[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 39743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19130]



[[Page 39743]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-402-000]


Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company; Notice of 
Application

July 26, 2001.
    Take notice that on July 17, 2001, Williston Basin Interstate 
Pipeline Company (Williston Basin), P. O. Box 5601, Bismarck, North 
Dakota 58506-5601, filed in Docket No. CP01-402-000 an abbreviated 
application pursuant to sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act 
(NGA) for a certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing 
the: (1) Installation and operation of three natural gas storage 
injection/withdrawal wells; and (2) abandonment of three existing 
natural gas storage injection/withdrawal wells in the Cedar Creek 
(Baker) Storage Field, Fallon County, Montana, all as more fully set 
forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open 
to public inspection. Copies of this filing are on file with the 
Commission and are available for public inspection. This filing may 
also be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``RIMS'' 
link, select ``Docket#'' and follow the instructions (call 202-208-2222 
for assistance).
    Specifically, Williston Basin proposes to install and operate: (1) 
Well WBI No. 3001 Federal in section 26, T9N, R58E; (2) Well WBI No. 
3002 Federal in section 10, T8N, R59E; and (3) Well WBI No. 3003 
Federal in section 28, T10N, R58E (Proposed Wells). Williston Basin 
also proposes to plug and abandon: (2) Well WBI No. 27 located in 
section 26, T9N, R58E; (2) Well WBI No. 72 located in section 22, T8N, 
R59E; and (3) Well WBI No. 49 located in section 21, T10N, R58E 
(Existing Wells). Williston Basin states that the drilling of the 
Proposed Wells and abandonment of the Existing Wells reflects the 
initiation of a gas storage well replacement program in the Baker 
Storage Field to maintain current field deliverability and gain 
operational efficiencies.
    Williston Basin says that the deliverability of the Proposed Wells 
could exceed that of the Existing Wells, but it does not intend to 
operate the overall field in such a way as to exceed its current firm 
deliverability of 114,815 Mcf per day. Williston Basin states that the 
estimated cost to install the Proposed Wells is $507,620 and requests 
rolled-in rate treatment. Williston Basin further states that the 
accounting treatment of the abandonment of the Existing Wells is shown 
in Exhibit Y of the application.
    Williston Basin further states that in association with the 
installation and operation of the Proposed Wells, it plans to construct 
three field meter stations and approximately 8,711 feet of new 6-inch 
gas storage field line; and abandon one meter station and approximately 
8,401 feet of 3- and 4-inch natural gas storage line. Williston Basin 
states that this would be done pursuant to its blanket certificate 
authorized in Docket Nos. CP82-487-000, et al. (30 FERC para. 61,143).
    Any questions regarding this application should be directed to 
Keith A. Tiggelaar, Manager--Regulatory Affairs, Williston Basin 
Interstate Pipeline Company, P. O. Box 5601, Bismarck, North Dakota 
58506-5601, at 701-530-1560 or [email protected].
    There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of 
this project. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by 
becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or 
before August 16, 2001, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 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 project. 
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 project 
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 project 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.
    The Commission may issue a preliminary determination on non-
environmental issues prior to the completion of its review of the 
environmental aspects of the project. This preliminary determination 
typically considers such issues as the need for the project and its 
economic effect on existing customers of the applicant, on other 
pipelines in the area, and on landowners and communities. For example, 
the Commission considers the extent to which the applicant may need to 
exercise eminent domain to obtain rights-of-way for the proposed 
project and balances that against the non-environmental benefits to be 
provided by the project. Therefore, if a person has comments on 
community and landowner impacts from this proposal, it is important 
either to file comments or to intervene as early in the process as 
possible.
    Comments, protests and interventions 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 under the ``e-Filing'' 
link.
    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 a 
certificate will be issued.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-19130 Filed 7-31-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P