[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 114 (Thursday, June 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35658-35659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14048]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 8353]


Spectra Energy Corp., Application for a New or Amended 
Presidential Permit

June 7, 2013.
AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of Receipt of Spectra Energy Corp., Application for a 
New or Amended Presidential Permit for Express Pipeline LLC to Operate 
and Maintain Pipeline Facilities on the Border of the United States and 
Canada.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of State (DOS) has 
received from Spectra Energy Corp (``Spectra Energy'') notice that it 
has acquired the entities that own Express Pipeline LLC (``Express''), 
which operates and maintains pipeline facilities including the Express 
Pipeline, which is permitted under a 2004 Presidential Permit issued to 
Express. Spectra Energy requests a new or amended Presidential Permit 
be issued reflecting these corporate transactions.
    Spectra Energy owns and operates a large diversified portfolio of 
natural gas-related energy assets in the areas of gathering and 
processing, transmission, and distribution. Its natural gas pipeline 
systems consist of over 19,000 miles of transmission pipelines.
    The Express Pipeline is a 515 mile, 24 inch crude oil pipeline 
running between the U.S.-Canada border near Wild

[[Page 35659]]

Horse, Montana, to Caster, Wyoming and includes five pump stations. The 
Express Pipeline has been in operation since 1997 and transports crude 
oil from Hardisty, Alberta Canada to Casper, Wyoming.
    On March 14, 2013, Spectra Energy (through its subsidiaries Spectra 
Energy Express (US) GP, LLC and Spectra Energy Express Holding, LLC) 
purchased all of the outstanding equity and debt interests in Express 
US Holdings LP. Immediately following these acquisitions, Spectra 
Energy became the 100 percent owner of the ``upstream'' entities that 
own Express and reorganized those entities, converting the direct 
parent corporation of Express into a limited liability corporation, 
Express Holdings (USA), LLC. Spectra plans to assign 40% of its 
ownership interests in Express Holdings (USA), LLC, to Spectra Energy 
Partners, LP, a publicly-traded master limited partnership. Spectra 
Energy has control over Spectra Energy Partners, LP; it indirectly owns 
58% of the ownership interests in the limited partnership and also 
indirectly owns 100% of Spectra Energy Partners, LP's general partner, 
Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP.
    Spectra affirms that operation and maintenance of the permitted 
facilities will remain substantially the same as before its acquisition 
of Express and acknowledges the Express is obligated to comply with the 
existing 2004 Permit. Spectra does not request any changes to the terms 
and conditions of the 2004 Permit.
    Under E.O. 13337 the Secretary of State is designated and empowered 
to receive all applications for Presidential Permits for the 
construction, connection, operation, or maintenance at the borders of 
the United States, of facilities for the exportation or importation of 
liquid petroleum, petroleum products, or other non-gaseous fuels to or 
from a foreign country. The Department of State is circulating this 
application to concerned federal agencies for comment. The Department 
of State has the responsibility to determine whether issuance of a new 
or amended Presidential Permit in light of Spectra's acquisition of the 
entities that own Express would be in the U.S. national interest.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit comments within 30 days 
of the publication date of this notice by email to 
[email protected] with regard to whether issuing a new 
Presidential Permit reflecting the corporate succession would be in the 
national interest. The application is available at http://www.state.gov/e/enr.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Energy Diplomacy, Energy 
Resources Bureau (ENR/EDP/EWA) Department of State 2201 C St. NW., Ste 
4843 Washington, DC 20520 Attn: Michael Brennan Tel: 202-647-7553.

    Dated: June 7, 2013.
Michael Brennan,
Office of Europe, Western Hemisphere and Africa, Bureau of Energy 
Resources, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2013-14048 Filed 6-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P