[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 106 (Thursday, June 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29858-29859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14023]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP99-242-000]


Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Co.; Application

May 27, 1999.
    Take notice that on March 8, 1999, as supplemented May 19, 1999, 
Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company (Williston) 200 North Third 
Street, Suite 300, Bismarck, North Dakota 58501, filed an application 
pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act for a certificate of 
public convenience and necessity for authorization to install and 
operate a leased gas compressor unit at the Billy Creek Compressor 
Station, Johnson County, Wyoming to enable Williston to transport 
natural gas to current and potential pipeline interconnection points, 
all as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with 
the Commission and open to public inspection. This filing may be viewed 
on the web at http://www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 
for assistance).
    Specifically, Williston proposes to install and operate a 1,478 
horsepower Waukesha Model L7042GSI V-12 engine coupled with an Ariel 
JGK-4 compressor unit. Williston indicates that the compressor unit 
lease rental for this compressor unit is $150,000 per year and the 
compressor unit will be installed, operated, and maintained by 
Williston personnel. Williston estimates the cost of the project to be 
$298,321 excluding the $150,000 per year to lease the compressor unit. 
Williston requests that the Commission grant rolled-in rate treatment 
for the proposed facilities.
    Williston claims that producers in the Powder River Basin have 
undertaken extensive drilling programs for the production of coal seam 
gas. Williston states that it believes the installation and operation 
of the proposed leased compressor will enable Williston Basin's 
existing pipeline capacity to be more fully utilized through increased 
throughput, will allow producers and shippers an avenue to move Powder 
River Basin coal seam gas production to pipelines interconnecting with 
Williston Basin's system in the most economical and environmentally 
sensitive manner, and will attract additional supply sources to its 
isolated Billy Creek-Sheridan system.
    Williston indicates that on February 5, 1999, Williston posted a 
notice on its Electronic Bulletin Board and held an open season from 
February 8, 1999, through February 22, 1999, to solicit interest from 
shippers in utilizing the additional transportation capacity on the 
Billy Creek-Sheridan line section which capacity will become available 
as a result of the installation of the proposed leased compressor. 
Williston states that as of the date of the filing of its application, 
Williston has not consummated any definitive commitments for the 
additional transportation capacity that will be available as a result 
of the proposed compressor installation.
    By letter filed May 19, 1999, Williston supplemented its 
application, stating that it has consummated a precedent agreement for 
some of the transportation capacity that will be available as a result 
of the proposed compressor installation. Williston's filing included 
copies of the precedent agreement which Williston requests be given 
confidential treatment under 18 CFR 388.112 because it is competitively 
sensitive. Williston marked the precedent agreement ``Contains 
Privileged Information--Do Not Release''.
    Williston states that while the precedent agreement may not 
represent a commitment for a substantial amount of the project's 
capacity and may not meet the Commission's threshold test for project 
capacity commitment, there are several reasons why the Commission 
should proceed with its review and processing of Williston's 
application. Williston's first reason is the minor nature of the 
project and the fact that it will have little economic or environmental 
impact. Williston's second reason is the fact that the revenue 
generated in the first year from the firm transportation contract to be 
executed based on the precedent agreement is more that 77% of the 
estimated first year cost of service. Williston next states that it 
believes that the proposal will produce system benefits by more fully 
utilizing its existing Bill Creek-Sheridan line section and by 
increasing system reliability by attracting additional gas supply 
sources to its pipeline system. Williston cites, as a fourth reason, 
its belief that the transportation market in Billy Creek-Sheridan area 
will continue to grow and generate additional firm and interruptible 
transportation revenues fully recovering the incremental cost of 
service associated with the project.
    Any person desiring to participate in the hearing process or to 
make any protest with reference to said amendment should on or before 
June 17, 1999, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE, Washington, DC 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.
    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 filing it makes 
with the Commission to every other intervenor in the proceeding, as 
well as 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 section 7 and 15 of the Natural Gas Act and 
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

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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 Williston to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-14023 Filed 6-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M