[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 44914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21406]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP99-597-000]


Northeren Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application

August 12, 1999.
    Take notice that on August 4, 1999, Northern Natural Gas Company 
(Northern), 111 South 103rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124, filed in 
Docket No. CP99-597-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(b) of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA), for permission and approval to abandon, by 
transfer to Sonat Exploration GOM, Inc. (Sonat), certain non-contiguous 
pipeline facilities, with appurtenances, located in the Grand Isle 
Area, Offshore Louisiana. The subject facility is known as the Grand 
Isle Block 80 Lateral (GI 80 Lateral). Northern also requests approval, 
concurrent with the conveyance of the facilities, to abandon, certain 
services rendered through the subject facilities, all as more fully set 
forth in the application 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).
    Communications concerning this filing should be addressed to: 
Michele Winckowsk, Senior Regulatory Analyst @ 402-398-7082 or Keith L. 
Petersen, Director of Certificates and Reporting, Northern Natural Gas 
Company, Post Office Box 3330, Omaha, Nebraska 68103-0330, Telephone: 
402-398-7421, Fax: 402-398-7592.
    The GI 80 Lateral consists of approximately 5.4 miles of 8-inch 
pipeline, with appurtenances, and extends from Grand Isle Block 80 to 
an underwater tap valve on Trunkline Gas Company's facilities located 
in Grand Isle Block 82. The subject facilities are located on the Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) and are subject to Sections 5(e) and 5(f) of 
the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA).
    It is stated that the GI 80 Lateral was initially installed to 
connect new gas supplies required for Northern's merchant sales 
obligation, but that the subject facilities are no longer needed by 
Northern as its role in the marketplace has changed from a merchant to 
a transponder of natural gas. Northern further states that the subject 
facilities are non-contiguous to it's traditional transmission pipeline 
system, and that the Grand Isle 80 facilities were declared non-
jurisdictional gathering pursuant to the Commission's Order issued 
February 13, 1995 in Docket No. CP92-498-005.
    Northern avers that on or about November 4, 1998, a gas leak was 
discovered in the vicinity of the GI 80 Lateral. It was subsequently 
determined that damage to the GI 80 Lateral had caused the gas leak. 
After considering the repair cost for the GI 80 Lateral, Northern 
negotiated to convey the subject facilities to Sonat. It is stated that 
Sonat intends to repair the lateral when it completes the drilling of 
its new production wells which will ultimately be connected to the GI 
80 Lateral.
    Northern indicates that it currently provides interruptible 
transportation service on the subject facilities, on a month-to-month 
basis.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before September 2, 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 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.
    Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
any 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 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 unnecessary for Northern to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-21406 Filed 8-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M