[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 107 (Friday, June 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30000-30001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14175]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP99-535-000]


Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America; Notice of Application

May 28, 1999.
    Take notice that on May 25, 1999, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of 
America (Natural), 747 East 22nd Street, Lombard, Illinois 60148 filed 
an application with the Commission in Docket No. CP99-535-000 pursuant 
to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) for permission and 
approval to abandon by sale to MidCon Texas Pipeline Operator, Inc. 
(MidCon Texas), an affiliated intrastate pipeline, various laterals, 
meters, and tap facilities located in Brazoria, Galveston, Matagorda, 
and Wharton Counties, Texas, and authorized in various dockets, all as 
more fully set forth in the application which is open to the public for 
inspection. This filing may be viewed on the web at 
http:www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 for 
assistance).
    Cumulatively, Natural proposes to abandon a total of approximately 
147 miles of pipeline laterals (South Texas Laterals) and appurtenant 
tap and measurement facilities. The primary facilities are the 12-inch 
diameter Chocolate Bayou and the 24-inch Old Ocean laterals. Natural 
states that it proposes to transfer these facilities to MidCon Texas 
for their cumulative net book value as of the closing date specified in 
its assets sale agreement with MidCon Texas.
    Natural states that these facilities were originally constructed as 
a means of receiving gas purchased from various producers for Natural's 
system supply to support Natural's merchant function. Natural's 
merchant function terminated effective December 1, 1993. Consequently, 
Natural states that it no longer needs the said facilities to receive 
its own gas supply and no longer has any gas purchase obligations 
regarding these facilities. Moreover, Natural states that the 
transportation value to Natural of the above facilities has been 
greatly reduced.
    Natural states that it has contacted the only two shippers with 
active firm transportation contracts under Rate Schedule FTS of 
Natural's FERC Gas Tariff with primary points on the facilities to be 
abandoned, and that neither shipper has expressed any opposition to the 
proposed transfer. Natural further states that shippers with 
interruptible transportation agreements under Natural's Rate Schedule 
ITS of its FERC Gas Tariff are entitled to use all points in Natural's 
Electronic Catalog of Receipt and Delivery Points (Catalog of Points). 
Upon transfer of the facilities at issue here, Natural states that it 
would simply delete the existing receipt points from its Catalog of 
Points and add the new point of interconnection between MidCon Texas' 
newly acquired facilities and Natural's mainline system.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before June 18, 1999, file 
with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 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 
385.211) and the Regulations under the NGA (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.
    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 NGA 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 
permission and approval for the proposed abandonment are 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

[[Page 30001]]

unnecessary for Natural to appear or be represented at the hearing.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-14175 Filed 6-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M