[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 81 (Monday, April 28, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22897-22898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10804]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Chapter I

[Docket Nos. RM96-12-000 and RM97-4-000]


Pipeline Customer Coalition Petition for Expedited Complaint 
Procedures; Interstate Natural Gas Association of America Petition for 
Rulemaking

April 17, 1997.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE

ACTION: Petitions for rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: Two petitions for rulemaking have been filed with the 
Commission that propose certain procedures for the expedited 
consideration of complaints concerning the services of interstate 
natural gas pipelines. The Commission is providing a period for comment 
on these proposals.

DATES: Comments are due on or before May 16, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington DC 20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lois D. Cashell, Office of the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Take notice that on April 3, 1997, the 
Pipeline Customer Coalition (the Coalition) filed a petition in Docket 
No. RM96-12-000, requesting the Commission to adopt certain expedited 
procedures for the consideration of formal complaints concerning the 
services of interstate natural gas pipelines. Take notice also that on 
April 10, 1997, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America 
(INGAA) filed a petition in Docket No. RM97-4-000, requesting the 
Commission to adopt an alternative to the Coalition's proposal.
    The Coalition's April 3, 1997 proposal amends an earlier filed 
petition submitted on May 31, 1996. The April 3 petition requests the 
adoption of regulations that would (1) require each interstate pipeline 
to include in its tariff a procedure for addressing informally whatever 
complaints are presented to it by any of its customers, (2) provide for

[[Page 22898]]

the codification of the Commission Staff's Enforcement Task Force Hot 
Line procedures, and (3) provide specific criteria defining the subject 
matter and other procedural factors required of complaints that would 
qualify for expedited Commission resolution.
    INGAA opposes the Coalition's amended petition. INGAA's April 10, 
1997 alternative proposal (1) initially requires informal negotiations 
between representatives of the complainant and the natural gas company; 
(2) if the negotiations are unsuccessful, the complainant could then 
utilize a codified Hot Line procedure to seek advice from Commission 
Staff; and (3) if the Hot Line procedure is unsuccessful, the 
complainant would either ask the natural gas company to agree to 
arbitration, or the complainant could initiate a formal complaint under 
Rule 206 (18 CFR 385.206), with expedition obtainable at the 
Commission's discretion, after a recommendation by the Hot Line Staff.
    Any person desiring to be heard on the Coalition's and INGAA's 
petitions is invited to submit written comments on the matters and 
issues raised by the respective proposals. Additionally, comments 
should be submitted electronically. Participants can submit comments on 
computer diskette in WordPerfect 6.1 or lower format or in 
ASCII format, with the name of the filer and Docket Nos. RM96-12-000 & 
RM97-4-000 on the outside of the diskette. Copies of the Coalition's 
and INGAA's petitions, and all written comments that are received, will 
be placed in the Commission's public files and will be available for 
inspection in the Commission's Public Reference Room at 888 First 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. All comments must be filed on or 
before May 16, 1997.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-10804 Filed 4-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M