[Federal Register: October 16, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 200)] [Notices] [Page 55595-55596] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr16oc98-58] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP99-8-000] Raton Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Application October 9, 1998. Take notice that on October 7, 1998, Raton Gas Transmission Company (Raton), 835 Stacy Road, Fairfax, Texas 75069, filed an application pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act for authorization to change the shippers receiving its transportation services and implement modifying the transportation services, all as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. Raton states that currently it provides transportation service under Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act for two shippers, Raton Natural Gas Company (Raton Natural), a local distribution company, and Natural Gas Processing Company (NGP), a successor to Associated Natural Gas, Inc., Pan Energy Field Services and Duke Energy Field Services, which in turn served the municipal systems of City of Las Vegas, New Mexico, Town of Springer, New Mexico and Village of Maxwell, New Mexico. It is indicated that NGP intends to file an application with the New Mexico Public Utility Commission to become an open-access transporter and thereby become a Hinshaw pipeline under Section 1(c) of the Natural Gas Act. Raton indicates that, as a result of this action by NGP, the shippers over Raton's system may be the LDC's serving Las Vegas, Springer, Maxwell, or NGP, acting on behalf of those LDC's, and Raton Natural Gas Company, or any agent or successor. Raton indicates that currently it is eligible to receive no-notice service from its upstream supplier, Colorado Interstate Gas Company (CIG). Raton also states that it requested CIG to offer its no-notice service directly to the four LDC's, but, under CIG's tariff, off-system customers are not eligible to receive no-notice service from CIG. It is stated that only Raton, as a small connected customer, is eligible to contract for CIG no-notice service. Therefore, Raton states that, to achieve the Commission's policy objective that some form of no-notice service should be made available to all small LDC's, it entered into a package of service agreements with CIG to meet the total needs of the four LDC's: (1) TF-1, a sculptured firm transportation service providing flowing volumes of gas at winter level, shoulder month level, and summer demand level, (2) NNT-1 service which allows the customer to withdraw gas from storage during the winter period at widely varying volumes without incurring penalties, and (3) a supplemental TF-1 service allowing customers to secure volumes of gas during the spring-summer-fall period for transportation to storage in CIG's storage fields at a discounted transportation rate. It is also stated that its service agreements within CIG extend to April 30, 2000, and the volumes required to provide NOT service for the period from October 1, 1998, through April 30, 1999, have already been purchased and placed into storage. Raton indicates that it considered filing for a Part 284 blanket certificate to implement the required changes in service but, in its view, the administrative burden and expense precluded it from seeking such a blanket certificate. Raton now proposes to allocate its tariff charges, including a pass-through of the CIG charges to, the four LDC's. It is also indicated that, prior to April 30, 2000, if any or all of the LDC's elect to terminate some or all of the CIG package of no-notice services, they may authorize Raton to release that share of the reserved NNT service. It is also indicated that, by electing to terminate their share of the NNT service, the LDC, or its designated agent, agrees to accept the corresponding share of TF capacity from Raton. Also, it is stated that, for periods after April 30, 2000, the LDC's must notify Raton of the quantities and types of transportation services that they [[Page 55596]] will require, identifying their shipping agents, if necessary. Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with reference to said application should on or before October 30, 1998, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, a motion to intervene or a protest in accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) and the Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.10). All protests filed with the Commission will be considered by it in determining the appropriate action to be taken but will not serve to make the Protestants parties to the proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party to a proceeding or to participate as a party in any hearing therein must file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission's Rules. Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in and subject to the jurisdiction conferred upon the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by Sections 7 and 15 of the Natural Gas Act and the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, a hearing will be held without further notice before the Commission or its designee on this application if no motion to intervene is filed within the time required herein, if the Commission on its own review of the matter finds that the issuance of certificate authorization and permission and approval for the proposed abandonment are required by the public convenience and necessity. If a motion for leave to intervene is timely filed, or if the Commission on its own motion believes that a formal hearing is required, further notice of such hearing will be duly given. Under the procedure herein provided for, unless otherwise advised, it will be unnecessary for Raton to appear or be represented at the hearing. Linwood A. Watson, Jr., Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 98-27765 Filed 10-15-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M