[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 135 (Friday, July 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40088-40089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11176]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP06-407-000, CP06-408-000 and CP06-409-000]


Missouri Interstate Gas, LLC; Missouri Gas Company, LLC; Missouri 
Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Applications for Certificates of 
Public Convenience and Necessity and Abandonment Authorizations

July 6, 2006.
    Take notice that on June 28, 2006, Missouri Interstate Gas, LLC 
(Missouri Interstate), Missouri Gas Company, LLC (Missouri Gas), and 
Missouri Pipeline Company, LLC (Missouri Pipeline), each located at 110 
Algana Court, St. Peters, Missouri, 63376, filed in the above 
referenced dockets, pursuant to section 7 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) 
and Part 157 of the Commission's regulations, several applications for 
certificates of public convenience and necessity and abandonment 
authorizations. The applications seek approval to consolidate certain 
facilities owned by the affiliated companies in order to form a new 
interstate pipeline to be owned by Missouri Gas, which would be subject 
to the jurisdiction of the Commission.
    These filings are on file with Commission and open to public 
inspection. They may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov using 
the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three 
digits in the docket number field to access the document. There is also 
an ``eSubscription'' link on the Web site that enables subscribers to 
receive e-mail notification when a document is added to a subscribed 
docket(s). For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or TTY, 
contact (202) 502-8659.
    Any questions regarding the applications should be directed to 
David J. Ries, President, Missouri Interstate Gas, LLC, 110 Algana 
Court, St. Peters, Missouri, 63376; Phone (636) 926-3668.
    Docket No. CP06-407-000 is assigned to the requests to authorize 
facilities acquisition and operation, for approval for the provision of 
interstate natural gas transportation services and for the approval of 
abandonments. Docket No. CP06-408-000 is assigned to the part 157, 
subpart F blanket certificate request and Docket No. CP06-409-000 is 
assigned to the part 284, subpart G blanket certificate request.
    The Applicants state that upon implementation of the mergers, if 
approved under the requested authorizations, their proposal will expand 
access to the interstate gas transportation grid for the Applicants' 
customers on standardized terms and conditions, make such grid more 
efficient, offer better supply and pricing options, facilitate future 
pipeline expansions within and outside the State of Missouri, and 
establish a single regulatory forum at the Commission to review any 
expansions and new services proposed in the future and to set a single 
rate for service on the new system.
    The Applicants state that their proposed acquisition of the 
facilities and the integration of the Applicants' assets into a single 
interstate pipeline system will allow the Applicants to provide open 
access, non-discriminatory transportation consistent with the NGA and 
the Commission's regulations and policies. As an integrated interstate 
company, the Applicants say that the proposed Missouri Gas will be 
better able to serve Missouri and Illinois customers and respond to 
interstate demand, particularly in Illinois. In addition, the 
Applicants say that consolidation of the companies will eliminate 
inefficiencies, enabling Missouri Gas to improve service to existing 
and potential new customers.
    Specifically, the Applicants seek the Commission's authorization 
for: (1) Missouri Interstate to abandon its tariff and services and to 
abandon its facilities by transfer to Missouri Pipeline; (2) Missouri 
Pipeline to acquire and operate as part of its existing system, all of 
Missouri Interstate's facilities; and (3) Missouri Pipeline to 
subsequently abandon by transfer, and Missouri Gas to acquire and 
operate as part of its existing system, all of the facilities of 
Missouri Pipeline, upon Missouri Pipeline's commencement of interstate 
service.
    In addition, Applicants request: (1) Issuance of a blanket 
certificate of public convenience and necessity under part 284, subpart 
G of the Commission's regulations to Missouri Gas, authorizing it to 
provide open access interstate transportation services to the 
Applicants' existing transportation customers and to potential new 
customers located inside and outside the State of Missouri, and a 
determination that Missouri Gas's proposed initial firm and 
interruptible rates are in the public interest; (2) issuance of a 
blanket certificate of public convenience and necessity under part 157, 
subpart F of the Commission's regulations to Missouri Gas authorizing 
certain routine construction and operation activities and abandonment; 
and (3) approval of the initial rates and pro forma tariff proposed 
herein along with acceptance of Applicants' existing service agreements 
as non-conforming service agreements.
    The Applicants state that as a result of these transactions, all of 
the facilities currently owned and operated individually by Missouri 
Interstate and Missouri Pipeline prior to the transactions will be 
owned and operated by Missouri Gas. They promise that no later than 18 
months after the integrated Missouri Gas commences operations pursuant 
to the Commission issued certificates proposed in these proceedings, 
Missouri Gas will file a rate case to establish just and reasonable 
rates under section 4 of the NGA to replace the initial rates requested 
for approval in these proceedings.
    Any person desiring to intervene or to protest this filing must 
file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214). Protests will be 
considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to 
be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the 
proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party must file a notice of 
intervention or motion to intervene, as appropriate. Such notices, 
motions, or protests must be filed on or before the comment date. 
Anyone filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of 
that document on the Applicants. On or before the comment date, it is 
not necessary to serve motions to intervene or protests on persons 
other than the Applicants.
    The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and 
interventions in lieu of paper using the

[[Page 40089]]

``e-Filing'' link at http://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file 
electronically should submit an original and 14 copies of the protest 
or intervention to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on July 26, 2006.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-11176 Filed 7-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P