[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43302-43303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16248]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-386-000]


MDU Resources Group, Inc.; Notice of Application

June 21, 2002.
    Take notice that on June 12, 2002, MDU Resources Group, Inc.(MDU), 
918 East Divide Avenue, Bismarck, North Dakota 58506, filed in Docket 
No. CP02-386-000 , an application pursuant to Section 7(f) of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA) for a determination of a service area, a 
declaration that MDU qualifies as a local distribution company (LDC) 
and a waiver of the regulatory requirements under the NGA and the 
Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA), 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).
    MDU requests a service area determination for the area it serves in 
Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota, and Richland County, North 
Dakota in order to be able to enlarge or extend its facilities for the 
purpose of supplying increased market demands without the need to apply 
to the Commission for further authorization. MDU also requests a 
declaration that it qualifies as an LDC in the service area to be 
determined for the purposes of section 311 of the NGPA. In addition, 
MDU requests a waiver of the regulatory requirements ordinarily 
applicable to natural gas companies under the NGA and the NGPA. It is 
asserted that MDU's operations are almost entirely in intrastate 
commerce, with the exception of a small portion extending across the 
Minnesota-North Dakota border in order to serve the Richland County 
market. It is stated that MDU's services and rates are regulated by the 
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the North Dakota Public 
Service Commission.
    Any questions regarding this amendment should be directed to 
Douglas W. Schultz, Senior Attorney, MDU Resources Group, Inc., at 
(701) 222-7613.
    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 12, 2002, 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.

[[Page 43303]]

    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.
    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.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-16248 Filed 6-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P