[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 165 (Wednesday, August 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45475-45476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22846]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP98-717-000]


El Paso Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application

August 20, 1998.
    Take notice that on August 10, 1998, El Paso Natural Gas Company 
(El Paso), Post Office Box 1492, El Paso, Texas, 79978, filed an 
application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) 
at Docket No. CP98-717-000, under Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act 
and Section 157.5, et seq., of the Commission's Regulations, for 
permission and approval to abandon from jurisdictional interstate 
transmission service approximately 49.16 miles of the 12\3/4\'' O.D. El 
Paso-Douglas Loop Line, with appurtenances, (Line No. 1005) located in 
Dona Ana and Luna Counties, New Mexico and the related natural gas 
service, all as more fully described in the application on file with 
the Commission and open to public inspection.
    El Paso states that changing circumstances have eliminated the 
continued operational need in interstate transmission service of 
certain segments

[[Page 45476]]

of Line No. 1005. With the installation by El Paso of the larger 
diameter, high pressure pipelines for interstate mainline transmission 
service, lines like Line No. 1005, have been relegated to gas services 
that operationally support service on the mainline. More specifically, 
lines such as Line No. 1005 are utilized by El Paso to move gas at 
lesser volumes to either more optimally load the mainline or to provide 
gas as fuel for the operation of the mainline system. Such is the case 
for Line No. 1005.
    El Paso states that based upon the age and condition of certain 
segments of Line No. 1005 and the reduced need and operational 
necessity for some segments of Line No. 1005, El Paso has determined 
that three segments of Line No. 1005 are no longer required in the 
operation of El Paso's interstate transmission pipeline system. El Paso 
proposes to abandon the three segments by removal, to the extent 
practicable.
    Accordingly, El Paso proposes to abandon three segments of Line No. 
1005 totaling 49.16 miles of pipeline, with appurtenances, and the 
related natural gas service rendered through such segments. El Paso 
indicates that eight sections of Segment 2 totaling 536.16 feet already 
have been removed. These sections were located in Dona Ana County.
    El Paso further states there will be no adverse environmental 
effects from the proposed abandonment. Based upon El Paso's 
environmental review, there have been and will be no adverse 
environmental impacts from cutting and capping the pipeline segments 
and the proposed abandonment by removal, to the extent practicable. 
Abandonment by removal will be accomplished within existing previously 
disturbed right-of-way by trenching, cutting the pipe, removing the 
pipe, and filling the trench. The disturbed areas are returned to their 
natural state.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before September 10, 1998, 
file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, 
N.E., 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. The Commission's Rules require that protestors 
provide copies of their protests to the party or parties against whom 
the protests are directed. 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 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 filings 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 
environmental 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 the requested abandonment 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 El Paso to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-22846 Filed 8-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M