[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7522-7523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3651]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP03-47-000]


Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company; Notice of 
Application

February 7, 2003.
    On January 31, 2003, Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company 
(Williston Basin), P. O. Box 5601, Bismarck, North Dakota 58506-5601 
filed in Docket No. CP03-47-000, an application pursuant to Section 
7(b) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), as amended, and part 157 of the 
regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission), 
for authorization to abandon approximately 21.4 miles of natural gas 
transmission pipeline loop and a related receipt point meter station 
all located in Big Horn County, Wyoming, all as more fully set forth in 
the application which is on file with the Commission and open to public 
inspection. This filing is available for review at the Commission 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.
    Any questions concerning this application may be directed to Keith 
A. Tiggelaar, Director, Regulatory Affairs, Williston Basin Interstate 
Pipeline Company, P. O. Box 5601, Bismarck, North Dakota 58506-5601, at 
(701) 530-1560 or [email protected].
    Williston Basin states that it will be abandoning the Rairden-
Greybull Loop (Rairden Loop) which is located in Big Horn County, 
Wyoming and consists of 21.4 miles of 12 \3/4\-inch natural gas 
transmission pipeline. Additionally, Williston Basin states that it 
will

[[Page 7523]]

abandon the Dobie Creek receipt point meter station (Dobie Creek Meter 
Station), which is connected to the Rairden Loop and is also located in 
Big Horn County, Wyoming. Williston Basin states that the primary 
purpose of the Rairden Loop was to increase the maximum capacity of 
Williston Basin's Worland to Cabin Creek line section and the increased 
capacity allowed the transfer of additional gas volumes to Williston 
Basin's Elk Basin storage field. Williston Basin states that in 
September of 1999 it was discovered that the Rairden Loop was severely 
corroded due to failed pipeline coating. Upon this discovery, Williston 
Basin states that the Office of Pipeline Safety was notified of a 
generalized corrosion condition and that the maximum allowable 
operating pressure (MAOP) of the Rairden Loop line was reduced to 
ensure the continued safe operation of those facilities and the 
remaining parties who were utilizing the facilities were informed that 
they should attempt to find other transportation alternatives. As a 
result of these consultations, all of the parties who previously used 
these facilities have found other transportation alternatives, and no 
volumes have been transported on this line since February 12, 2002. In 
addition to being severely corroded, Williston Basin states that much 
of the original production for which the Rairden Loop was constructed 
has declined and that competition from other pipelines in the Rairden 
Loop area has resulted in decreased demand for the Rairden Loop 
facilities. Consequently, Williston Basin states that it has been 
determined that the Rairden Loop is no longer required and is seeking 
abandonment as the safest and most economical course of action.
    Williston Basin states that Montana-Dakota constructed the Dobie 
Creek Meter Station under blanket authority and reported the 
construction in its Annual Report of Activities under Blanket 
Certificate in Docket No. CP78-101-000. Williston Basin states that the 
Dobie Creek Meter Station was originally constructed to facilitate a 
gas purchase agreement with American Quasar Petroleum Company. 
Accordingly, Williston Basin states that the Dobie Creek Meter Station 
is being abandoned because no customer has received service through 
this meter station since February 12, 2002, and Williston Basin 
believes that requests for service will not occur in the future. 
Consequently, Williston Basin is requesting Commission authorization to 
abandon the Dobie Creek Meter Station facilities.
    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 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) by the comment date, below. 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.
    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: February 27, 2003.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-3651 Filed 2-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P