[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1962-1963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-724]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP73-184-009 and CI73-485-008]


Colorado Interstate Gas Company, a Division of Colorado 
Interstate Corporation, and CIG Exploration, Inc.; Notice of Request 
for Abandonment of ``Gas Search'' Program Conditions

January 7, 1998.
    Take notice that on December 19, 1997, Colorado Interstate Gas 
Company (CIG), P.O. Box 1087, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80944 filed an 
application pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act and Part 
157 of the Commission's Regulations requesting permission and approval 
for abandonment of ``Gas Search'' program conditions. The application 
is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection.
    CIG's filing states that in 1974 the Federal Power Commission 
approved a Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement (Stipulation) in the 
referenced dockets,\1\ which allowed CIG and its affiliate, CIG 
Exploration, Inc. to undertake a program to cause newly developed gas 
reserves to be dedicated to CIG's system for CIG's sales for resale. 
Under the terms of the Stipulation, all of the reserves acquired were 
dedicated to CIG's system and production from the reserves was subject 
to ``life of the field'' purchase contracts. In approving the 
Stipulation the FPC adopted as its own all of the conditions and 
dedications set forth in the Stipulation.
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    \1\ See, 51 FPC 74; reh'g denied, 51 FPC 754 (1974).
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    CIG states that while the exploration phase of the Gas Search 
program has terminated, there remain in place the commitments and 
dedications and other elements of the Gas Search program which, 
according to CIG, have become anachronistic. Accordingly, CIG states 
that it and the directly affected customers have agreed as a matter of 
contract to terminate all remaining terms and conditions of the Gas 
Search program which continue in effect. However, because of the 
underlying Stipulation, CIG is seeking formal abandonment of that 
aspect of the 1974

[[Page 1963]]

order approving the program. CIG requests that the Commission enter an 
order formally abandoning all of the obligations, duties and 
dedications arising from the 1974 Gas Search program.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before January 28, 1998, 
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.
    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 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 CIG to appear or to be represented at the 
hearing.
David P. Boergers,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-724 Filed 1-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M