[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1832-1833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-744]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP98-717-002]


 El Paso Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application

January 8, 2003.
    Take notice that on December 23, 2002, El Paso Natural Gas Company 
(El Paso), Post Office Box 1087, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80944, in 
Docket No. CP98-717-002 filed a petition, pursuant to section 7(b) of 
the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission's (Commission) rules and regulations, to further amend the 
orders issued on January 15, 1999 \1\, as amended on August 10, 2000--
\2\, at Docket Nos. CP98-717-000 and 001. El Paso seeks amended 
authorization to modify the method of abandonment for its 12-3/4'' O.D. 
El Paso-Douglas Loop Line (``Line No. 1005''), all as more fully set 
forth in its petition which is on file with the Commission and open to 
public inspection. This filing is available for review at the 
Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the 
Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``FERRIS'' link. 
Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket 
number field to access the document. For assistance, please contact 
FERC Online Support at [email protected] or toll-free at 
(866)208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202)502-8659.
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    \1\ See 86 FERC [para] 61,042 (1999).
    \2\ See 92 FERC [para] 62,127 (2000).
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    Any questions regarding El Paso's petition to amend should be 
directed to Mr. Robert T. Tomlinson, Director, Regulatory Affairs, El 
Paso Natural Gas Company, P.O. Box 1087, Colorado Springs, Colorado 
80944 at (719) 520-3788 or by fax at (719) 667-7534.
    El Paso states that by order issued January 15, 1999, at Docket No. 
CP98-717-000, the Commission granted El Paso authorization for the 
abandonment, by removal, to the extent practicable, of three segments, 
totaling approximately 49.16 miles, of El Paso's 12-3/4'' O.D. El Paso-
Douglas Loop Line (``Line No.

[[Page 1833]]

1005''), with appurtenances, located in Dona Ana and Luna Counties, New 
Mexico. Subsequently, on March 28, 2000, El Paso filed an application 
at Docket No. CP98-717-001 requesting amended authorization to abandon 
the facilities granted by the January 15, 1999, order. Specifically, El 
Paso sought Commission authorization to abandon approximately 44 miles 
of Line No. 1005 by transfer to El Paso Energy Communications Company 
(``EPECC'') for use as conduit for fiber optic cable, with the 
remaining 5.16 miles to be abandoned in place. Thereafter, on August 
10, 2000, the Commission granted El Paso authority to amend its 
certificate at Docket No. CP98-717-001.
    El Paso explains that although the Commission approved its amended 
application on August 10, 2000, El Paso has been unable to consummate 
the conveyance of the approximate 44 miles of Line No. 1005 to EPECC 
due to the suspension of EPECC's fiber optic expansion plans. 
Therefore, EPECC is no longer desirous of acquiring the 44 miles of 
Line No. 1005 from El Paso. Based on this change in circumstances, El 
Paso no longer intends to convey the 44-mile segment of Line No. 1005 
and, instead, now desires to abandon the entire 49.16 miles of Line No. 
1005 in place. Accordingly, El Paso is seeking to amend the January 15, 
1999, order, as amended, modifying El Paso's method of abandonment of 
Line No. 1005 from abandonment by transfer to abandonment in place.
    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 the comment date stated below 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 in the proceeding. with the Commission 
and must mail a copy to the applicant and to every other party. 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.
    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. 
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings.
    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.
    Comment Date: January 29, 2003.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-744 Filed 1-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P