152 FERC ¶ 61,055

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

18 CFR Parts 157, 260, and 284

[Docket No. RM96-1-038]

Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

(July 16, 2015)

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is proposing 

to amend its regulations to incorporate by reference, with certain enumerated exceptions,

the latest version (Version 3.0) of business practice standards adopted by the Wholesale 

Gas Quadrant of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) applicable to 

natural gas pipelines. These revisions, in part, revise the codes used to identify receipt 

and delivery locations in the Index of Customers. In addition, for consistency with the 

revisions to the Index of Customers, the Commission is proposing certain conforming 

changes to the Commission’s regulations on exhibits and on system flow diagrams. 

These standards can be obtained from NAESB at 801Travis, Suite 1675, Houston, TX 

77002, telephone: (713) 356-0060, http://www.naesb.org, and are available for viewing 

in the Commission’s Public Reference Room.

DATES: Comments are due [INSERT DATE 30 days after publication in the 

FEDERAL REGISTER].
Docket No. RM96-1-038 -iiADDRESSES: Comments, identified by docket number, may be filed in the following 

ways:

• Electronic Filing through http://www.ferc.gov. Documents created electronically 

using word processing software should be filed in native applications or print-toPDF format and not in a scanned format.

• Mail/Hand Delivery: Those unable to file electronically may mail or hand-deliver 

comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the 

Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426.

INSTRUCTIONS: For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional 

information on the rulemaking process, see the Comment Procedures Section of this 

document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stanley Wolf (technical issues)

Office of Energy Policy and Innovation

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20426

Telephone: (202) 502-6841

E-mail: stanley.wolf@ferc.gov

Oscar F. Santillana (technical issues)

Office of Energy Market Regulation

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20426

Telephone: (202) 502-6392

E-mail: oscar.santillana@ferc.gov
Docket No. RM96

-1-038 -iii-

Gary D. Cohen (legal issues)

Office of the General Counsel

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20426

Telephone: (202) 502-8321

E-mail: gary.cohen@ferc.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural 

Gas Pipelines

Docket No. RM96-1-038

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

(July 16, 2015)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Paragraph Numbers

I. Background ............................................................................................................................2.

II. Discussion.............................................................................................................................8.

A. Modifications to Standards to Support the Commission’s Show Cause Order in 

Docket No. RP14-442-000.....................................................................................................12.

B. Location Codes.................................................................................................................15.

C. Request in Order No. 587-V for NAESB to Evaluate the Use of the Terms 

“Operating Capacity” and “Design Capacity” .......................................................................18.

D. Standards Previously Not Incorporated by Reference .....................................................20.

1. Contracts Standards and eTariff Related Standards.....................................................20.

2. Record Retention Standards .........................................................................................21.

3. WGQ Interpretations ....................................................................................................22.

E. Proposed Implementation Procedures..............................................................................23.

III. Notice of Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards ..............................................................28.

IV. Incorporation By Reference ................................................................................................29.

V. Information Collection Statement ........................................................................................32.

VI. Environmental Analysis......................................................................................................36.

VII. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis and Certification ......................................................37.

VIII. Comment Procedures........................................................................................................40.

IX. Document Availability ........................................................................................................44.

Appendix ....................................................................................................................................a.
152 FERC ¶ 61,055

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural

 Gas Pipelines

Docket No. RM96-1-038

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

(July 16, 2015)

1. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) proposes to amend its 

regulations at 18 CFR 284.12 to incorporate by reference, with certain enumerated 

exceptions, the latest version (Version 3.0) of business practice standards adopted by the 

Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ) of the North American Energy Standards Board 

(NAESB) applicable to natural gas pipelines that NAESB reported to the Commission on 

November 14, 2014. The Version 3.0 package of standards includes standards governing 

coordination of the scheduling processes of interstate natural gas pipelines and public 

utilities that the Commission incorporated by reference in Docket No. RM14-2-000.1

 

The standards also revise the codes used to identify receipt and delivery locations in the 

Index of Customers. In addition, for consistency with the Index of Customers, the 

Commission proposes to amend its regulations at 18 CFR 157.14, 157.18, and 260.8 to 

have receipt and delivery point information in exhibits and system flow diagrams use the 

same location point names as provided for in the Version 3.0 Standards.

 1 Coordination of the Scheduling Processes of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines 

and Public Utilities, Order No. 809, Final Rule, 80 FR 23197 (Apr. 24, 2015), FERC 

Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,368.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 2 -

I. Background

2. Since 1996, the Commission has adopted regulations to standardize the business 

practices and communication methodologies of interstate natural gas pipelines to create a 

more integrated and efficient pipeline grid. These regulations have been promulgated in 

the Order No. 587 series of orders,2 wherein the Commission has incorporated by 

reference standards for interstate natural gas pipeline business practices and electronic 

communications that were developed and adopted by NAESB’s WGQ. Upon 

incorporation by reference, this version of these standards will become part of the 

Commission’s regulations and compliance by interstate natural gas pipelines will become 

mandatory.

3. On July 23, 2013, as corrected on July 25, 2013, NAESB filed a report informing 

the Commission that it had adopted and ratified Version 2.1 of its business practice 

standards applicable to natural gas pipelines. NAESB reports that the WGQ reviewed, at 

the request of the industry, the necessity of maintaining the current location common 

codes system to determine if the system provides a significant benefit to the industry and 

should be continued.3

 NAESB (in its previous corporate incarnation as the Gas Industry 

 2 This series of orders began with the Commission’s issuance of Standards for 

Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines, Order No. 587, FERC Stats. 

& Regs. ¶ 31,038 (1996).

3 NAESB Version 2.1 Report dated July 23, 2013 (NAESB Version 2.1 Report). 

As explained in the NAESB Version 2.1 Report, this request was received by NAESB in 

November 2010 and was included by the NAESB Board of Directors in the 2011 WGQ 

Annual Plan as part of Item No. 7 and as part of the 2012 WGQ Annual Plan Item No. 8. 

(continued...)
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 3 -

Standards Board) adopted a system of registering common codes to identify 

interconnection points between pipelines using a single code for the shared point. The 

industry chose an independent third party to assign and maintain the common code 

database.

4. NAESB reports that, after extensive discussions, the WGQ reached the conclusion 

that the NAESB WGQ Standards should no longer support the location common codes 

system, as the NAESB membership concluded that the system provided little commercial 

benefit to the industry at large. Consistent with this determination, the Version 2.1 

Standards added seven new standards, modified six standards, and deleted three standards 

to match up with a transition from common codes to proprietary codes.4

 These will be 

the codes assigned by the transportation service providers for the identification of 

locations.5

 The standards require pipelines to post sufficient information on their 

websites to permit shippers and the Commission to identify the interconnection points 

between pipelines that were previously identified through the common codes.

 

See NAESB Version 2.1 Report at 3. The proposed modifications made in response to 

this request were developed by the WGQ’s Business Practices Subcommittee and jointly 

by the Information Requirements/Technical Subcommittees.

4 NAESB Version 2.1 Report at 2.

5 Id. at 4.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 4 -

5. Additionally, as requested by the Commission in Order No. 587-V,6 NAESB 

modified the standards to include reporting requirements for “Design Capacity” for each 

location by transportation service providers.7

 Other changes to the existing standards 

were made at the request of industry. These include changes to the NAESB WGQ 

Additional Standards, Nominations Related Standards, Flowing Gas Related Standards, 

Invoicing Related Standards, Quadrant Electronic Delivery Mechanism Standards, 

Capacity Release Related Standards, and Data Set Standards.8 NAESB further reports on 

the changes it made to the NAESB WGQ Interpretations and Contracts and Manuals that 

the Commission has declined to incorporate by reference in past Final Rules.9 NAESB 

also reports on all the minor corrections it has made to the standards since Version 2.0 of 

the Standards.

10 Finally, NAESB reports on items that it considered changing but on 

which it took no action.11

6. On November 14, 2014, NAESB filed a report informing the Commission that it 

had adopted and ratified Version 3.0 of its business practice standards applicable to 

 6 Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines, Final Rule, 

Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 (2012) (Order No. 587-V).

7 Id. at 2-3.

8 Id. at 3.

9 See, e.g., Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 at n.11.

10 NAESB Version 2.1 Report at 18.

11 Id. at 17-18.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 5 -

natural gas pipelines. NAESB reports that all of the modifications made in the 

Version 2.1 Standards are included in the Version 3.0 Standards and thus no action is 

needed on the Version 2.1 Standards.12 The Version 3.0 Standards added the

modifications to support efforts to harmonize gas-electric scheduling coordination that 

NAESB had separately filed and that the Commission incorporated by reference in Order 

No. 809.13 In addition, the Version 3.0 Standards contain revisions to the capacity 

release standards regarding posting requirements for offers to purchase released capacity 

that were the subject of the Commission’s order to show cause in Docket No. RP14-442-

000.14 Other revisions in the Version 3.0 Standards are: (1) revisions to the standards to 

define “Operating Capacity” and “Design Capacity” in response to the Commission 

request in Order No. 587-V;15 (2) elimination of the WGQ Interpretations, which the 

Commission declined to incorporate by reference; (3) modifications to standards to 

reflect the interpretations; (4) modifications for maintenance purposes, which includes

changes to eliminate the appearance of the electronic data interchange in the imbalance 

trading process; (5) modifications to reflect new data elements; and (6) edits for clarity 

 12 NAESB Version 3.0 Report dated Nov. 14, 2014 (NAESB Version 3.0 Report) 

at 2.

13 See supra n.1.

14 Posting of Offers to Purchase Capacity, 146 FERC ¶ 61,203, at P 6 (2014)

(Show Cause Order); B-R Pipeline Co., 149 FERC ¶ 61,031 (2014) (order accepting 

compliance filings).

15 Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 at P 8.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 6 -

and to increase user-friendliness. The Version 3.0 standards have also been revised to 

include 29 minor corrections.16

7. On July 7, 2015, NAESB filed a report informing the Commission that it has made 

errata corrections to the WGQ Version 3.0 Business Practice Standards.17 These 

corrections incorporate a 9:00 AM Central Clock Time (CCT) start to the gas operating 

day, consistent with the Commission’s findings in Order No. 80918 and also correct other 

minor errors.

II. Discussion

8. In this NOPR, the Commission proposes to incorporate by reference, in its 

regulations, Version 3.0 of the NAESB WGQ's consensus business practice standards,19

with certain exceptions.20 We propose that the implementation date for these standards 

coincide with the implementation of the Gas-Electric Coordination standards on April 1, 

2016.

 16 The NAESB Version 3.0 Report also provides information on other NAESB 

activities and tools unrelated to standards development.

17 NAESB adopted two minor corrections, MC15009 and MC15012, approved on 

April 30, 2015 and May 29, 2015, respectively.

18 Order No. 809, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,368 at P 171.

19 A list of the revisions NAESB’s WGQ Version 3.0 Standards made to prior 

standards is appended to this NOPR.

20 In the discussion below we identify the NAESB WGQ Version 3.0 Standards 

that we propose not to incorporate by reference.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 7 -

9. Adoption of the Version 3.0 Standards will continue the process of updating and 

improving NAESB’s business practice standards for the benefit of the entire wholesale 

natural gas market.

10. As the Commission found in Order No. 587, adoption of consensus standards is 

appropriate because the consensus process helps ensure the reasonableness of the 

standards by requiring that the standards draw support from a broad spectrum of industry 

participants representing all segments of the industry.21 Moreover, because the industry 

has to conduct business under these standards, the Commission's regulations should 

reflect those standards that have the widest possible support. In section 12(d) of the 

National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTT&AA), Congress 

affirmatively requires federal agencies to use technical standards developed by voluntary 

consensus standards organizations, like NAESB, as a means to carry out policy objectives 

or activities.22

11. We discuss below some specific aspects of the filing.

 21 The NAESB process first requires a super-majority vote of 17 out of 25 

members of the WGQ's Executive Committee with support from at least two members 

from each of the five industry segments – Distributors, End Users, Pipelines, Producers, 

and Services (including marketers and computer service providers). For final approval, 

67 percent of the WGQ's general membership voting must ratify the standards.

22 Pub. L. No. 104-113, section 12(d), 110 Stat. 775 (1996), 15 U.S.C. 272, note 

(1997).
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 8 -

A. Modifications to Standards to Support the Commission’s Show Cause 

Order in Docket No. RP14-442-000

12. On March 20, 2014, the Commission issued an Order to Show Cause in Docket 

No. RP14-442-000,23 which required all interstate pipelines to either revise their 

respective tariffs to provide for the posting of offers to purchase released capacity as 

required by section 284.8(d) of the Commission’s regulations,24 or to demonstrate that 

their existing tariffs are in full compliance with that section. In the Show Cause Order, 

the Commission also requested that NAESB develop certain business practice and 

communications standards specifying: (1) the information required for requests to 

acquire capacity; (2) the methods by which such information is to be exchanged; and 

(3) the location of the information on a pipeline’s Internet website.25

13. In response, NAESB proposes to modify WGQ Standard 4.3.23 to add “Request to 

Purchase Releasable Capacity” as a subcategory of information contained in a 

transportation service provider’s information postings website. NAESB also proposes to 

add new WGQ Standard 5.3.73, containing requirements regarding requests to purchase 

capacity that is releasable.

 23 Show Cause Order, 146 FERC ¶ 61,203 at P 6.

24 18 CFR 284.8(d). That section states that “[t]he pipeline must provide notice of 

offers to release or to purchase capacity, the terms and conditions of such offers, and the 

name of any replacement shipper ..., on an Internet web site, for a reasonable period.”

25 Show Cause Order, 146 FERC ¶ 61,203 at P 6.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 9 -

14. The Commission proposes to incorporate by reference revised WGQ 

Standard 4.3.23 and WGQ Standard 5.3.73. We note, however, that our proposal to 

incorporate WGQ Standard 5.3.73 by reference is not intended to eliminate any posting 

requirements additionally imposed by the Commission in Docket No. RP14-442-000.

B. Location Codes

15. NAESB has proposed to revise its standards regarding the use of location codes. 

The industry has determined that having a third party maintain a common code database 

is not worth the expense and effort and has revised the prior standards to introduce the 

use of proprietary codes to identify the location of points of receipt and delivery. The 

revised standards include requirements for the pipelines to post on their websites

information on each of the proprietary points that can be used to determine which points 

are interconnecting points between pipelines, one of the primary reasons for adoption of 

the common code database. These codes are also used by the Commission in its Index 

of Customers to identify the points on shippers’ contracts and we propose to revise 

section 284.13(c) of the regulations to coordinate with this change.

16. We propose to incorporate by reference these revised standards, as they are based 

on an industry consensus, will reduce industry’s costs to support the retention of common 

codes, and because the changes will maintain the ability of shippers and others to identify 

interconnection points between pipelines. Given the ability of the Commission and 

customers to continue to identify interconnection points referenced in the Index of 

Customers, the Commission finds that the revised code standards appear to satisfy the 

requirements for the Index of Customers and we will modify the regulations to permit the 
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 10 -

use of the proprietary codes. In addition, to avoid any confusion from the use of 

inconsistent location codes, we propose to accompany our incorporation by reference of 

these revised standards with a proposal to revise our regulations at 18 CFR 157.14, 

157.18, and 260.8 that require the use of location code information in certain filings and 

flow diagrams.

17. Pipelines will be required to continue to file the Index of Customers using the 

current tab-delimited file format according to the Form No. 549B - Index of Customers 

Instruction Manual. The major changes to the instructions are the change from the use of 

common codes to proprietary codes and the use of the pipelines’ company registration 

number in place of three digit pipeline code. A revised instruction manual (with 

revisions marked) will be posted in this docket on eLibrary and will be available on the 

Commission’s website.26 Because tab-delimited file formats can be difficult and can 

result in errors that impose burdens both on Commission and pipeline staff to correct, we 

also are adding the Index of Customers form to the list of forms that are being updated as 

part of the Commission’s forms refresh project in Docket No. AD15-11-000 (Forms 

Project).

27 Adding the Index of Customers to the Forms Project will move the 

Commission towards the use of a standard approach for all Commission forms that will 

result in more efficient filing and processing of forms.

 26 http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/indus-act/pipelines/standards.asp.

27 Electronic Filing Protocols for Commission Forms, 151 FERC ¶ 61,025 (2015).
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 11 -

C. Request in Order No. 587-V for NAESB to Evaluate the Use of the 

Terms “Operating Capacity” and “Design Capacity”

18. In Order No. 587-V, the Commission directed the industry, through NAESB, to 

consider whether the term “Operating Capacity,” found in NAESB WGQ Standard 

No. 0.3.19 and related standards,28 and “Design Capacity,” found in section 284.13(d) of 

the Commission’s regulations, are functionally equivalent,29 and to include this 

information as part of the next version of the NAESB WGQ Standards.30

19. In response, NAESB states that a consensus could not be reached for a detailed 

definition of the term “Design Capacity” and that “Design Capacity” and “Operating 

Capacity” are not equivalent terms and therefore proposed to include both terms as 

separately reportable items.31 NAESB modified WGQ Dataset 0.4.2 to provide a 

definition of terms:

 28 NAESB defines Operating Capacity as “the total capacity which could be 

scheduled at (or through) the identified point, segment or zone in the indicated direction 

of flow.”

29 In Order No. 587-V, the Commission explained that while pipelines that post 

both design and operating capacity, often report the same number for both types of 

capacity, they may sometimes report differences between operating and design capacity. 

See Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 at P 30, n.41.

30 Id. P 30. NAESB also states it proposes to correct typographical errors and to 

clarify that “All Quantities Available Indicator” in NAESB WGQ Dataset 0.4.2 applies to 

all quantities at a specific identified point, segment, or zone.

31 NAESB also states it proposes to correct typographical errors and to clarify that 

“All Quantities Available Indicator” in NAESB WGQ Dataset 0.4.2 applies to all 

quantities at a specific identified point, segment, or zone.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 12 -

Design capacity is the design capacity of the point, segment, 

or zone as required by the applicable regulatory authority. 

Operating Capacity is the total capacity which could be 

scheduled at (or through) the identified point, segment or 

zone in the indicated direction of flow. Total scheduled 

quantity is the net quantity scheduled at the point, segment or 

zone level in the indicated direction of flow. Operationally 

available capacity is the quantity remaining that is available 

to be scheduled at (or through) the identified point, segment 

or zone, in the indicated direction of flow.

The Commission finds reasonable NAESB’s approach of separately reporting both 

“Design Capacity” and “Operating Capacity” as part of the reporting data set as this will 

provide shippers and the Commission with added information. Accordingly, the 

Commission proposes to incorporate by reference revised WGQ Standards 0.3.18, 0.3.20, 

and 0.3.21, and Dataset 0.4.2, as the revised standards and dataset meet the 

Commission’s past concerns and no longer conflict with section 284.13(d) of the 

Commission’s regulations.

D. Standards Previously Not Incorporated by Reference

1. Contracts Standards and eTariff Related Standards

20. The Commission proposes to continue its past practice of not incorporating by 

reference into its regulations any optional contracts, because the Commission does not 

require the use of these contracts.32 In addition, consistent with our findings in past 

proceedings, the Commission is not proposing to incorporate by reference the 

 32 Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 at n.11.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 13 -

WEQ/WGQ eTariff Related Standards, because the Commission has already adopted 

standards and protocols for electronic tariff filings based on the NAESB Standards.33

2. Record Retention Standards

21. In past rulemakings, the Commission declined to incorporate by reference 

WGQ Standards 4.3.4 and 10.3.2, because the Commission found they were inconsistent 

with the Commission’s record retention requirement in 18 CFR 284.12(b)(3)(v).34 In 

Version 3.0, NAESB deleted WGQ Standards 4.3.4 and 10.3.2. NAESB asserts that 

deleting the standards avoids any potential conflict between the WGQ Standards and the 

Commission mandated requirements for regulated entities or the retention policies of 

non-regulated entities. Thus, the Version 3.0 Standards that the Commission is 

considering for incorporation by reference no longer conflict with Commission 

regulations regarding storage retention.

3. WGQ Interpretations

22. In past rulemakings, the Commission also declined to incorporate by reference 

into the Commission’s regulations NAESB’s interpretations of NAESB WGQ business 

practice standards because, while interpretations may provide useful guidance, they are 

 33 See Electronic Tariff Filings, Order No. 714, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,276 

(2008).

34 See, e.g., Standards for Business Practices for Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines, 

Final Rule, Order No. 587-T, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,289, at P 5 & n.9 (2009); see 

also Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 at P 8.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 14 -

not determinative.35 In the Version 3.0 Standards, NAESB deleted the interpretations of 

standards. NAESB states that the WGQ decided that, where greater clarity was needed to 

make standards more easily understood, it modified and/or added new standards to 

provide additional clarity, rather than adopting interpretations.36 NAESB states that 

moving forward, the WGQ will evaluate new requests for clarifications or interpretations

on a case-by-case basis and plans to work with the requestor to determine if the request 

would be more appropriately framed as a request for a minor correction or a request for a 

new and/or modified standard. NAESB asserts that this approach is similar to the one 

used by the Wholesale Electric Quadrant. Thus, there are no NAESB interpretations of 

its business practice standards for the Commission to decline to incorporate by reference.

E. Proposed Implementation Procedures

23. The Commission anticipates acting on the proposed rule in order to permit these 

standards to become effective April 1, 2016 at the same time as the Gas-Electric 

Harmonization standards, with compliance filings due February 1, 2016. Requiring 

implementation on the same date should reduce the compliance burden on the pipelines 

and avoid confusion. Requests for waivers that do not meet the requirements set forth in 

Order No. 587-V will not be granted. In particular, as we explained in Order No. 587-V, 

 35 Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 at P 28.

36 In its Version 3.0 Standards, the WGQ revised Standards 1.1.3, 1.2.2, 1.3.3, 

1.3.15, 1.3.22, 2.3.9, 2.3.14, 2.3.15, 2.3.26, 3.3.14, 3.3.15, and 4.3.23; added Standard 

0.2.5; and deleted Standard 3.3.2.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 15 -

waivers are unnecessary and will not be granted when the standard applies only on 

condition the pipeline performs a business function and the pipeline currently does not 

perform that function.

37

24. The Commission is proposing to continue the compliance filing requirements as 

revised in Order No. 587-V.38 As the Commission found in Order No. 587-V, adoption 

of the revised compliance filing requirements increases the transparency of the pipelines’ 

incorporation by reference of the NAESB WGQ Standards so that shippers and the 

Commission will know which tariff provision(s) implements each standard as well as the

status of each standard.39 Likewise, consistent with past practice, the Commission will 

post on its eLibrary website (under Docket No. RM96-1-038) a sample tariff format, to 

provide filers an illustrative example to aid them in preparing their compliance filings. 

Requests for waivers need to comply with the requirements of Order No. 587-V.40

25. Consistent with our practice in Order No. 587-V, the pipelines should designate a 

single tariff section under which every NAESB standard incorporated by reference by the 

 37 Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 at P 38(2). For example, the 

Commission has denied waivers of NAESB’s gas-electric operational communications 

standards requested by pipelines on the grounds that their systems do not connect to 

power plants. Trans-Union Interstate Pipeline L.P, 141 FERC ¶ 61,167, at P 18 (2012).

38 Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 at PP 36-37.

39 Id. P 36. To accomplish this, the Commission gave instructions on how 

pipelines should designate sections in their tariff filings.

40 Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 at PP 38-41.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 16 -

Commission is listed.41 The pipeline tariff filings should list all the incorporated 

standards with which the pipeline will comply. In addition, for any standard that the 

pipeline seeks approval not to comply with, the tariff filing must identify the standard in 

question and either identify the provision in its tariff that complies with the standard;42

or 

provide an explanation of any waiver, extension of time, or other variance with respect to 

compliance with the standard that would excuse compliance.

43

26. If the pipeline is requesting a continuation of an existing waiver or extension of 

time, it must include a table in its transmittal letter that identifies the standard for which a 

waiver or extension of time was granted, and the docket number or order citation to the 

proceeding in which the waiver or extension was granted. It must also present an 

explanation for why such waiver or extension should remain in force with regard to the 

WGQ Version 3.0 Business Practice Standards.

 41 This section should be a separate tariff record under the Commission’s 

electronic tariff filing requirement and be filed electronically using the eTariff portal 

using the Type of Filing Code 580.

42 For example, pipelines are required to include the full text of the NAESB

nomination timeline standards (WGQ Standards 1.3.2(i-v) and 5.3.2) in their tariffs. 

Standards for Business Practices for Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines, Final Rule, Order 

No. 587-U, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,307, at P 39 & n.42 (2010). The pipeline would 

indicate which tariff provision complies with each of these standards.

43 Shippers can use the Commission’s electronic tariff system to locate the tariff 

record containing the NAESB standards, which will indicate the docket number in which 

any waiver or extension of time was granted.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 17 -

27. This continues the Commission’s practice of having pipelines including in their 

tariffs a common location that identifies the way the pipeline is incorporating all the 

NAESB WGQ Standards and the standards with which it is required to comply. As 

explained above, the Commission will post on its eLibrary website (under Docket 

No. RM96-1-038) a sample tariff format, to provide filers an illustrative example to aid 

them in preparing their compliance filings.44

III. Notice of Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards

28. Office of Management and Budget Circular A-119 (section 11) (February 10, 

1998) provides that federal agencies should publish a request for comment in a NOPR 

when the agency is seeking to issue or revise a regulation proposing to adopt a voluntary 

consensus standard or a government-unique standard. In this NOPR, the Commission is 

proposing to incorporate by reference voluntary consensus standards developed by the 

WGQ.

IV. Incorporation By Reference

29. The Office of the Federal Register requires agencies incorporating material by 

reference in final rules to discuss, in the preamble of the final rule, the ways that the 

materials it incorporates by reference are reasonably available to interested parties and 

 44 http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 18 -

how interested parties can obtain the materials.45 The regulations also require agencies to

summarize, in the preamble of the final rule, the material it incorporates by reference.

30. The NAESB standards we are proposing in this NOPR to incorporate by reference 

are summarized in paragraphs 3-6 above. Our regulations provide that copies of the 

NAESB standards incorporated by reference may be obtained from the North American 

Energy Standards Board, 801 Travis Street, Suite 1675, Houston, TX 77002, 

Phone: (713) 356–0060. NAESB’s Web site is at http://www.naesb.org/. Copies may be 

inspected at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference and Files 

Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, Phone:

(202) 502–8371, http://www.ferc.gov.

46

31. NAESB is a private consensus standards developer that develops voluntary 

wholesale and retail standards related to the energy industry. The procedures used by 

NAESB make its standards reasonably available to those affected by the Commission 

regulations, which is comprised of entities that have the means to acquire the information 

they need to effectively participate in Commission proceedings. Participants can join 

NAESB, for an annual membership cost of only $7,000, which entitles them to full 

participation in NAESB and enables them to obtain these standards at no additional 

 45 1 CFR 51.5. See Incorporation by Reference, 79 FR 66267 (Nov. 7, 2014).

46 18 CFR 284.12.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 19 -

cost.47 Non-members may obtain the Individual Standards Manual or Booklets for each

of the seven Manuals by email for $250 per manual, which in the case of these standards 

would total $1,750.

48 Nonmembers also may obtain the complete set of Standards 

Manuals, Booklets, and Contracts on CD for $2,000. NAESB also provides a free 

electronic read-only version of the standards for a three business day period or, in the 

case of a regulatory comment period, through the end of the comment period.49 In 

addition, NAESB considers requests for waivers of the charges on a case-by-case basis 

depending on need.

V. Information Collection Statement

32. The following collections of information contained in this proposed rule are 

being submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under 

section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507(d). Upon 

approval of a collection(s) of information, OMB will assign an OMB control number and 

an expiration date. Respondents subject to the filing requirements of a rule will not be 

 47 North American Energy Standards Board Membership Application, 

https://www.naesb.org/pdf4/naesbapp.pdf.

48 NAESB Materials Order Form, https://www.naesb.org//pdf/ordrform.pdf.

49 Procedures for non-members to evaluate work products before purchasing, 

https://www.naesb.org/misc/NAESB_Nonmember_Evaluation.pdf . See Incorporation 

by Reference, 79 FR at 66271, n. 51 & 53(Nov. 7, 2014) (citing to NAESB’s procedure 

of providing “no-cost, no-print electronic access”, NAESB Comment, at 1, available at

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=OFR-2013-0001-0023).
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 20 -

penalized for failing to respond to these collections of information unless the collections 

of information display a valid OMB control number.

33. The Commission solicits comments on the Commission's need for this 

information, whether the information will have practical utility, the accuracy of the 

provided burden estimates, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondents' 

burden, including the use of automated information techniques.

Public Reporting Burden: The Commission’s burden estimates for the proposals in this 

NOPR are for one-time implementation of the information collection requirements of this 

NOPR (including tariff filing, documentation of the process and procedures, and IT 

work). The collections of information related to this NOPR fall under FERC–545 (Gas 

Pipeline Rates: Rate Change (Non-Formal))50 and FERC–549C (Standards for Business 

Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines).51 The following estimates of reporting 

burden are related only to this NOPR and anticipate the costs to pipelines for compliance 

with the Commission’s proposals in this NOPR.

52 The burden estimates are primarily 

 50 FERC-545 covers rate change filings made by natural gas pipelines, including 

tariff changes.

51 FERC-549C covers Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas 

Pipelines.

52 We note that although this NOPR proposes a minor revision to section 260.8, 

we are not including Form No. 567 (OMB No. 1902-005) as part of this burden estimate 

because we estimate that the substitution of proprietary codes for common codes in the 

system flow diagrams submitted under section 260.8 will not increase the burden of filing 

(continued...)
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 21 -

related to start-up to implement these standards and regulations and will not result in 

ongoing costs.

RM96-1-038, Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

Number of 

Respondents

53

(1)

Annual 

Number of 

Responses 

per 

Respondent

(2)

Total 

Number of 

Responses 

(1)*(2)=

(3)

Average 

Burden 

& Cost 

Per 

Response

(4)

Total 

Annual 

Burden 

Hours & 

Total 

Annual 

Cost

(3)*(4)=(5)

Cost per 

Respondent

54

($)

(5)÷(1)

FERC54555165 1 165 10 1,650 $138,056

 

that form. The same is true with regard to the identical revisions we are proposing to 

sections 157.14 and 157.18, Form No. 537 (OMB No. 1902-0060). Likewise, we 

estimate that our proposed revision to Form 549B (OMB No. 1902-0169), see 

http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/forms.asp, which changes the point record for Point 

identification Code Qualifier (Item ID yj) and Point Identification Code (Item ID yk) will 

not increase the burden of filing that form.

53 The number of respondents is the number of entities in which a change in 

burden from the current standards to the proposed exists, not the total number of entities 

from the current or proposed standards that are applicable.

54 Wage data is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2012 

(“May 2012 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage 

Estimates, [for] Sector 22 - Utilities” at http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm) and is 

compiled for the top 10 percent earned. For the estimate of the benefits component, see

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm.

55 The mean hourly cost of tariff filings and implementation for interstate 

natural gas pipelines is $83.67. This represents the average composite wage (salary 

and benefits for 2,080 annual work-hours) of the following occupational categories: 

“Legal” ($128.02 per hour), “Computer Analyst” ($83.50 per hour), and “Office and 

Administrative” ($39.49 per hour). Wage data is available from the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics at http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm and is compiled for the top 

(continued...)
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 22 -

FERC549C165 1 165 22 3,630 $303,722

Totals 5,280 $441,778

Information Collection Costs: The Commission seeks comments on the costs to comply 

with these requirements. It has projected the average annualized cost for all respondents 

to be the following:

FERC-545 FERC-549C

Annualized Capital/Startup 

Costs

$138,056 $303,722

Annualized Costs 

(Operations & 

Maintenance)

N/A N/A

Total Annualized Costs $138,056 $303,722

Total Cost for all Respondents = $441,778

OMB regulations require OMB to approve certain information collection requirements 

imposed by agency rule. The Commission is submitting notification of this proposed rule 

to OMB. These information collections are mandatory requirements.

Title: FERC-545, Gas Pipeline Rates: Rates Change (Non-Formal);

FERC-549C, Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines.

Action: Proposed collections

OMB Control Nos.: 1902-0154, 1902-0174.

 

10 percent earned. For the estimate of the benefits component, see

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 23 -

Respondents: Business or other for profit, (i.e., Natural Gas Pipelines, applicable 

to only a few small businesses.) Although the intraday reporting requirements will affect 

electric plant operators, the Commission is not imposing the reporting burden of adopting 

these standards on those entities.

Frequency of Responses: One-time implementation (business procedures,

capital/start-up).

Necessity of Information: The proposals in this NOPR would, if implemented, 

upgrade the Commission’s current business practices and communication standards by 

specifically: (1) requiring the posting of information on requests to purchase releasable 

capacity on a pipeline’s website; (2) revising standards to support the elimination of 

NAESB WGQ interpretations; (3) revising standards to add new data elements; and 

(4) revising standards related to the technical implementation and data sets for the 

NAESB WGQ Standards.

The implementation of these data requirements will provide additional 

transparency to informational posting web sites and will improve communication 

standards, including gas-electric communications. The implementation of these 

standards and regulations will promote the additional efficiency and reliability of the gas 

industries’ operations thereby helping the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 

under the Natural Gas Act of promoting the efficiency and reliability of the gas 

industries' operations. In addition, the Commission's Office of Enforcement will use the 

data for general industry oversight.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 24 -

Internal Review: The Commission has reviewed the requirements pertaining to 

business practices of natural gas pipelines and made a preliminary determination that the 

proposed revisions are necessary to establish more efficient coordination between the gas 

and electric industries. Requiring such information ensures both a common means of 

communication and common business practices to limit miscommunication for 

participants engaged in the sale of electric energy at wholesale and the transportation of 

natural gas. These requirements conform to the Commission's plan for efficient 

information collection, communication, and management within the natural gas pipeline 

industries. The Commission has assured itself, by means of its internal review, that there 

is specific, objective support for the burden estimates associated with the information 

requirements.

34. Interested persons may obtain information on the reporting requirements by 

contacting the following: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, 

Washington, DC 20426 [Attention: Ellen Brown, Office of the Executive Director, 

e-mail: DataClearance@ferc.gov, phone: (202) 502-8663, fax: (202) 273-0873].

35. Comments concerning the collection of information(s) and the associated burden 

estimate(s), should be sent to the contact listed above and to the Office of Management 

and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503 

[Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, telephone: 

(202) 395-0710, fax: (202) 395-4718].
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 25 -

VI. Environmental Analysis

36. The Commission is required to prepare an Environmental Assessment or an 

Environmental Impact Statement for any action that may have a significant adverse effect 

on the human environment.56 The Commission has categorically excluded certain actions

from these requirements as not having a significant effect on the human environment.57 

The actions proposed here fall within categorical exclusions in the Commission's 

regulations for rules that are clarifying, corrective, or procedural, for information 

gathering, analysis, and dissemination, and for sales, exchange, and transportation of 

natural gas that requires no construction of facilities.58 Therefore, an environmental 

assessment is unnecessary and has not been prepared as part of this NOPR.

VII. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis and Certification

37. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA)59 generally requires a description 

and analysis of proposed rules that will have significant economic impact on a substantial 

number of small entities. The RFA mandates consideration of regulatory alternatives that 

accomplish the stated objectives of a proposed rule and that minimize any significant 

economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Small Business 

 56 Regulations Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 

Order No. 486, 52 FR 47897 (Dec. 17, 1987), FERC Stats. & Regs. Regulations 

Preambles 1986-1990 ¶ 30,783 (1987).

57 18 CFR 380.4.

58 See 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii), 380.4(a)(5), 380.4(a)(27).

59 5 U.S.C. 601-612.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 26 -

Administration’s (SBA) Office of Size Standards develops the numerical definition of a 

small business.60 The SBA has established a size standard for pipelines transporting 

natural gas, stating that a firm is small if its annual receipts are less than $25.5 million.61

38. The regulations proposed here impose requirements only on interstate pipelines, 

the majority of which are not small businesses. Most companies regulated by the 

Commission do not fall within the RFA’s definition of a small entity. Approximately 

165 entities are potential respondents subject to data collection FERC-545 reporting 

requirements and also are subject to data collection FERC 549-C reporting requirements. 

Nearly all of these entities are large entities. For the year 2012 (the most recent year for 

which information is available), only eleven companies not affiliated with larger 

companies had annual revenues of less than $25.5 million and are defined by the SBA as 

“small entities.” These companies constitute about seven percent of the total universe of 

potential respondents. The Commission estimates that the one-time implementation cost 

of the proposals in this NOPR is $441,778 (or $2,677 per entity, regardless of entity 

size).

62 The Commission does not consider the estimated $2,677 impact per entity to be 

significant. Moreover, these requirements are designed to benefit all customers, 

including small businesses that must comply with them. Further, as noted above, 

 60 13 CFR 121.101.

61 13 CFR 121.201, subsection 486.

62 This number is derived by dividing the total cost figure by the number of 

respondents. $441,778/165 = $2,677.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 27 -

adoption of consensus standards helps ensure the reasonableness of the standards by 

requiring that the standards draw support from a broad spectrum of industry participants 

representing all segments of the industry. Because of that representation and the fact that 

industry conducts business under these standards, the Commission’s regulations should 

reflect those standards that have the widest possible support.

39. Accordingly, pursuant to § 605(b) of the RFA,63 the regulations proposed herein 

should not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

VIII. Comment Procedures

40. The Commission invites interested persons to submit comments on the matters and 

issues proposed in this notice to be adopted, including any related matters or alternative 

proposals that commenters may wish to discuss. Comments are due [INSERT DATE 

thirty days after publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER]. Comments must refer to 

Docket No. RM96-1-038, and must include the commenter's name, the organization they 

represent, if applicable, and their address in their comments.

41. The Commission encourages comments to be filed electronically via the eFiling 

link on the Commission's web site at http://www.ferc.gov. The Commission accepts 

most standard word processing formats. Documents created electronically using word 

processing software should be filed in native applications or print-to-PDF format and not 

 63 5 U.S.C. 605(b).
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 28 -

in a scanned format. Commenters filing electronically do not need to make a paper 

filing.

42. Commenters that are not able to file comments electronically must send an 

original of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the

Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426.

43. All comments will be placed in the Commission's public files and may be viewed, 

printed, or downloaded remotely as described in the Document Availability section 

below. Commenters on this proposal are not required to serve copies of their comments 

on other commenters.

IX. Document Availability

44. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the Federal Register, the 

Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the 

contents of this document via the Internet through the Commission's Home Page 

(http://www.ferc.gov) and in the Commission's Public Reference Room during normal 

business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time) at 888 First Street, NE, Room 2A, 

Washington, DC 20426.

45. From the Commission's Home Page on the Internet, this information is available 

on eLibrary. The full text of this document is available on eLibrary in PDF and 

Microsoft Word format for viewing, printing, and/or downloading. To access this 

document in eLibrary, type the docket number excluding the last three digits of this 

document in the docket number field.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 29 -

46. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the Commission’s website during 

normal business hours from the Commission’s Online Support at (202) 502-6652 (toll 

free at 1-866-208-3676) or email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or the Public Reference 

Room at (202) 502-8371, TTY (202) 502-8659. E-mail the Public Reference Room 

at public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 30 -

List of subjects in 18 CFR Parts 157, 260, and 284

Incorporation by reference, Natural gas, Reporting and record keeping requirements.

By direction of the Commission.

( S E A L )

Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,

Deputy Secretary.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 31 -

In consideration of the foregoing, the Commission proposes to amend Parts 157, 260, and

284, Chapter I, Title 18, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows.

PART 157 – APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE 

AND NECESSITY AND FOR ORDERS PERMITTING AND APPROVING 

ABANDONMENT UNDER SECTION 7 OF THE NATURAL GAS ACT

1. The authority citation for part 157 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 717-717Z.

2. Section 157.14 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:

(a) To be attached to each application. All exhibits specified must accompany each

application when tendered for filing. Together with each exhibit applicant must provide a

full and complete explanation of the data submitted, the manner in which it was obtained,

and the reasons for the conclusions derived from the exhibits. If the Commission 

determines that a formal hearing upon the application is required or that testimony and 

hearing exhibits should be filed, the Secretary will promptly notify the applicant that 

submittal of all exhibits and testimony of all witnesses to be sponsored by the applicant in

support of his case-in-chief is required. Submittal of these exhibits and testimony must 

be within 20 days from the date of the Secretary’s notice, or any other time as the 

Secretary will specify. Exhibits, except exhibits F, F– 1, G, G–I, G–II, and H(iv), must 

be submitted to the Commission on electronic media as prescribed in § 385.2011 of this 

chapter. Receipt and delivery point information required in various exhibits must be 

labeled with a location point name in accordance with the name adopted in § 284.12 of 

this chapter.

* * * * *
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 32 -

3. Section 157.18 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:

(c) Exhibit V—Flow diagram showing daily design capacity and reflecting operation of 

applicant's system after abandonment. Receipt and delivery point information required in 

various exhibits must be labeled with a location point name in accordance with the name 

adopted in § 284.12 of this chapter. A flow diagram showing daily design capacity and 

reflecting operating conditions of applicant's system after abandonment of facilities on 

that segment of the system affected by the abandonment, including the following:

* * * * *

PART 260 – STATEMENTS AND REPORTS (SCHEDULES)

4. The authority citation for part 260 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 717-717w, 3301-3432; 42 U.S.C. 7101-7352.

5. Section 260.8 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:

(a) Each Major natural gas pipeline company, having a system delivery capacity in 

excess of 100,000 Mcf per day (measured at 14.73 p.s.i.a. and 60o F), shall file with the 

Commission by June 1 of each year five (5) copies of a diagram or diagrams reflecting 

operating conditions on its main transmission system during the previous twelve months 

ended December 31. For purposes of system peak deliveries, the heating season 

overlapping the year's end shall be used. Facilities shall be those installed and in 

operation on December 31 of the reporting year. All volumes shall be reported on a 

uniform stated pressure and temperature base. Receipt and delivery point information 

required in various exhibits must be labeled with a location point name in accordance 

with the name adopted in § 284.12 of this chapter.
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 33 -

PART 284 -- CERTAIN SALES AND TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL GAS 

UNDER THE NATURAL GAS POLICY ACT OF 1978 AND RELATED 

AUTHORITIES

6. The authority citation for part 284 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 717-717w, 3301-3432; 42 U.S.C. 7101-7352; 43 U.S.C. 1331-

1356.

7. Section 284.12 is amended by revising paragraph (a) (1) to read as follows:

Section 284.12 Standards for pipeline business operations and communications.

 (a) * * *

 (1) An interstate pipeline that transports gas under subparts B or G of this part must 

comply with the business practices and electronic communications standards as 

promulgated by the North American Energy Standards Board, as incorporated herein by 

reference in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) thru (vii) of this section, and as revised by Minor 

Correction/Clarification MC15009 and Minor Correction/Clarification MC15012, as 

incorporated herein by reference in paragraphs (a)(1)(viii) and (ix) of this section.

 (i) Additional Standards (Version 3.0, November 14, 2014);

 (ii) Nominations Related Standards (Version 3.0, November 14, 2014); 

 (iii) Flowing Gas Related Standards (Version 3.0, November 14, 2014);

 (iv) Invoicing Related Standards (Version 3.0, November 14, 2014);

 (v) Quadrant Electronic Delivery Mechanism Related Standards (Version 3.0, 

November 14, 2014);

 (vi) Capacity Release Related Standards (Version 3.0, November 14, 2014);
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 34 -

 (vii) Internet Electronic Transport Related Standards (Version 3.0, November 14, 

2014);

 (viii) Minor Correction/Clarification, Request No. MC15009, approved April 30, 

2015; and

 (ix) Minor Correction/Clarification, Request No. MC15012, approved May 29, 

2015.

* * * * *

8. Section 284.13 is amended by revising paragraph (c)(2)(vi) to read as follows:

* * * * *

(c) * * *

(2) * * *

 (vi) The receipt and delivery points and the zones or segments covered by the contract 

in which the capacity is held, including the location code for each point zone or segment

along with a posting on the pipeline’s website that identifies active and inactive points, 

the date the point becomes active or inactive, the location of the point, and an 

identification of the upstream or downstream entity, if any, at that point.

* * * * *
Docket No. RM96-1-038 - 35 -

Appendix

Note: The following Appendix will not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

List of Revisions in NAESB’s WGQ Version 3.0 Business

Practice Standards to its Prior Business Practice Standards

Version 3.0 makes the following changes to the Version 2.1 Standards:

a. Revises Standards 0.3.28, 1.1.3, 1.3.1, 1.3.2 through 1.3.5, 1.3.7 through 1.3.9, 

1.3.11, 1.3.13 through 1.3.15, 1.3.22, 1.3.27, 1.3.33, 1.3.41, 1.3.42, 1.3.51, 

1.3.80, 2.3.5, 2.3.9, 2.3.14, 2.3.15, 2.3.21, 2.3.26, 2.3.40, 2.3.46, 2.3.47, 3.3.3, 

3.3.7, 3.3.14, 3.3.15, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.16, 4.3.23, 4.3.35, 4.3.45, 4.3.46, 4.3.54, 

4.3.90, 5.3.2, 5.3.32, 5.3.44, 5.3.45, 5.3.48, 5.3.49, 5.3.53, 5.3.54, 5.3.56; 

Datasets 0.4.1, 0.4.2, 0.4.4, 1.4.1 through 1.4.7, 2.4.1 through 2.4.11, 2.4.17, 

2.4.18, 3.4.1 through 3.4.4, 5.4.14 through 5.4.17, 5.4.20 through 5.4.27; 

Principles 1.1.15, 1.1.18, 2.1.5; and Definitions 1.2.2, 1.2.4, 2.2.5.

b. Adds Standards 0.2.5, 4.3.105, 5.3.73.

c. Deletes Standards 1.3.52, 2.3.49, 3.3.2, 3.3.20, 4.3.4, 4.3.39, 4.3.65, 5.3.27, 

10.3.2; Datasets 2.4.12 through 2.4.16; and Principles 1.1.5, 1.1.7, 1.1.9, 

1.1.17, 4.1.31.

Version 2.1 made the following changes to the Version 2.0 Standards: 

a. Revises Standards 0.3.18, 0.3.20, 0.3.21, 1.3.27, 1.3.55, 1.3.73, 2.3.32, 

4.3.23, 4.3.28, 4.3.35, 4.3.52, 4.3.67, 5.3.2, 5.3.4, 5.3.26, 5.3.38, 5.3.70, 

5.3.71, 6.5.2, 7.3.16, 7.3.27; Datasets 0.4.1 through 0.4.3, 1.4.1 through 

1.4.7, 2.4.1 through 2.4.7, 2.4.9 through 2.4.11, 2.4.13 through 2.4.18, 3.4.1 

through 3.4.4, 5.4.14 through 5.4.17, 5.4.20 through 5.4.22, 5.4.24 through 

5.4.26; and Definitions 10.2.8, 10.2.30.

b. Adds Standards 0.3.23 through 0.3.29, 1.3.58, 1.3.73, 1.3.81, 2.3.66, 

4.3.103, 4.3.104; and Dataset 0.4.4.

c. Deletes Standards 0.3.19, 1.3.47, 1.3.49, 1.3.50, 1.3.54, 1.3.57, 1.3.59 

through 1.3.61, 1.3.63, 2.3.33 through 2.3.35, 3.3.1, 4.3.39, 4.3.51, 4.3.56, 

4.3.59, 4.3.73, 4.3.74, 4.3.76.