[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18188-18189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9735]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP98-317-000]


El Paso Natural Gas Company and ANR Pipeline Company; Notice of 
Application

April 8, 1998.
    Take notice that on March 31, 1998, El Paso Natural Gas Company (El 
Paso), Post Office Box 1492, El Paso, Texas 79978, and ANR Pipeline 
Company (ANR), 500 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan 48243, 
collectively referred to as Applicants, filed a joint application in 
Docket No. CP98-317-000 pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas 
Act, for permission and approval to abandon four certificated exchange 
services, all as more fully set forth in the application on file with 
the Commission and open to public inspection.
    Specifically, the Applicants propose to abandon:
    1. Gas Exchange Agreement dated January 27, 1978, as amended. By 
order issued August 14, 1978, the Commission authorized the requests of 
El Paso in Docket No. CP78-223, and the request of ANR in Docket No. 
CP78-190, to exchange natural gas. The Applicants state the gas was 
exchanged under El Paso's special Rate Schedule X-41 and ANR's special 
Rate Schedule X-67. It is stated, that the agreement provided for the 
gathering, delivery and exchange of natural gas produced from 
properties located in Hemphill and Wheeler Counties, Texas and Roger 
Mills, Beckham and Dewey Counties, Oklahoma.
    2. Two Gas Exchange Agreements dated December 20, 1978. By order 
issued July 18, 1979, the Commission authorized the request of El Paso 
in Docket Nos. CP79-165 and CP79-166, et al. Applicants state the 
agreements involve the exchange of certain offshore gas reserves 
obtained by El Paso and certain gas supplies obtained by ANR in the 
Creston Nose and Lincoln Road areas of Wyoming. It is stated the gas 
was exchanged under El Paso's special Rate Schedules X-53 (Creston Nose 
Exchange Agreement) and X-54 (Lincoln Road Exchange Agreement). It is 
averred that while El Paso obtained the authorization under the July 
18, 1979 order for the exchange service with ANR, that ANR received 
authorization for the transportation of certain gas for El Paso to make 
the gas available for the exchange service. Applicants state the 
transportation arrangement was performed under ANR's special Rate 
Schedule X-79.

[[Page 18189]]

    3. Gas Exchange Agreement dated October 11, 1984. By order issued 
August 30, 1985, the Commission authorized the request of El Paso in 
Docket No. CP85-658-000, and the request of ANR in Docket No. CP85-538-
000, to construct and operate certain facilities and the transportation 
and delivery of natural gas on an exchange basis between the 
Applicants. The exchange was performed under El Paso's special Rate 
Schedule X-64 and ANR's special Rate Schedule X-158. It is stated that, 
under that exchange agreement, El Paso agreed to accept from NWPL, for 
the account of ANR, quantities of natural gas from the Overthrust Belt 
area of Wyoming. It is averred that those supplies were then delivered 
to El Paso through NWPL at the Ignacio Receipt Point located in La 
Plata County, Colorado. Applicants state that in exchange, El Paso 
agreed to concurrently deliver equivalent volumes of natural gas, on a 
dekatherm basis, to ANR at the interconnection of the two pipeline 
systems in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma.
    When certificated, the exchange services represented an economical 
way for the Applicants to receive dedicated gas supplies for their 
general system supply requirements. However, by letter dated November 
26, 1997, the Applicants agreed the four exchange agreements described 
above are no longer needed and can be terminated. It is further stated 
that no imbalances exist.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before April 29, 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 385.214 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 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 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 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 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 El Paso and ANR to appear or be represented 
at the hearing.
David P. Boergers,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-9735 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M