[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 188 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 50916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25717]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP97-755-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application

September 23, 1997.
    Take notice that on September 15, 1997, Northern Natural Gas 
Company (Northern), 1111 South 103rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124-
1000, filed, in Docket No. CP97-755-000, an application pursuant to 
Sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the 
Commission's Regulations for an order permitting and approving the 
abandonment of certain compressor station facilities and a certificate 
of public convenience and necessity to construct and operate 
approximately 25 miles of 36-inch pipeline, with appurtenant 
facilities, all located in the state of Kansas, as more fully set forth 
in the application which is on file with the Commission and open to 
public inspection.
    Specifically, Northern proposes to (1) abandon in place eleven (11) 
1,600 HP horizontal compressor units (units 12 through 22) at its 
Bushton Compressor Station located in Rice County, Kansas; and (2) 
install and operate two pipeline stitches totaling approximately 25 
miles of 36-inch pipeline and appurtenant facilities to connect and 
complete its existing ``E-Line'' between its Mullinville and Mackville 
Compressor Stations in Edward and Pawnee Counties, Kansas (Mullinville 
to Macksville Stitch) and between its Macksville and Bushton Compressor 
Stations in Barton and Rice Counties, Kansas (Macksville to Bushton 
Stitch). Northern states that, when compared to currently existing 
capacity, the overall capacity of Northern's mainline will be 
essentially the same when both the abandonment and pipeline stitches 
are completed. Northern estimates that the cost of the proposed project 
is approximately $25,655,000, which will be financed with internally 
generated funds. Northern requests that authorization be issued by 
early spring 1998 in order for the facilities to be constructed and 
placed in service during Spring 1998.
    Northern asserts that the rate impact to its existing shippers is 
within the 5 percent threshold applied by the Commission for a 
presumption in favor of rolled-in rates. Northern states the proposed 
abandonment, in conjunction with the new pipeline segment, is integral 
to Northern's existing pipeline system to ensure pipeline reliability 
during peak periods of demand thereby meeting the operational standard 
for rolled-in rates.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before October 14, 1997, 
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 385.211 and 385.214) 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 in any proceeding herein must file a 
motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission's rules.
    A person obtaining intervenor 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 every one of the 
intervenors. An intervenor can file for rehearing of any Commission 
order and can petition for court review of any such order. However, an 
intervenor must submit copies of comments or any other filing it makes 
with the Commission to every other intervenor in the proceeding, as 
well as 14 copies with the Commission.
    A person does not have to intervene, however, in order to have 
comments considered. A person, instead, may submit two copies of 
comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Commenters will be placed 
on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive copies of 
environmental documents and will be able to participate in meetings 
associated with the Commission's environmental review process. 
Commentors will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on 
all other parties. However, commentors will not receive copies of all 
documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission and will 
not have the right to seek rehearing or appeal the Commission's final 
order to a federal court.
    The Commission will consider all comments and concerns equally, 
whether filed by commenters or those requesting intervenor status.
    Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
and subject to the jurisdiction conferred upon the 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 permission and 
approval for the proposed abandonment and a grant of the certificate 
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 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 Northern to appear or to be represented at 
the hearing.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-25717 Filed 9-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M