[Federal Register: March 15, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 51)]
[Notices]
[Page 15110-15111]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr01-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP01-100-000]
Western Gas Resources, Inc.; Notice of Petition for Declaratory
Order
March 9, 2001.
Take notice that on March 7, 2001, Western Gas Resources, Inc.
(Western), 12200 N. Pecos Street, Denver, CO 80234, filed a petition
for declaratory order in Docket No. CP01-100-000, requesting that the
Commission declare that the acquisition of certain natural gas
pipeline, gathering, treating and compression facilities from Northern
Natural Gas Company (Northern) by Western's intrastate pipeline
affiliate, Western Gas Resources--Texas, Inc. (WGR-Tx), and the
subsequent ownership and operation of such facilities by WGR-Tx an/or
Western, will be exempt from the Commission's jurisdiction under the
Natural Gas Act either pursuant to section 1(b) of the statute or by
virtue of their ownership by, and operation as part of, the intrastate
pipeline system of WGR-Tx, an intrastate pipeline company as defined by
section 2(16) of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, all as more fully
set forth in the petition which is on file with the Commission and open
to public inspection. This filing may be viewed on the web at http://
www.ferc.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222).
Any questions concerning this application may be directed to John
B. Rudolph, at (202) 973-1200.
Northern has submitted an application in Docket No. CP01-89-000 for
abandonment of these facilities pursuant to section 7(b) of the NGA.
Western indicates that the facilities are located adjacent to Western's
existing Gomez and Mitchell Processing and Treating Plants in Pecos
County, Texas. Western states that Western's and WGR-Tx's Mitchell/
Gomez gathering and treating facilities are currently both physically
connected into the Northern Gomez Compressor Station by Northern
pipelines running between these two Western/WGR-Tx treating plants and
the Northern Gomez Station; and thus, these two plants are, to a
degree, already operationally dependent on these Northern pipelines and
compression facilities. Western states that WGR-Tx's acquisition and
reconfiguration of these pipeline and compression facilities, together
with certain other Northern pipelines/gathering lines in this general
geographic area will enhance the operational flexibility of the
Mitchell/Gomez gathering and treating facilities, enable greater access
of deliveries from these facilities to intrastate markets, and provide
WGR-Tx and Western greater operational control of facilities which are
already a physically integrated part of their gas gathering and
treating operations in this field production area.
Therefore, Western seeks a Commission order declaring that,
following Northern's abandonment of the aforementioned natural gas
pipeline and compression facilities together with certain treating and
dehydration facilities and four (4) additional short lateral lines,
WGR-Tx's acquisition, and its and/or Western's subsequent ownership and
operation of such facilities as part of the Mitchell/Gomez gathering/
treating facility complex, will be exempt from the Commission's
jurisdiction under the NGA, either by reason of the NGA's section 1(b)
gathering exemption, or because such facilities will be owned and
operated as part of WGR-Tx's intrastate system subject to the
jurisdiction of the Texas Railroad Commission.
Any person desiring to be heard or to make protest with reference
to said petition should on or before March 30, 2001, file with the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, a motion to intervene or a protest in accordance
with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 or 385.214) 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. The Commission's rules require that protestors provide
copies of their protests to the party or parties directly involved. 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. Comments and protests may be
filed electronically via the internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's web site
at http://www.ferc.fed.us/efi/doorbell.htm.
[[Page 15111]]
Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in
and subject to jurisdiction conferred upon the Commission by sections 7
and 15 of the NGA 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 a grant of the certificate is 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 Western to appear or be represented at the
hearing.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-6422 Filed 3-14-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M