[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46986-46987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16499]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP07-436-000]


Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company; Notice of 
Application

August 15, 2007.
    Take notice that on August 13, 2007, Williston Basin Interstate 
Pipeline Company (Williston Basin), P.O. Box 5601, Bismarck, North 
Dakota 58506-5601, filed in Docket No. CP07-436-000 an application 
pursuant to section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) for permission 
and approval to abandon sections of mainline natural gas pipeline 
facilities, located in Dawson County, Montana, all as more fully set 
forth in the application.
    The application is on file with the Commission and open for public 
inspection. This filing is 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'' 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] and follow the instructions or toll-free 
at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.
    Any questions concerning this request may be directed to Keith A. 
Tiggelaar, Director of Regulatory Affairs for Williston Basin, 1250 
West Century Avenue, Bismarck, North Dakota 58503, or call (701) 530-
1560, or e-mail [email protected].
    Williston Basin proposes to abandon certain segments of two 
different vintage pipeline river crossings of the Yellowstone River 
located in Dawson County, Montana. The first vintage pipeline to be 
abandoned, it is said, consists of approximately 1,390 feet of 8-inch 
pipeline, the majority of which hangs from the Burlington Northern 
Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad bridge.
    It is stated, that on May 13, 1998, Williston Basin filed for, and 
received, authorization in Docket No. CP98-544-000 to construct a new 
16-inch river crossing and to disconnect an 8-inch river crossing 
hanging on the BNSF railroad bridge. Williston Basin points out that 
this 8-inch pipeline has not been used since it was disconnected in 
1998. Thus, Williston Basin contends that no customers would be 
affected by the abandonment of this facility. Williston Basin proposes 
to remove approximately 60 feet of this 8-inch pipeline which lies 
underground (40 feet on the north side of the river and 20 feet on the 
south side of the river), with the remainder (approximately 1,330 feet) 
of this pipeline to be abandoned in place and to remain on the BNSF 
railroad bridge.
    The second vintage pipeline, Williston Basin states it proposes to 
remove, would be approximately 410 feet of 16-inch pipeline from the 
north side of the Yellowstone River and approximately 300 feet of 16-
inch pipeline from the south side of the Yellowstone River. Williston 
Basin maintains that these segments of pipeline, abandoned in place in 
1999, lie in close proximity to the active 16-inch line constructed in 
1998. Williston Basin concludes that removing these segments of 16-inch 
pipeline would ensure that they are not exposed by any future 
Yellowstone River bank erosion.
    Williston Basin avers that the sections of pipeline proposed to be 
abandoned are neither strategic nor integral to Williston Basin's 
primary business of transporting natural gas in interstate commerce. 
Additionally, Williston Basin states that these facilities currently 
are not needed and are not being used to perform Williston Basin's 
service obligations.
    Pursuant to Section 157.9 of the Commission's rules, 18 CFR 157.9, 
within 90 days of this Notice the Commission staff will either: 
Complete its environmental assessment (EA) and place it into the 
Commission's public record (eLibrary) for this proceeding, or issue a 
Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review. If a Notice of Schedule 
for Environmental Review is issued, it will indicate, among other 
milestones, the anticipated date for the Commission staff's issuance of 
the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) or EA for this 
proposal. The filing of the EA in the Commission's public record for 
this proceeding or the issuance of a Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review will serve to notify federal and state agencies of 
the timing for the completion of all necessary reviews, and the 
subsequent need to complete all federal authorizations within 90 days 
of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's FEIS or EA.
    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, on or 
before the comment date stated below 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

[[Page 46987]]

Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 
385.211) and the Regulations under the NGA (18 CFR 157.10). 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.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, 
protests and interventions via the Internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 
CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web 
site http://www.ferc.gov under the ``e-Filing'' link.
    Comment Date: September 5, 2007.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-16499 Filed 8-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P