[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1192-1193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-339]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Viking Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Application

January 4, 1999.
    Take notice that on December 31, 1998, Viking Gas Transmission 
Company (Viking) 825 Rice Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55117, filed an 
application in Docket No. CP99-140-000 pursuant to Section 7(b) of the 
Natural Gas ACt for permission and approval to abandon certain 
facilities, all as more fully set forth in the application on file with 
the Commission and open to public inspection.
    On September 3, 1998, Viking filed an application in Docket No. 
CP99-761-000 to construct and operate five segments of 24-inch pipeline 
loop totaling 45 miles, to install certain above-ground facilities, 
including crossover assemblies, and to establish a new meter station 
(the 1999 Expansion). The 1999 Expansion, located in 6 counties in 
Minnesota, is designed to meet new requests for transportation service 
and to augment system reliability and operational flexibility.
    In conjunction with the 1999 Expansion project, Viking proposes in 
the subject application to abandon its existing Angus crossover 
assembly located in Polk County, Minnesota. The crossover facilities 
consist of a 12-inch sidevalve, a 8-inch blowdown valve, and 
approximately 80 feet of associated 24-inch pipe together with related 
valves and fittings. The facilities were installed in 1997, as 
authorized in Docket No. CP97-93-000 as part of an earlier looping 
project.\1\ Since terminus of the earlier loopline will now be extended 
southward as a result of looping proposed in Docket No. CP98-761-000, 
the subject crossover assembly is no longer needed. A new crossover 
assembly will be installed at the terminus of the Angus loopline 
proposed in the 1999 Expansion. Removing the Angus crossover assembly 
is estimated to cost approximately $6,000. The abandonment is an 
integral part of the 1999 Expansion and the removal will take place 
concurrent with

[[Page 1193]]

the new construction. Viking states that the proposed abandonment would 
not adversely affect system operations or affect service to customers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 79 FERC para.61,136 (1997).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Any person desiring to participate in the hearing process or to 
make any protest with reference to said application should on or before 
January 14, 1999, 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 385.214 or 385.311) 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 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 
directly involved. 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 or any Commission 
order and can petition for court review of any such order. However, an 
intervenor must submit copies of comments or any other filing 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 
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 a grant of the certificate 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 Viking to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-339 Filed 1-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M