[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 65300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27998]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-18-000]


Koch Gateway Pipeline Company; Notice of Application

October 26, 2000.
    Take notice that on October 24, 2000, Koch Gateway Pipeline Company 
(Koch Gateway), P.O. Box 1478, Houston, Texas 77251-1478, filed an 
application in Docket No. CP01-18-000 pursuant to Section 7(b) of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Section 157.18 of the Commission's 
Regulations for permission and approval to abandon by removal 
approximately 12,497 feet of 16-inch pipeline from Station Number 
945+63 to Station Number 820+66 on its Latex-Forth Worth Mainline 
designated as Index 1 \1\ in Harrison County, Texas (SWEPCO Segment), 
all as more fully set forth in the application on file with the 
Commission and open to public inspection.
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    \1\ Index numbers are Koch Gateway's internal designation for 
transmission facilities.
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    This filing may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 for assistance). Any questions 
regarding this application should be directed to: Kyle Stephens, 
director of Certificates, Koch Gateway Pipeline Company, P.O. Box 1478, 
Houston, Texas, 77251-1478, (713) 544-7309.
    Koch Gateway states that the SWEPCO Segment is in direct conflict 
with an active surface lignite mine operated by Southwestern Electric 
Power Company (SWEPCO), a division of American Electric Power. Koch 
Gateway states that in November 1996, Koch Gateway moved the remaining 
customers from Index 1 to Index 65-2 and idled Index 1 from Station 
Number 00+0 to Station Number 1190+15 in east Texas. SWEPCO operates an 
active surface lignite coal mine that provides the lignite fuel for its 
local electric generation facility, the Pirkey Power Plant, in the 
vicinity of the east end of Index 1. For the surface area covered by 
the mine, SWEPCO owns the land in fee or underlying landowners have 
assigned their surface rights to SWEPCO. Although portions of both 
Index 1 and Index 65-2 have been relocated to accommodate previous 
surface mining activities, the mining activities will again be in 
direct conflict with Index 1 and Index 65-2. Koch Gateway will relocate 
the active line, Index 65-2,\2\ but believes it is in the public 
convenience and necessity to request abandonment of the SWEPCO Segment 
of idled line--Index 1--at this time.\3\ This will save SWEPCO the 
relocation costs associated with Index 1. Due to the pending 
encroachment by the mining operations, Koch Gateway proposes herein to 
abandon by removal the SWEPCO Segment--Station Number 945+63 to Station 
Number 820+66--except for two road crossings. To address SWEPCO's 
Removal Request, Koch Gateway states it needs to begin removal of the 
SWEPCO Segment by January 1, 2001.
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    \2\ To avoid encroachment by SWEPCO on this line currently 
serving customers, the portion of Index 65-2 from Station Number 
249+32 to Station Number 415+64 will be relocated pursuant to 18 
C.F.R. Section 157.208(a)(1) under Koch Gateway's blanket 
certificate authorized in FERC Docket No. CP82-430-000.
    \3\ Koch Gateway states that it is in the process of preparing 
an application under Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act to abandon 
the currently idled segments of Index 1 not covered by the immediate 
application. Koch Gateway is currently negotiating with affected 
landowners and will file such an application in the near future.
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    Koch Gateway states it will provide the required landowner 
notifications and notifications to government entities affected by the 
proposed project including towns, communities and government agencies. 
Also, Koch Gateway states that public notice of the proposed project 
will be published twice in a daily or weekly newspaper of general 
circulation in each county in which the project is located; and 
further, copies of the application will be available at a library in a 
central location in each county in which the project is located.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before November 16, 2000, 
file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 
20426, a petition 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 party to a proceeding or to participate as a 
party in any hearing therein must file a petition to intervene in 
accordance with the Commission's Rules. Beginning November 1, 2000, 
comments and protests may be filed electronically via the internet in 
lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on 
the Commission's web site at http;//www.ferc.fed.us/efi/doorbell.htm.
    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 petition 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 petition for leave 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 provided for, unless otherwise advised, it will 
be unnecessary for Koch Gateway to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-27998 Filed 10-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M