[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 30 (Monday, February 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 7377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3317]



[[Page 7377]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP99-287-001]


Texas Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Amendment

February 8, 2000.
    Take notice that on February 4, 2000, pursuant to Section 7(b) of 
the Natural Gas Act, Texas Gas Transmission Corporation (Texas Gas), 
P.O. Box 20008, Owensboro, Kentucky 42304, filed in Docket No. CP99-
287-001, a Request for Amendment to Abandonment Authorization. Texas 
Gas requests that the Commission amend its August 26, 1999, Order in 
the above-captioned proceeding to allow for the abandonment of the 
White River Storage Field (White River) by Texas Gas by the transfer of 
its ownership, rather than by retirement in place, as previously 
approved. Texas Gas' proposal is more fully set forth in the request on 
file with the Commission and open to public inspection. This request 
may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.us/online/rims.htm (call 
202-208-2222 for assistance). Texas Gas's contact person for this 
request is David N. Roberts, Manager, Certificates and Tariffs, at the 
above address or phone 270-688-6712.
    Texas Gas requests that the Commission amend its previous Order to 
allow for the abandonment of White River by the transfer of its 
ownership and operation from Texas Gas to SIGCORP Energy Services, LLC 
(SIGCORP). In addition, it is requested that the Commission find that 
after that sale, the ownership and operation of the White River by 
SIGCORP, or its appointed affiliate, will not be under the Commission's 
jurisdiction.
    Texas Gas says that the transfer of the White River by sale to 
SIGCORP, rather than an abandonment in place, provides various benefits 
to itself, its customers, and SIGCROP. This transfer by sale will 
involve the continued use of the existing field, will eliminate the 
need to plug various wells (10 injection/withdrawal wells and 4 
observation wells), and eliminate the need to abandon about 2.3 miles 
of 6-inch and 1.5 miles of 2-inch pipeline. Further, Texas Gas will not 
incur the estimated $501,800 of removal cost. However, due to 
conveyance of the storage field ``as is,'' SIGCORP will obtain about 
125,365 Mcf of recoverable cushion/base gas originally costing $23,764. 
Texas Gas says that the net effect of this request is a savings and an 
overall cost benefit to Texas Gas's customers.
    Additionally, Texas Gas says that the transfer of the White River 
will provide benefits to the parties that would not be possible should 
the field be abandoned in place. The acquisition of the storage 
facility by SIGCORP will complement the current firm transportation 
capacity held by SIGCORP, and allow for a long-term relationship with 
the parties in order for gas to be delivered and withdrawn as required 
by the storage inventory. Furthermore, SIGCORP's commercial and 
industrial customers in the Southern Indiana region shall benefit with 
additional security and reliability of gas supply through SIGCORP's use 
of the storage field. (We note that Texas Gas will provide SIGCORP 
access to two new taps and build a bidirectional meter station under 
its Blanket Certificate. SIGCORP will be making a contribution-in-aid 
to construction for this, not to exceed $350,000.)
    Texas Gas has been advised that, following SIGCORP's acquisition of 
the storage facilities, SIGCORP intends to use the additional capacity 
provided by the White River in support of its provision of retail 
natural gas services its customers located exclusively within the State 
of Indiana. Thus, upon acquisition of the White River, SIGCORP believes 
this facility will no longer be subject to the Commission's 
jurisdiction.
    Any person desiring to be heard or making any protest with 
reference to said amendment should on or before February 29, 2000, 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 take 
but will not serve to make the protestants parties to the proceeding. 
The Commission's rules require that protestors provide copies of their 
protests to the party or person to whom the protests are directed.
    Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
and subject to the jurisdiction conferred upon the Federal 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 request 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 
request is 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.

David Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-3317 Filed 2-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M