[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 123 (Thursday, June 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 38038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16196]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. AD03-11-000]


Southwestern Gas Storage Technical Conference; Notice of Public 
Conference

June 19, 2003.
    Take notice that on August 26, 2003, at 9 a.m. m.s.t. in Phoenix, 
Arizona, the Staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will convene a technical conference with interested parties 
to discuss issues related to natural gas storage development in the 
southwestern United States. By order issued on June 4, 2003, in Docket 
Nos. CP02-420-000 et al., the Commission directed that a technical 
conference be held to begin analysis of relevant market needs and 
regulatory options available to the Commission to assure the 
appropriate development of southwestern natural gas storage facilities 
and markets \1\. Persons interested in speaking or making a 
presentation should indicate their interest no later than July 11, 
2003, by a letter addressed to the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, and should 
refer to Docket No. AD03-11-000. Each request to participate must 
include the name of a contact person, their telephone number and e-mail 
address. There is no need to provide advance notice to the Commission 
simply to attend the conference.
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    \1\ For the purpose of this conference, the Southwest is 
generally defined as west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, southern 
Nevada, and southern California.
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    In order to more clearly focus the discussion at the conference, 
potential presenters should consider the following questions and 
present their responses at the conference:
    [sbull] What potential projects are currently under consideration 
by the industry for developing gas storage in the Southwest?
    [sbull] Should the Commission initiate an open-season approach for 
storage development proposals, in which all potential projects are 
filed at the same time?
    [sbull] What types of storage services are necessary or envisioned? 
Who will contract for these services?
    [sbull] What type of storage facilities can physically be 
constructed (i.e. salt cavern, depleted oil/gas reservoirs, aquifer 
type, etc.)?
    [sbull] What environmental and cultural resources issues would 
affect the development of gas storage facilities in the Southwest?
    [sbull] What are the concerns of Native Americans in the 
development of natural gas storage facilities in the southwest?
    Comments addressing or identifying Southwestern natural gas storage 
issues may also be filed by July 11, 2003. Every effort will be made to 
accommodate requests to make presentations, but depending on the number 
of requests received, a limit may have to be placed on the number of 
presenters and the time allowed for presentations. To provide for a 
more productive conference, where practicable interested persons/
parties should coordinate their efforts and choose one spokesperson to 
make a statement on behalf of a group where interests coincide.
    In a subsequent notice, we will provide further details on the 
conference, including the agenda and a list of participants, as plans 
evolve. For additional information, please contact Elizabeth Anklam in 
the Office of Energy Projects, phone: (202) 502-8635, email: 
[email protected].

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-16196 Filed 6-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P