[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59413-59414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29572]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-23-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Application

November 21, 2001.
    Take notice that on November 13, 2001, Columbia Gas Transmission 
Corporation (Columbia), 1700 MacCorkle Avenue, S.E., Charleston, West 
Virginia 25314, filed in Docket No. CP02-23-000 a request pursuant to 
section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), for permission and approval 
to abandon by sale to Columbia Natural Resources, Inc. (CNR) certain 
natural gas facilities located in Upshur and Randolph Counties, West 
Virginia, and the service provided through such facilities. In 
addition, Columbia requests that the Commission find the abandoned 
facilities to be gathering and therefore exempt from the Commission's 
jurisdiction, all as more fully set forth in the request that is on 
file with the Commission and open to public inspection. This filing may 
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).
    Columbia states that as a result of Order Nos. 436 and 636, it has 
experienced a shift from primarily a merchant function to that of 
transporter. As a result, Columbia states that it is taking steps to 
redefine its pipeline system. Columbia further states that the 
facilities to be sold to CNR are not an integral part of its 
transmission system and that the long-term needs of its customers are 
best served through a divestiture of the non-core facilities.
    Columbia states that on October 1, 2001, Columbia and CNR signed a 
letter of intent and acceptance of proposal to purchase. Columbia 
further states that such letter provides for the sale of the Alexander 
system which consists of 10.08 miles of 3-inch-diameter to 26-inch-
diameter pipelines, and the Alexander and Sugar Run Compressor Stations 
which consist of two 540 horsepower units and one 600 horsepower unit, 
respectively. It is stated that the price of the facilities to be sold 
to CNR will be at net depreciated book cost at the time of the sale.
    Columbia states that it does not propose the abandonment of service 
to customers other than those currently served directly from the 
facilities. Also, Columbia states that CNR has agreed to assume 
Columbia's service obligations to those customers. Columbia further 
states that although the Commission requires pipeline companies to make 
a tariff filing, pursuant to NGA section 4, within 30 days prior to the 
effective date of the transfer of gathering facilities to another 
party, Columbia requests waiver of this requirement. Instead, in the 
interest of efficiency and expediency, Columbia requests that the 
Commission accept the information provided within the application and 
in Exhibit Z-2 (List of Contracts to be Terminated) as its notice to 
terminate service pursuant to section 4 of the NGA.
    Any questions regarding the application should be directed to 
Fredric J. George, Senior Attorney, Columbia Gas Transmission 
Corporation, P.O. Box 127, Charleston, West Virginia 22030-0146 at 
(304) 357-2359.
    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 December 12, 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 
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.

[[Page 59414]]

    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 
abandonment will be issued.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-29572 Filed 11-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P