[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 72813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6925]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. RM01-10-000; Docket Nos. EY06-7-000, TS06-2-000]


Standards of Conduct for Transmission Providers; Venice Gathering 
System, L.L.C.; Notice Granting Waiver of Posting and Record Keeping 
Requirements

November 28, 2005.
    On November 9, 2005, Venice Gathering System, L.L.C. (Venice 
Gathering) filed to seek a temporary emergency waiver of sections 
358.4(a)(2) and 358.4(b)(3)(iv) of the Commission's regulations, 18 CFR 
358.4(a)(2) and 358.4(b)(3)(iv)(2005), and for any other waivers 
necessary for Venice Gathering to proceed with the restoration work on 
its pipeline facilities and on the Venice Gathering Processing Plant 
necessitated by Hurricane Katrina. Venice Gathering requests the waiver 
until the earlier of the end of the gas day on December 31, 2005 or the 
date on which the Venice Gathering system has returned to full pre-
hurricane operation.
    Effective on the date of this notice, the Commission will grant 
Venice Gathering a waiver, until the earlier of the end of the gas day 
on December 31, 2005 or the date on which the Venice Gathering system 
has returned to full pre-hurricane operation, of the otherwise 
applicable requirements of section 358.4(a)(2) to record and post a log 
of emergency-related deviations from the Standards of Conduct and of 
section 358.4(b)(3)(iv) requirements to post updated information on 
organizational changes resulting from the acquisition by Targa 
Resources, Inc. (Targa) of Venice Gathering's managing member, Dynegy 
Midstream Services, Limited Partnership (Dynegy Midstream).
    Venice states that it owns and operates a FERC-jurisdictional 
natural gas gathering and transmission system consisting of: (1) A 
twenty-six inch mainline, extending from the South Timbalier Block 151 
compressor platform in the Gulf of Mexico to the Venice Plant; (2) a 
twenty-four inch mainline extending from the South Timbaliler Block 151 
compressor platform to the West Delta Block 79A platform; and (3) a 
twenty-two inch mainline extending from the West Delta Block 79A 
platform to the Venice Plant located near Venice, Louisiana. Venice 
states, further, that Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage to 
processing plants and offshore pipelines located along the Louisiana 
Gulf Coast, including the Venice Plant and the Venice Gathering system.
    Venice Gathering explains that, due to the substantial quantities 
of gas production shut-in on its system due to damage caused by 
Hurricane Katrina, certain Venice Gathering and Targa employees with 
the required expertise and availability to assist in restoration 
efforts will engage in communications about the status of the 
restoration efforts and communications to coordinate joint operations 
and repair work. Venice Gathering explains, further, that it needs to 
use all available employees with the requisite skills to assist in 
repairs to the pipelines and related onshore facilities. According to 
Venice Gathering, its restoration efforts may result in sharing of 
information and/or employees between Venice Gathering and its Energy 
Affiliates and discussions between its employees and third-party 
employees who also are engaged in hurricane-related restoration 
efforts. Venice Gathering points out that any potential risk of 
discrimination that may be associated with the waivers is mitigated by 
the fact that it currently is out of service, and the waivers will 
terminate when its system is restored to full operation.
    In addition, Venice Gathering states that, due to the resources 
devoted to the restoration project, it is left with limited resources 
to update in a timely manner its public website to reflect 
organizational changes associated with Targa's recent acquisition of 
Dynegy Midstream, Venice Gathering's managing member. Venice Gathering, 
therefore, requests that the Commission grant these waivers on an 
expedited basis.
    The Commission has previously granted waivers of the emergency 
exception recording and posting requirements of the Standards of 
Conduct due to Hurricane Katrina \1\ and Hurricane Rita.\2\ The 
waivers, among other things, allowed affected transmission providers to 
delay for a limited period of time compliance with the requirement of 
section 358.4(a)(2) of the Commission's regulations to report to the 
Commission and post on the OASIS or Internet Web site, as applicable, 
each emergency that resulted in any deviation from the Standards of 
Conduct. In addition, due to the extreme nature of the emergency in 
each instance, the Commission also waived, for those limited periods, 
the requirements to record and retain a record of each deviation of the 
Standards of Conduct.\3\
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    \1\ Notice Granting Extension Of Time To Comply With Posting And 
Other Requirements, Standards of Conduct for Transmission Providers, 
Docket Nos. EY05-14-000, et al. (August 31, 2005); Notice Waiving 
Record Keeping Requirements, Standards of Conduct for Transmission 
Providers, Docket Nos. EY05-14-001, et al. (September 7, 2005).
    \2\ Notice Granting Extension Of Time To Comply With Posting And 
Other Requirements, Standards of Conduct for Transmission Providers, 
Docket Nos. EY05-20-000, et al. (September 23, 2005).
    \3\ Supra notes 1 and 2.
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    The Commission grants Venice Gathering a waiver of the recording 
and posting requirements of sections 358.4(a)(2) and 358.4(b)(3)(iv) of 
the Commission's regulations in these emergency circumstances, 
effective on the date of this notice until the earlier of the end of 
the gas day on December 31, 2005, or the date on which the Venice 
Gathering system has returned to full pre-hurricane operation, without 
prejudice to Venice Gathering requesting a further extension, if 
necessary. The Commission directs Venice Gathering to ensure that the 
employees affected by this waiver observe the no-conduit prohibition in 
the Standards of Conduct, 18 CFR 358.5(b)(7) (2005).

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E5-6925 Filed 12-6-05; 8:45 am]
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