[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 863-864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-256]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP99-130-000]


El Paso Natural Gas Company; Notice of Request Under Blanket 
Authorization

December 31, 1998.
    Take notice that on December 21, 1998, El Paso Natural Gas Company 
(El Paso), Post Office Box 1492, El Paso, Texas 79978, filed in Docket 
No. CP99-130-000 a request pursuant to Sections 157.205 and 157.212 of 
the Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205 
and 157.212) for authorization to modify an existing metering facility, 
with appurtenances at the Lone Butte Meter Station Delivery Point 
located in Maricopa County, Arizona. El Paso states that modification 
of the metering facility will permit more accurate measurement under 
various flow conditions for the firm transportation and delivery of 
natural gas to Southwest Gas Corporation (Southwest). El Paso makes 
such request under its blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP82-
435-000 pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act, all as more fully 
set forth in the request on file with the Commission.
    El Paso states that it provides firm transportation service for 
Southwest pursuant to the terms and conditions of an existing 
Transportation Service Agreement (TSA) dated August 9, 1991, as amended 
and restated.
    El Paso further states that the Lone Butte Meter Station was 
designed to operate under constant, high-flow conditions, but states 
that due to the development of substantial variations in gas demand, 
service at the Lone Butte Meter Station Delivery Point fluctuates 
causing several low-flow conditions. El

[[Page 864]]

Paso avers that the low-flow conditions prevent the metering equipment 
from performing accurate measurement. It is further indicated that when 
the low-flow conditions occur, that El Paso will experience certain 
amounts of lost and unaccounted for gas volumes.
    In resolution of the problem occurring due to the various flow 
conditions, El Paso has determined that the installation of a second 
meter run to measure low-flow volumes would provide accurate 
measurement. El Paso is therefore proposing to modify the Lone Butte 
Meter Station Delivery Point by installing a turbine meter run designed 
to measure low-flow conditions accurately. It is stated that such 
facility modification should minimize repeated maintenance and related 
operational activities.
    It is stated that the modification of the existing Lone Butte Meter 
Station Delivery Point will not significantly increase the deliveries 
of natural gas to Southwest, and that the proposed measurement 
equipment has a maximum design of 20 Mcf of natural gas per hour. El 
Paso indicated that under most operating conditions, that only the 
existing meter run or the proposed meter run will be operating at any 
given time. It is averred that the only time that both meter runs will 
be used will be under unusual peaking situations.
    El Paso states that modification and operation of the existing Lone 
Butte Meter Station Delivery Point is not prohibited by El Paso's 
existing tariff. It is further stated that El Paso has sufficient 
capacity to accomplish the deliveries of the requested gas volumes 
without detriment or disadvantage to El Paso's other customers.
    Any person or the Commission's staff may, within 45 days after 
issuance of the instant notice by the Commission, file pursuant to Rule 
214 of the Commission's Procedural Rules (18 CFR 385.214) a motion to 
intervene or notice of intervention and pursuant to Section 157.205 of 
the Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205) a protest to 
the request. If no protest is filed within the time allowed therefor, 
the proposed activity shall be deemed to be authorized effective the 
day after the time allowed for filing a protest. If a protest is filed 
and not withdrawn within 30 days after the time allowed for filing a 
protest, the instant request shall be treated as an application for 
authorization pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-256 Filed 1-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M