[Federal Register: March 31, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 61)]
[Notices]
[Page 15442]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31mr03-66]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP03-65-000]
Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Application
March 24, 2003.
Take notice that on March 14, 2003, Columbia Gas Transmission
Corporation (Columbia), 1700 MacCorkle Avenue, SE., Charleston, West
Virginia 25314, filed in Docket No. CP03-65-000, pursuant to section
7(b) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), for permission and approval to
abandon by sale to Columbia Natural Resources, Inc., a Texas
corporation, certain natural gas pipeline facilities located in West
Virginia, and the service provided through such facilities. In
addition, Columbia requests that the Commission find the abandoned
facilities to be gathering, and therefore exempt from the Commission's
jurisdiction, all as more fully set forth in the application which is
on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. This filing
is available for review on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov
using the ``FERRIS'' link. Enter the docket number
excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access
the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502-8659.
The facilities proposed for abandonment by sale is Columbia's
Stafford Compressor Station. The Stafford Compressor Station consists
of one 360 horsepower Ajax DPC compressor unit and appurtenances and is
located in Mingo County, West Virginia. Columbia states that the
facilities, constructed in the early 1980's as field gas compression,
currently compress local production to pipeline pressure for delivery
into Columbia's mainline system. However, Columbia states that the
facilities are no longer an integral part of its transmission system
and that the long-term needs of its customers will be best served
through a divestiture of the facilities. Columbia does not propose the
abandonment of any services as a result of the facility abandonment.
Columbia proposes to relocate its existing receipt point from the
suction side of the compressor station to an existing interconnection
located on the discharge side of the station. Columbia notes that the
facilities will be sold for their depreciated book cost at the time of
closing, estimated to be $347,495.
Any questions regarding the application should be directed to
Fredric J. George, Senior Attorney, Columbia Gas Transmission
Corporation, P.O. Box 1273, Charleston, West Virginia 22030-0146 at
(304) 357-2359.
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
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 in the proceeding with the Commission
and must mail a copy to the applicant and to every other party. 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.
Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of
this project should submit an original and two copies of their comments
to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commenters will be
placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive
copies of the environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings
associated with the Commission's environmental review process.
Environmental commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed
documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commenters will
not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by
the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents
issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court
review of the Commissions' final order.
The Commission may issue a preliminary determination on non-
environmental issues prior to the completion of its review of the
environmental aspects of the project. The preliminary determination
typically considers such issues as the need for the project and its
economic effect on existing customers of the applicant, on other
pipelines in the area, and on landowners and communities. For example,
the Commission considers the extent to which the applicant may need to
exercise eminent domain to obtain rights-of-way for the proposed
project and balances that against the non-environmental benefits to be
provided by the project. Therefore, if a person has comments on
community and landowner impacts from this proposal, it is important
either to file comments or to intervene as early in the process as
possible.
Protests and interventions 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 under the ``e-Filing'' link.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings.
If the Commission decides to set the application for a formal
hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, the Commission will issue
another notice describing that process. At the end of the Commission's
review process, a final Commission order approving or denying a
certificate will be issued.
Comment Date: April 14, 2003.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-7582 Filed 3-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P