[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42249-42250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-15686]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-382-000]


West Texas Gas, Inc.; Notice of Request for Clarification of 
Authority To Construct Replacement Facilities, or in the Alternative, 
Application To Amend Presidential Permit and Section 3 Authorization

June 17, 2002.
    Take notice that on June 6, 2002, West Texas Gas, Inc. (WTG), 211 
North Colorado, Midland, Texas, 79701, filed a request for 
clarification of its authority to construct, operate and maintain 
certain natural gas pipeline facilities as ``replacement'' facilities 
without further authorization under its existing Presidential Permit 
and Natural Gas Act (``NGA'') Section 3 authorization, issued in Docket 
No. CP96-497 \1\, all as more fully set forth in the application which 
is on file with the Commission and open to 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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Valero Transmission Co. and West Texas Gas, Inc., 76 FERC 
[para] 61,264 (1996).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Specifically, WTG proposes to replace a total of approximately 
1,165 feet of two parallel 8-inch diameter pipelines with a single 12-
inch pipeline which will have a substantially equivalent delivery 
capacity as the existing facilities. The current Presidential Permit 
authorizes a maximum capacity of 38,000 Mcf per day. Approximately 886 
feet of these facilities are located on the U.S. side of the border 
near Eagle Pass, Texas, and are subject to the jurisdiction of the 
Commission. The proposed facilities will connect at the center of the 
Rio Grande with the pipeline facilities of Compania Nacional de Gas, 
S.A. de C.V. (Conagas), and will be used to export natural gas to serve 
Conagas' existing customers near the City of Piedras Negras, Mexico. 
WTG states that the pipeline would be constructed using directional 
drilling under the Rio Grande starting on the Mexican side of the river 
and would be tied into the existing 8-inch lines located 35 feet from 
the U.S. bank of the river.
    WTG emphasizes that replacement is necessary because portions of 
the existing facilities have become uncovered and exposed to river 
currents in the Rio Grande. According to WTG, its existing 
authorization includes a condition that WTG make ``all necessary 
renewals and replacement'' of the facilities (See Article 8 of Permit). 
WTG is concerned that, unless clarification is issued promptly so that 
construction may commence, stress from currents causing further erosion 
and underwater suspension of the pipeline may destabilize and endanger 
the facilities. In the alternative, WTG requests the Commission to 
amend its existing authorization to permit the construction of the 
replacement facilities.
    Any questions concerning the application may be directed to Richard 
Hatchett, 211 North Colorado, Midland, Texas 79701 or call (915) 683-
4349.
    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 July 8, 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 Commission's rules of 
practice and procedure (18 CFR Secs. 385.214 or 385.211). 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

[[Page 42250]]

consider these comments in determining the appropriate action to take, 
but the filing of a comment alone will not serve to make the filer a 
party to the proceedings. The Commission's rules require that any 
person filing comments in opposition to the project provide copies of 
their protest 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 mailing of environmental documents issued by 
the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court review of the 
Commission's final order.
    Comments, protests and interventions may be filed electronically 
via the Internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR Sec. 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 will be issued.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-15686 Filed 6-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P