[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 222 (Thursday, November 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69293-69294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29346]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-27-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Application

November 9, 2000.
    On November 3, 2000, Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation 
(Columbia), P.O. Box 1273, Charleston, West Virginia 25325-1273, filed 
an application in Docket No. CP01-27-000 pursuant to Section 7(b) of 
the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Section 157.18 of

[[Page 69294]]

the Commission's Regulations for permission and approval to abandon by 
sale to Viking Energy, Incorporated, a West Virginia corporation, 
certain natural gas storage facilities (known as the Grapevine B 
Storage field) located in Kanawha County, West Virginia, all as more 
fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission 
and open to public inspection. The filing may be viewed at http://www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 for assistance).
    Columbia states that the Grapevine B Storage Field consists of one 
storage well, approximately 0.09 mile of 4-inch well pipeline, 
approximately 0.8 mile of 4-inch storage pipeline, one measuring and 
regulating station, appurtenances, and storage field reservoir of 177 
acres. Columbia states that the facilities were constructed by United 
Fuel Gas Company, a predecessor of Columbia, and certificated in Docket 
No. G-1202.\1\ The field was designated as Storage Field X-53 in that 
order. Columbia states that its authorization to own and operate the 
Grapevine B Storage Field was granted by the Commission in Docket No 
CP71-132.\2\ Columbia states that historically gas has been injected 
into Grapevine B utilizing high pressure gas received from Line SM-80; 
and, withdrawal volumes have been delivered into a low pressure 
transmission line without compression. Columbia states that due to 
changes in Columbia's customer obligations, the storage field can no 
longer operate without compression. Due to the ``de minimus'' nature of 
the facilities on Columbia's storage system (Grapevine B has 
historically averaged a total withdrawal of 30 MMcf during the heating 
season), the changes in market requirements, and the sources of supply 
in the area of the facilities, Columbia has determined that its current 
and future obligation can be met without the Grapevine B Storage field. 
Columbia states that therefore the capital expenditure required to 
install the necessary compression is not warranted.
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    \1\ United Fuel Gas Co., 8 FPCpara. 945 (1949).
    \2\ Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., 45FPCpara. 398 (1971).
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    Columbia states that it does not propose the abandonment of service 
to any customer as a result of the proposed sale. Columbia states that 
there are no mainline tap consumers on the facilities to be sold nor 
are there any firm or non-firm contracts currently utilizing the 
facilities.
    Questions regarding the details of this proposed abandonment should 
be directed to Victoria J. Hamilton, Certificate Coordinator, Columbia 
Gas Transmission Corporation, P.O. Box 1273, Charleston, West Virginia 
25325-1273, call (304) 357-2297.
    There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of 
this abandonment. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by 
becoming a party to the proceedings for this abandonment should, on or 
before November 30, 2000, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20426, a motion to 
intervene 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 NGA (18 CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party 
status will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary 
of the Commission and will receive copies of all documents filed by the 
applicant and by all other parties. A party must submit 14 copies of 
filings made with the Commission and must mail a copy to the applicant 
and to every other party in the proceeding. Only parties to the 
proceeding can ask for court review of Commission orders in the 
proceeding.
    However, a person does not have to intervene in order to have 
comments considered. The second way to participate is by filing with 
the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as possible, an original and 
two copies of comments in support of or in opposition to this 
abandonment. The Commission will consider these comments in determining 
the appropriate action to be taken, but the filing of a comment alone 
will not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. The 
Commission's rules require that persons filing comments in opposition 
to the abandonment provide copies of their protests only to the party 
or parties directly involved in the protest.
    Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of 
this abandonment should submit an original and two copies of their 
comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commenters 
will be placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will 
receive copies of the environmental documents, and will be notified of 
meetings associated with the Commission's environmental review process. 
Environmental commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed 
documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commenters will 
not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by 
the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents 
issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court 
review of the Commission's final order.
    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.
    If the Commission decides to set the application for a formal 
hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, the Commission will issue 
another notice describing that process. At the end of the Commission's 
review process, a final Commission order approving or denying 
abandonment will be issued.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-29346 Filed 11-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M