[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 111 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31208-31209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14668]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP99-538-000]


B-R Pipeline Company Portland General Company; Notice of 
Application

June 4, 1999.
    Take notice that on May 28, 1999, B-R Pipeline Company (B-R), P.O. 
Box 806278, 125 South Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60680-4124, 
and Portland General Electric Company (PGE), One World Trade Center, 
Suite 1300, Portland, Oregon 97204 (jointly referred to as Applicants), 
filed in Docket No. CP99-538-000 an application pursuant to Sections 
7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, requesting the following 
authorizations: (1) permission and approval to abandon by sale to B-R a 
10. per cent tenancy-in-common share (12 per cent of PGE's interest) of 
a pipeline known as the ``Kelso-Beaver Pipeline'' (KBP); (2) 
certificate authority for B-R to acquire, own, and operate this 10.5 
percent tenancy-in-common interest in the KBP; (3) certificate 
authority for B-R to construct, own, and operate, at B-R's expense, a 
delivery point for interstate transportation service consisting of a 
tap, meter, appurtenant facilities (collectively the Delivery Point) 
located near the terminus of the KBP in Columbia County, Oregon, which 
will connect with a non-jurisdictional pipeline to be built and owned 
by United States Gypsum Company (Gypsum) as an extension of Gypsum's 
new wallboard manufacturing plant in Rainier, Oregon; (4) certificate 
authority for B-R to transport natural gas on behalf of Gypsum from the 
existing KBP's interconnect with Northwest Pipeline Corporation 
(Northwest) in Kelso, Washington, to the interconnect with Gypsum's 
facilities extending from Gypsum's new plant; and (5) waiver of the 
Commission's requirements to file annual reports, rates, tariffs, and 
contracts involving service by B-R for Gypsum, 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).
    Applicants state that on October 24, 1991, the Commission issued a 
certificate authorizing PGE and KB Pipeline Company (KB) to construct 
and operate 17 miles of twenty-inch diameter pipeline with a capacity 
of 193 MMcf/day (the KBP) and other facilities. It is indicated that 
the KBP extends from an interconnection with Northwest in Kelso, 
Washington, to a delivery point at PGE's Beaver Generating Station in 
Columbia County, Oregon and to an interconnection with KB's local 
distribution affiliate and only customer, Northwest Natural Gas Company 
(Northwest Natural). Applicants further state that neither PGE nor KB 
was required to offer open access transportation for third parties or 
to file open access tariffs.
    Applicants request authority for PGE to abandon by sale to B-R its 
right, title, and interest in and to a 10.5 per cent tenancy-in-common 
of the KBP, and Applicants request corresponding certificate authority 
for B-R to acquire this 10.5 per cent interest as tenant-in-common so 
the B-R may transport and deliver natural gas belonging to Gypsum for 
use at a new Gypsum wallboard plant in Rainier, Oregon. Applicants 
assert that as part of that sale, PGE will assign to Gypsum and B-R, 
with respect to such 10.5 per cent interest, all transportation and 
other rights, and Gypsum and B-R will assume all obligations that 
accompany such an ownership share under the original joint ownership 
agreement. Applicants further assert that B-R's ownership of 10.5 per 
cent tenancy-in-common will not alter the total capacity or the maximum 
allowable operating pressure that applies currently to the KBP.
    In addition to the proposed purchase and ownership of the 10.5 per 
cent interest in the KBP, B-R seeks certificate authority to construct, 
own, and operate for the purpose of transporting natural gas to Gypsum 
a Delivery Point, which will be located near the terminus of the 
existing KBP within existing rights-of-way. Applicants assert that B-R 
would build no other facilities; rather, Gypsum, an affiliate of B-R, 
plans to extend an eight-inch pipeline from its new plant in Rainier, 
Oregon to the Delivery Point. Applicants further assert that Gypsum's 
pipeline will be built and operated as an extension of Gypsum's new 
plant and will not be subject to the Commission's jurisdiction under 
either the NGA or NGPA. Applicants indicate that apart from the $2.5 
million to be paid to PGE to purchase a share of the KBP, the cost of 
B-R's new Delivery Point is estimated to be $65,000.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before June 25, 1999, file 
with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, 
Washington, DC 20426, a petition to intervene or a protest in 
accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice 
and

[[Page 31209]]

Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 and 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 protestants parties to the 
proceeding.
    Any person wishing to become a party to the proceeding or to 
participate as a party in any hearing therein must file a petition 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 Natural Gas Act and 
the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, a hearing will be 
held without further notice before the Commission on this application 
if no petition to intervene is filed within the time required herein, 
and if the Commission on its own review of the matter finds that the 
abandonment is required by the public convenience and necessity. If a 
petition for leave to intervene is timely filed, or if the Commission 
on its motion believes that a formal hearing is required, further 
notice of such hearing will be duly given.
    Under the procedure herein provide for, unless otherwise advised, 
it will be unnecessary for Applicants to appear or be represented at 
the hearing.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-14668 Filed 6-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M