[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23830-23831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11084]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP 99-323-000]


El Paso Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application

April 28, 1999.
    Take notice that on April 16, 1999, El Paso Natural Gas Company (El 
Paso), Post Office Box 1492, El Paso, Texas, 79978, filed an 
application at Docket No. CP99-323-000, pursuant to Section 3 of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Subpart B of Part 153 of the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission's (Commission) Regulations, for an order 
authorizing the siting, construction, and operation of pipeline 
facilities and the place of exit for export of natural gas at two 
separate points along the International Boundary between the United 
States and Mexico in Cochise County, Arizona (International Boundary).
    Additionally, El Paso requests, pursuant to Subpart C of Part 153 
of the Commission's Regulations and in compliance with Executive Order 
No. 10485, as amended by Executive Order No. 12038, two Presidential 
Permits for the construction, operation, maintenance, and connection of 
pipeline facilities for the export of natural gas at the International 
Boundary, all as more fully set forth in the application on file with 
the Commission and open to public inspection.
    El Paso states that the Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE), a 
decentralized Public Organism of the United Mexican States, has an 
existing power plant near the City of Hermosillo, Sonoro, Mexico and 
recently completed a Request For Proposal (RFP) for a second power 
plant near Hermosillo. Additionally, CFE is scheduled to close an RFP 
in May 1999 for a new power plant near the City of Agua Prieta, Sonoro, 
Mexico, referred to as the El Fresnal Power Plant. These three power 
plants will require natural gas as fuel to generate electricity.
    For the exportation of natural gas at the International Boundary, 
El Paso proposes to construct approximately 60 feet of 16'' O.D. 
pipeline, with appurtenance, at the terminus of the 16'' O.D. lateral 
lines extending from the Willmex Delivery Point, located near the 
Monument 90 Meter Station and from the El Fresnal Delivery Point near 
Douglas, Arizona, both located in Cochise County, Arizona to the U.S./
Mexico border. These facilities, which will constitute two separate 
border crossing facilities, are located on the downstream side of the 
Willmex and El Fresnal Delivery Points, which are being proposed for 
construction under Section 7(c) application being filed 
concurrently.\1\ Existing pipeline facilities owned by Pemex on the 
Mexican side of the International Boundary will receive the natural gas 
from the Willmex Delivery point. Currently, no Mexican pipeline 
facilities exist downstream of the El Fresnal Delivery Point. However, 
the El Fresnal Power Plant RFP awarding process will determine 
responsibility for downstream pipeline construction, ownership, and 
operation.
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    \1\ In Docket No. CP999-322-000, El Paso has filed an 
application proposing to construct the Willcox Lateral, which will 
consist of certain lateral pipeline and metering facilities. The 
lateral line will interconnect with the proposed border crossing 
facilities in order to facilitate service to this present and future 
power plant infrastructure in Northern Sonora, Mexico.
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    El Paso states that, in support of the Willcox Lateral Project, and 
to demonstrate market support for the Willcox Lateral Project, it has 
entered into three separate, but mutually exclusive, firm TSAs 
providing for the delivery of natural gas to the El Fresnal Power Plant 
and a fourth firm TSA providing for transportation service to the 
second Hermosillo Power Plant. El Paso is currently negotiating 
contracts for the existing Hermosillo Power Plant.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said document should, on or before, May 19, 1999, file 
with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., 
Washington, D.C., 20426, a protest or motion to intervene in accordance 
with the requirements of Rule 211 or 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 or 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. Any person wishing to become a party to a proceeding 
or to participate as a party in any hearing herein 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

[[Page 23831]]

the jurisdiction conferred upon the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission by Section 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 
document 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 field, or if 
the Commission on its own motion believes that a formal hearing is 
required, further notice of such hearing still 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. 99-11084 Filed 5-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M