[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 205 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 63238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27094]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. RP98-54-032]


Colorado Interstate Gas Company; Notice of Settlement Agreement

October 17, 2000.
    Take notice that on October 12, 2000, Colorado Interstate Gas 
Company (CIG), Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo), Cheyenne 
Light, Fuel and Power Company (Cheyenne), Colorado Springs Utilities 
(CSU), Union Pacific Resources Company (UPR), Helmerich & Payne Inc. 
(Helmerich), Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (PNR), OXY USA Inc. 
(OXY), Eastman Dillon Oil & Gas Associates (Eastman), Amoco Production 
Company (Amoco), Coastal Oil and Gas Corporation (Coastal), Chevron 
U.S.A. Inc. (Chevron), Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), Mobil Oil 
Corporation (Mobil), Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (Anadarko), 
Broadhurst Operating LP (Broadhurst), Ivy League, Inc. (IVY), Ralph H. 
Howard, Inc. (RHH), and Texaco Exploration and Production Inc. (Texaco) 
(collectively referred to as the ``Signatory Parties'') filed for the 
approval of the Commission a Settlement Agreement (Settlement) under 
Rule 602 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure in the 
captioned docket. Signatory Parties state that the Settlement has the 
support of the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Colorado, 
the Wyoming Public Service Commission, the Colorado Office of Consumer 
Counsel, the Colorado Energy Assistance Foundation, Citizens Utilities 
Company, and Greeley Gas Company, a division of Atmos Energy 
Corporation. The purpose of the Settlement is to extinguish the refund 
liability of 351 working interest owners currently subject to refund 
claims by CIG of less than $25,000 (with interest calculated through 
August 31, 2000) associated with the collection of Kansas ad valorem 
tax reimbursements in excess of maximum lawful prices (MLP) under the 
Natural Gas Policy Act. The Signatory Parties urge the Commission to 
approve the Settlement no later than November 28, 2000, to enable 
refunds to be paid to CIG no later than December 13, 2000 under terms 
of said agreement. A copy of the Settlement Agreement is on file with 
the Commission and is available for public inspection in the Public 
Reference Room. The Settlement Agreement may be viewed on the web at 
http://www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 for 
assistance).
    Other than the Signatory Parties, the remaining 64 working interest 
owners, who are subject to claims by CIG of $25,000 or more, may 
voluntarily participate in the Settlement by agreeing to pay specified 
refunds. Acquiescence in the terms of the Settlement by these working 
interest owners and payments under the terms of the Settlement would 
relieve those working interest owners of all further liability 
associated with the collection of Kansas ad valorem tax reimbursements 
in excess of the MLP, except where otherwise specifically agreed to in 
writing by the working interest owner. In addition, any claims against 
royalty owners for royalty-related on the CIG system by working 
interest owners participating in the Settlement, as well as royalty 
claims associated with the extinguished liability of the 351 working 
interest owners whose individual liabilities have been calculated at 
less than $25,000, are eliminated. Non-participating working interest 
owners whose individual refund liability is $25,000 or more retain 
their legal challenges to CIG's refund claims.
    In accordance with Section 385.602(f), comments on the Settlement 
Agreement are due October 31, 2000, and any reply comments are due 
November 10, 2000.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-27094 Filed 10-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M