[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 11669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6053]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP98-254-000]


Richfield Gas Storage System; Notice of Application

March 4, 1998.
    Take notice that on February 25, 1998, Richfield Gas Storage System 
(Richfield), Two Warren Place, 6120 S. Yale, Suite 1200, Tulsa, 
Oklahoma 74136 filed an application pursuant to Section 7(b) of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part 157 of the Commission's Regulations 
thereunder for an order granting permission and approval to abandon, in 
place, by sale to its affiliate, Duke Energy Field Services, Inc. 
(Duke), certain facilities located in Morton and Stevens Counties, 
Kansas, all as more fully set forth in the application on file with the 
Commission and open to public inspection.
    Richfield proposes to abandon its storage field, 2578 horsepower of 
compression, approximately 66.4 miles of 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 inch 
pipeline, its injection/withdrawal and observation wells located in the 
storage field, and its remaining recoverable base gas. The facilities 
will be transferred to Duke at net book value estimated to be 
$11,481,571. Richfield states that existing storage customers will not 
be affected by the proposal, since March 31, 1998, is the last day for 
storage withdrawals pursuant to Richfield's tariff. All customers have 
been notified that all gas for their account in the storage field 
should be withdrawn by April 30, 1998. Thus, with the final withdrawal 
of customer storage volumes by April 30, 1998, Richfield will be 
effectively out of the storage business.
    In addition, although not anticipated to be necessary, Richfield 
also requests authorization to withdraw any customer-owned gas from the 
storage facilities to be abandoned in the event that any such gas may 
be remaining in the field subsequent to April 30, 1998.
    Richfield states that upon approval of the requested abandonment, 
the facilities will be operated as a part of Duke's gathering system. 
Coincident with this application, Duke has filed a Petition for 
Declaratory Order in Docket No. CP98-252-000 seeking an affirmative 
declaration that the facilities, once acquired and operated by Duke, 
are gathering facilities exempt from NGA Jurisdiction under Section 
1(b).
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before March 11, 1998, file 
with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., 
Washington, D.C. 20426, a petition 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. Any person wishing to become a party to a proceeding or to 
participate as a party in any hearing therein must file a petition 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 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 petition 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 petition for leave 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 provided for, unless otherwise advised, it will 
be unnecessary for Richfield to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
David P. Boergers,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-6053 Filed 3-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M