[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66857-66858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33267]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP94-38-002]


Ouachita River Gas Storage Company L.L.C.; Notice of Petition to 
Amend

December 16, 1997.
    Take notice that on November 17, 1997, Ouachita River Gas Storage 
Company, L.L.C. (Ouachita) 9801 Westheimer, Suite 602, Houston, Texas 
77042, filed in Docket No. CP94-38-002 a petition to amend the existing 
authorizations issued in Docket Nos. CP94-38-000 and CP94-38-001, 
pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, to expand the working 
gas capacity of the South Downsville Storage Project, all as more fully 
set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and 
open to public inspection.
    On August 1, 1996, the Commission authorized Ouachita to construct 
and operate the South Downsville Storage Project, an underground gas 
storage field with related pipeline and header facilities in Union and 
Lincoln Parishes, Louisiana. The August 1, 1996, order approved market-
based rates for Ouachita's storage services but denied market-based 
rates for hub services. On February 26, 1997, the Commission approved 
cost-based rates for Ouachita's hub services and issued Ouachita a 
Subpart G blanket certificate to render firm and interruptible gas 
storage services and interruptible hub transportation services.
    Ouachita states that the project was originally designed with a 
working gas storage capacity of 27 Bcf. Ouachita explains that as 
result of additional analysis, it has determined that the working 
capacity of the project can be efficiently increased. Based on the 
results of a recent open season, Ouachita believes it can subscribe all 
of the expanded capacity. Accordingly, Ouachita proposes to increase 
the working gas storage capacity from 27 Bcf to 37.5 Bcf. Ouachita 
asserts that the increase will permit it to spread the fixed costs of 
the project over more units of storaged capacity and thereby decrease 
the unit cost of storage.
    Any person desiring to participate in the hearing process or to 
make any protest with reference to said application should on or before 
January 6, 1998, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
888 First St., NE, 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. The Commission's rules require 
that protestors provide copies of their protests to the party or 
parties directly involved. 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.
    A person obtaining intervenor status will be placed on the service 
list

[[Page 66858]]

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 an original and 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. 
Commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on 
all other parties. However, commenters 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 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 is 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 Ouachita to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-33267 Filed 12-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M