[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 165 (Thursday, August 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51602-51603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21601]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-440-000]


Pacific Interstate Offshore Company; Application

August 18, 2000.
    Take notice that on August 15, 2000, Pacific Interstate Offshore 
Company (PIOC), 1021 Main, Suite 2100, Houston, Texas 77002, filed in 
Docket No. CP00-440-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(b) of the 
Natural Gas Act for permission and approval to abandon all of its 
facilities and the services provided through those 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/htm (call 202-208-2222 for assistance).
    PIOC states that it currently operates facilities consisting of 8.4 
miles of 12-inch pipeline, extending from the Platform Habitat in the 
Pitas Point Field, in the Federal waters, offshore California, to a 
point onshore near Carpinteria, California, along with a meter, 
regulator station, and appurtenant facilities. It is indicated that 
PIOC offers transportation services for shippers under its Part 284 
blanket certificate. PIOC indicates that as of September 1, 1999, Nuevo 
Energy Company (Nuevo) acquired all of the issued and outstanding stock 
of PIOC from Sempra Energy, and that currently Nuevo, which owns all of 
the gas produced at the platform and holds all of the surrounding 
leases, is PIOC's only shipper.

[[Page 51603]]

    PIOC states that Nuevo requires a reliable and reasonably priced 
outlet for the gas produced at its Platform Habitat. PIOC submits that, 
now that Nuevo, a producer, owns the PIOC facilities, the primary 
function of the facilities is gathering. PIOC has submitted a primary 
function analysis supporting its claim that its facilities qualify as 
gathering facilities exempt from jurisdiction under Section 1(b) of the 
Natural Gas Act.
    Any questions regarding the application should be directed to Fred 
Lindemann, Torch Operating Company, 1221 Lamar, Suite 1600, Houston, 
Texas 77010 at (713) 753-1368.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before September 8, 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 
National 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 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 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 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 PIOC to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-21601 Filed 8-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M