet of 10-inch jumper line, two eight-inch
meter runs and one three-inch meter run, is located between two
nonjurisdictional gas processing plants, and was inadvertently omitted
from Questar Pipeline's Moxa Arch area refunctionalization filing in
Docket Nos. CP93-431-000 and -001.
Questar Pipeline states that it will transfer its certificated and
noncertificated gathering facilities upon receipt of a declaratory
order requested by QGM, as set forth in QGM's related filing submitted
in Docket No. CP95-658-000. Upon receipt of the requested
authorizations, Questar Pipeline explains, QGM will own and operate
these facilities as part of its nonjurisdictional gathering system.
Questar Pipeline advises that the parties do not want the requested
authorization unless the Commission deems the facilities to be
nonjurisdictional upon transfer to QGM.
Questar Pipeline further states that QGM will operate the gathering
facilities it acquires from Questar Pipeline in a nondiscriminatory
manner and, through the assignment of existing gathering agreements,
the negotiation of new gathering agreements, or through ``default
contracts'', will offer existing Questar Pipeline gathering customers
the opportunity to continue to receive reliable gathering services.
Questar Pipeline notes that the current gathering agreements contain
assignment provisions, agreed to by its customers, that permit
assignment by Questar Pipeline to an affiliate. Because QGM will fully
honor the terms and conditions of those agreements, Questar Pipeline
states, no aspect of the service to the customer will be altered. It is
further stated that the proposed transfer will not adversely affect
Questar Pipeline's ability to continue to provide jurisdictional open-
access transportation and storage services to its transportation and
storage customers.
Questar Pipeline states that approval of its request will permit it
to divest itself of facilities that do not complement its primary role
as an open-access transporter of natural gas in a post Order No. 636
environment.
Comment date: September 6, 1995, in accordance with Standard
Paragraph F at the end of this notice.
[[Page 43792]]
3. Questar Gas Management Company
[Docket No. CP95-658-000]
Take notice that on August 2, 1995, Questar Gas Management Company
(QGM), P.O. Box 115030, Salt Lake City, Utah 84147, filed in Docket No.
CP95-658-000 a petition pursuant to Section 16 of the Natural Gas Act
(NGA) and Rule 207(a)(2) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.207 (a)(2)), for a declaratory order disclaiming
Commission jurisdiction over certain facilities and the services
provided through them, all as more fully set forth in the petition
which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection.
QGM seeks a declaratory order from the Commission finding that
QGM's proposed acquisition, ownership and operation of the gathering
facilities currently owned by Questar Pipeline Company (Questar
Pipeline) will not subject QGM or any portion of its facilities or
services to jurisdiction under the Natural Gas Act (NGA).\3\ QGM states
that it is a wholly owned, unregulated subsidiary of Questar Pipeline,
and upon acquisition of the facilities will be involved in the
gathering, treating, dehydration, purification, field compression and
processing of natural gas, and in the operation of various field
facilities. It is stated that the facilities QGM will acquire are
located in the states of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.
\3\ QGM states that Questar Pipeline has filed an application in
Docket No. CP95-650-000 for authorization to abandon the facilities
to be acquired by QGM.
QGM states that Questar Pipeline and QGM are undertaking the
transfer of the gathering facilities, in part, as a response to the
Commission's current policy not to regulate gathering by pipeline
affiliates. QGM explains that Questar Pipeline unbundled its gathering
services prior to the Commission's Order No. 636 that required
pipelines to unbundle various historical services and that this has
contributed to increased competition in already highly competitive
areas in which Questar Pipeline currently provides gathering services.
Because most of the providers of gathering services in these areas are
not regulated by the Commission, QGM further explains that it is
acquiring the Questar Pipeline gathering facilities in order to compete
for gathering services on a ``level playing field'' with other non-
regulated gatherers.
It is stated that Questar Pipeline and QGM have entered into an
agreement for the transfer of assets under which QGM, upon Commission
approval, will receive all of Questar Pipeline's gathering facilities
and services at net book value, effective January 1, 1996. QGM
emphasizes that it will conduct its gathering operations as a separate
Questar Pipeline subsidiary whose business activities will be distinct
from Questar Pipeline's interstate pipeline transportation business and
will operate the subject gathering facilities in a non-discriminatory
manner and, through the assignment of existing gathering agreements,
the negotiation of new gathering agreements, or through ``default
contracts'', will offer existing Questar Pipeline gathering customers
the opportunity to continue to receive gathering services.
Consequently, QGM concludes, no aspect of the service to the customer
will be altered.
It is explained that the assets to be transferred to QGM include:
(1) ``certificated gathering'' facilities, including certain gathering
facilities certificated to perform a limited transmission function, (2)
a single transmission facility and (3) non-certificated gathering
facilities and that the gross-plant investment, as of May 31, 1995, of
the noncertificated gathering, certificated gathering and transmission
facilities proposed to be transferred to QGM is $83,649,500. QGM states
that, upon receipt of the requested authorizations and upon completion
of the transfer (spindown) of Questar Pipeline's gathering facilities,
QGM will be engaged in the business of operating field facilities and
gathering, treating, processing, dehydrating, purifying and providing
field compression of natural gas. These activities, QGM further states,
will be in competition with, among others, producers, other gatherers
and intrastate pipeline companies, none of whom are regulated by the
Commission.
Comment date: September 6, 1995, in accordance with the first
paragraph of Standard Paragraph F at the end of this notice.
4. ANR Pipeline Company
[Docket No. CP95-678-000]
Take notice that on August 9, 1995, ANR Pipeline Company (ANR), 500
Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan 48243, filed in Docket No. CP95-
678-000 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 an interconnection
under ANR's blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP82-480-000
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.
ANR proposes to construct and operate an interconnection between
ANR and Consumers Power Company. The interconnection will be located in
Overisel Township, Allegan County, Michigan.
Comment date: October 2, 1995, in accordance with Standard
Paragraph G at the end of this notice.
5. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company
[Docket No. CP95-685-000]
Take notice that on August 14, 1995, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company
(Tennessee), P.O. Box 2511, Houston, Texas 77252, filed in Docket No.
CP95-685-000 a request pursuant to Section 157.205 of the Commission's
Regulations to construct and operate a new delivery point located on
its system in McKean County, Pennsylvania for deliveries of natural gas
to an existing end-user customer, Ball Glass Container Corporation
(Ball Glass) under Tennessee's blanket certificate issued in Docket No.
CP82-413-000, 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.
Tennessee proposes to install, own, operate and maintain a 4-inch
hot tap assembly, approximately sixty feet of 4-inch interconnecting
pipe and a meter skid assembly on Tennessee's existing right-of-way and
to install electronic gas measurement equipment on a site provided by
Ball Glass adjacent to Tennessee's right-of-way located in McKean
County, Pennsylvania. Tennessee states that the estimated cost to
install these facilities is $65,000. Tennessee states that the volumes
to be delivered to Ball Glass after the delivery point is established
would not exceed the total quantities authorized to be delivered and
would have no impact on Tennessee's peak day and annual deliveries.
National states that the addition of the new delivery point is not
prohibited by Tennessee's existing tariff and Tennessee has sufficient
capacity to accomplish deliveries at the new delivery point without
detriment or disadvantage to Tennessee's other customers.
Comment date: October 2, 1995, in accordance with Standard
Paragraph G at the end of this notice.
6. Northern Natural Gas Company
[Docket No. CP95-687-000]
Take notice that on August 14, 1995, Northern Natural Gas Company
(Northern), 1111 South 103rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124, filed in
Docket
[[Page 43793]]
No. CP95-687-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural
Gas Act for permission and approval to abandon, by sale to Conoco Inc.
(Conoco), certain compressor and pipeline facilities, with
appurtenances, in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, referred to as the
Sagebrush facilities, and certain services rendered thereby, all as
more fully set forth in the application on file with the Commission and
open to public inspection.
Northern states that the Sagebrush facilities consist of its Rio
Blanco compressor station and 200 feet of 10-inch downstream pipeline
connecting to Questar Pipeline Company. Northern also states that
Conoco owns the majority of the production attached to the Sagebrush
facilities.
Northern explains that the Sagebrush facilities were initially
acquired as gas supply facilities in order to connect new gas supplies
required for its merchant sales obligation; however, as a result of
industry restructuring under Order No. 636, Northern's role in the
marketplace has changed from a merchant of natural gas to a transporter
of natural gas and the responsibility for obtaining gas supply has
shifted from Northern to its customers. Consequently, Northern states
that the Sagebrush facilities are non-contiguous to Northern's
traditional transmission pipeline system and are therefore no longer
needed by Northern. Northern states that the Sagebrush facilities, if
owned and operated by Conoco, will enhance the use of Conoco's other
assets and services in the Rocky Mountain area.
Comment date: September 6, 1995, in accordance with Standard
Paragraph F at the end of this notice.
7. Conoco Inc.
[Docket No. CP95-689-000]
Take notice that on August 15, 1995, Conoco Inc. (Conoco), 600
North Dairy Ashford, Houston, Texas 77079, filed in Docket No. CP95-
689-000 a petition for an order declaring that the Sagebrush facilities
located in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, to be acquired from Northern
Natural Gas Company (Northern), are gathering, all as more fully set
forth in the petition which is on file with the Commission and open to
public inspection.
Conoco states that the Sagebrush facilities are located in the
vicinity of Conoco's production and gathering operations and Conoco
owns most of the production attached to the Sagebrush facilities.
Conoco states that it has entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with
Northern to acquire these assets for $125,000. Conoco further states
that the Sagebrush facilities consist of a 137 horsepower compressor
and 200 feet of 10-inch pipeline which connects to Questar Pipeline
Company's mainline facilities.
Comment date: September 6, 1995, 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, 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 385.214 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 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 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 Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-20919 Filed 8-22-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P