[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3487-3488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1729]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-62-000]


National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation; Notice of Application

January 17, 2002.
    Take notice that on January 11, 2002, National Fuel Gas Supply 
Corporation (National Fuel), 10 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, New York 
14203, filed in Docket No. CP02-62-000 , an application pursuant to 
Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) for authorization to abandon 
certain pipeline facilities, located in McKean County, Pennsylvania, 
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 be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov using the 
``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket#'' from the RIMS Menu and follow the 
instructions (call (202) 208-2222 for assistance).
    National Fuel proposes to abandon approximately 12,354 feet of 16-
inch diameter steel pipeline, known as Line C-Maloney Farm, located in 
Bradford and Foster Townships, McKean County, Pennsylvania. National 
Fuel states that Line C-Maloney Farm was constructed and placed in 
service by their predecessor, United Natural Gas Company, in 1947. 
National Fuel proposes to abandon Line C-Maloney Farm due to the age 
and condition of the pipeline, and the cost to replace certain 
deteriorated sections of this pipeline. National Fuel asserts that Line 
C-Maloney Farm has not been utilized since 1987, but is still 
maintained in accordance with Department of Transportation Guidelines & 
Practices. National Fuel avers that in order to continue to meet 
Department of Transportation standards, Line C-Maloney Farm would 
require a cathodic protection upgrade at an estimated cost of $106,400.
    National Fuel states that it would remove approximately 9,187 feet 
of 16-inch diameter pipeline, and would abandon approximately 3,167 
feet of 16-inch diameter pipeline in place, due to its proximity to 
residences and areas of steep slopes. National Fuel declares that the 
abandonment project would begin at a point of interconnection with 
National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation at Station T-No. 2593 and 
extend northwest terminating at the Pennsylvania-New York state line.
    National Fuel indicates that since Line C-Maloney Farm has not been 
utilized since 1987, there will be no abandonment or decrease in 
service to any customers of National Fuel as a result of the proposed 
abandonment.
    National Fuel states that the estimated cost to abandon the subject 
facilities is $40,000.
    Any questions regarding this application should be directed to 
David W. Reitz, Assistant General Counsel, National Fuel Gas Supply 
Corporation, 10 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, New York 14203, at (716) 
857-7949, or at [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 February 7, 2002,

[[Page 3488]]

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. 02-1729 Filed 1-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P