[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 155 (Thursday, August 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 48979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20264]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-416-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Application

August 4, 2000.
    Take notice that on July 26, 2000, Columbia Gas Transmission 
Corporation (Columbia), Post Office Box 10146, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-
0146, filed in Docket No. CP00-416-000 an application pursuant to 
Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act for permission and approval to 
abandon certain pipeline facilities located in Ohio, 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/htm (call 202-208-2222 for assistance).
    Columbia proposes to abandon the facilities by sale to Columbia 
Natural Resources, Inc. (CNR) and states that the facilities proposed 
for abandonment include Columbia's Line SR-545, which is a 20-inch 
pipeline beginning at a point near Columbia's Benton Compressor Station 
in Benton Township, Hocking County, Ohio and running approximately 16.3 
miles in a northeasterly direction to its terminus at a point near 
Columbia's Crawford Compressor Station in the township of Berne, 
Fairfield County, Ohio. It is stated that the facilities have been used 
by Columbia primarily to transport volumes of gas from Columbia's 
Benton Storage Field to its Crawford Compressor Station where the 
volumes are compressed and transported to Columbia's mainline 
transmission system for system supply and redelivery to the Columbus, 
Ohio, market.
    It is explained that operation of the system has changed so that 
the volumes previously compressed at Crawford are now compressed at 
Benton; therefore, Line SR-545 is no longer necessary to Columbia's 
current operations. It is asserted that the facilities will be sold for 
their depreciated book cost, estimated to be $290,390 as of December 
31, 1999. Columbia states that the facilities are no longer an integral 
part of its transmission system and that the long-term needs of its 
customers will be best served through a divestiture of the non-core 
facilities.
    Columbia also proposes to abandon service to mainline tap customers 
located along Line SR-545 and to terminate interruptible service 
agreements with CNR and Oxford Oil Company. It is asserted that CNR has 
agreed to continue providing service to those customers abandoned by 
Columbia, so that no customer would lose service as a result of the 
proposed abandonment. CNR has filed in Docket No. CP00-417-000 a 
request for declaratory order exempting the facilities from Commission 
jurisdiction.
    Any questions regarding the application should be directed to 
Steven E. Hellman, Senior Attorney, at (703) 227-3467.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before August 25, 2000, file 
with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., 
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 protestants parties to the 
proceedings. 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 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 a 
grant of the certificate 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.
    Under the procedure herein provided for, unless otherwise advised, 
it will be unnecessary for Columbia to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-20264 Filed 8-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M