[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69903-69904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-3399]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP05-18-000]


Equitrans, L.P.; Notice of Proceeding

November 23, 2004.
    Take notice that on November 18, 2004, in an order issued in Docket 
Nos. RP04-97-001, et al., the Commission established a separate 
proceeding to conduct an inquiry in response to assertions by 
Equitrans, L.P. (Equitrans), 100 Allegany Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15275, 
that a significant portion of its storage facilities' cushion gas has 
been lost due to migration of that gas. The proceeding in Docket No. 
CP05-18-000, initiated by the Commission pursuant to its authority 
under section 5, 7, 8 and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), will explore 
material issues regarding Equitrans' loss of the cushion gas, as 
described in more detail herein.
    In the rate proceeding in Docket Nos. RP04-97-001, et al., 
Equitrans explained its intention to buy and inject into storage 
approximately 9,600,000 Dth of cushion gas to replace lost cushion gas. 
Equitrans proposed in the rate proceeding to reflect the projected 
purchase cost of this cushion gas of approximately $49.1 million in its 
rates.

[[Page 69904]]

In the November 18, 2004, order in Docket Nos. RP04-97-001, et al., the 
Commission observed that the loss of such a significant volume of 
cushion gas raises operational and other issues, in particular whether 
Equitrans' storage operations and facilities are meeting Equitrans' 
certificated service obligations under section 7 of the NGA. The 
Commission found that it should review Equitrans' operation of its 
storage facilities prior to Equitrans' being permitted to purchase and 
inject more cushion gas into the storage system.
    Accordingly, in Docket No. CP05-18-000, the Commission will convene 
a technical conference to initiate an inquiry regarding Equitrans' 
assertion that it has lost cushion gas due to migration and the effects 
any such migration has on its storage operations. The Commission will 
issue a further notice establishing the date for the technical 
conference, which will be conducted after the due date for motions to 
intervene in Docket No. CP05-18-000. At the technical conference, 
Equitrans shall present data and information to support its assertion 
that cushion gas has migrated from its storage facilities and to 
demonstrate the effects any such migration has on its storage 
operations. Equitrans also shall present its plan for implementing 
measures to ensure that its storage facilities can continue to operate 
without further gas loss within the defined geological parameters and 
without further reservoir or buffer expansion. Following the technical 
conference, the Commission will issue further procedural notices as 
needed.
    Any person desiring to be heard in this proceeding should file a 
motion to intervene with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, in accordance with sections 
385.214 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations. All such motions 
must be filed on or before December 2, 2004. Attendance at the 
technical conference will be limited to persons that file timely 
motions to intervene.
    Any comments filed in this proceeding will be considered by the 
Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will 
not serve to make the commenters parties to the proceeding. Any person 
wishing to become a party must file a motion to intervene. Any motions 
to intervene, data requests, responses to data requests, comments or 
any other document filed in this proceeding will be 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 
``eLibrary''. 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 TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The 
Commission strongly encourages electronic filings. See 18 CFR 
385.2001(a) (1) (iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site 
under the ``e-Filing'' link.
    Intervention Date: December 2, 2004.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E4-3399 Filed 11-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P