[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 28 (Monday, February 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6249-6250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3204]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-74-000]


Reef International, L.L.C.; Notice of Application

February 4, 2002.
    Take notice that on January 22, 2002, Reef International, L.L.C., 
(Reef), 1330 Leopard St., Suite 26, Corpus Christi, Texas 78410, filed 
an application seeking Section 3 authorization pursuant to the Natural 
Gas Act (NGA) and a Presidential Permit pursuant to Executive Order No. 
10485, as amended by Executive Order No. 12038, to site, construct, 
operate and maintain facilities at the International Boundary between 
the United States and Mexico for the exportation of initially 5,000 
MMBtu per day of natural gas, and thereafter will average approximately 
15,000 MMBtu per day from Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas to 
Coahuila, Mexico, all as more fully set forth in the application 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).
    Reef proposes to construct approximately 5 miles of 12-inch 
pipeline and appurtenant facilities from an interconnection with the 
existing intrastate pipeline facilities of Southern Transmission 
Company in Maverick County, Texas, crossing under the Rio Grande River 
(the mid-point of which is the International Boundary between the 
United States and Mexico), to a point just across the river in 
Coahuila, Mexico. In order to cross the Rio Grande River, Reef proposes 
to directionally bore under it for a total bore length of approximately 
800 feet. The new pipeline will then terminate approximately 1000 feet 
from the International Boundary in Coahuila, Mexico, at a point of 
interconnection with the distribution system of Compania National de 
Gas, S.A. (Conagas). According to Reef, Conagas will construct the 
metering and regulating facilities, known as the Phenix Station, in 
Mexico necessary for it to receive the gas from Reef's new pipeline. 
Reef states that the purpose of the new pipeline is to provide the 
Piedras Negras region of Coahuila, Mexico, with additional, needed 
supplies of clean burning natural gas, which will be derived 
exclusively from production sources within the State of Texas.
    Reef seeks both an NGA Section 3 order and a Presidential Permit 
for the approximately 400 feet of 12-inch pipeline that will begin at 
the point of commencement of the directional bore on the United States 
side of the river and extend to the mid-point of the river. The 
remaining facilities that will lie within the United States will be 
subject to the jurisdiction of the State of Texas. Reef asserts that 
since none of the transported supplies will be derived from sources 
outside of state, the U.S. portion of the pipeline facilities are 
exempt from Section 7.
    Any questions regarding the application should be directed to 
Michael Ward, Reef International, L.L.C., 1330 Leopard St., Suite 26, 
Corpus Christi, Texas, 78410, at (361) 241-2244.
    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 25, 2002, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, a motion 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 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.

[[Page 6250]]

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.
    Interventions, 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 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.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-3204 Filed 2-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P