[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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