[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76227-76228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30981]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-32-000]


Williams Gas Processing--Gulf Cost Company, L.P.; Notice of 
Petition for Declaratory Order

November 30, 2000.
    Take notice that on November 20, 2000, Williams Gas Processing--
Gulf Coast Company, L.P. (WGP), P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251, in 
Docket No. CP01-32-000 filed a petition for a declaratory order 
requesting that the Commission declare that certain pipeline facilities 
located almost entirely in offshore waters on the Outer Continental 
Shelf (OCS), offshore Texas to be acquired from WGP's affiliate, 
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (Transco), would have the 
primary function of gathering of natural gas and would thereby be 
exempt from the Commission's jurisdiction pursuant to Section 1(b) of 
the Natural Gas Act,

[[Page 76228]]

all as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with 
the Commission and open to public inspection. This filing may be viewed 
on the web at http://www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 
for assistance).
    WGP states that the pipeline facilities at issue consist of 
portions of the North Padre Island Gathering System (North Padre) and 
the Central Texas Gathering System (Central Texas). Specifically, WGP 
states that the North Padre facilities consist of 3.83 miles of 10-inch 
pipeline that begins in North Padre Island (NPI) Block 967 and ends at 
NPI Block 956 and 18.79 miles of 20-inch pipeline that begins in East 
Addition Block A-42 and ends at NPI Block 956, offshore Texas. WGP 
states that the Central Texas facilities consist of 4.96 miles of 6-
inch pipeline, 4.19 miles of 8-inch pipeline, 3.77 miles of 10-inch 
pipeline, 64.79 miles of 12-inch pipeline, 11.56 miles of 16-inch 
pipeline, 116.48 miles of 20-inch pipeline, 23.42 miles of 24-inch 
pipeline, and 41.15 miles of 30-inch pipeline in the Brazos Area Block 
538, offshore Texas.
    Under a Transfer and Assignment Agreement entered into by WGP and 
Transco, WGP indicates that it will provide gathering services in a 
manner consistent with open access and non-discriminatory principles. 
WGP advises that no customers presently receive direct sales service 
from the subject facilities pursuant to right-of-way agreements or 
other sales agreements, therefore, no direct sales service will be 
terminated as a result of the transfer.
    WGP states that the primary function of the facilities is 
gathering, consistent with the criteria set forth in Farmland 
Industries, Inc. (23 FERC para. 61,063 (1983)), as modified in 
subsequent orders, and in Sea Robin Pipeline Co. (87 FERC para. 61,384 
(1999), reh'g denied, 92 FERC para. 61,072 (2000)).
    WGP advises that this petition is a companion to Transco's 
concurrently filed application in Docket No. CP01-34-000 to abandon the 
subject facilities by transfer to WGP.
    Any questions regarding the application should be directed to Steve 
Springer, Senior Vice President, at (713) 439-2454, Williams Gas 
Processing-Gulf Coast Company, L.P., Houston, Texas 77251.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said Application should on or before December 21, 2000, 
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 385.211 or 18 CFR 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. 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. Beginning 
November 1, 2000, 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.
    Take further notice that pursuant to the authority contained in and 
subject to the jurisdiction conferred upon the 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 petition 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 abandonment 
is required by the public convenience and necessity. If a petition 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 WGP to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-30981 Filed 12-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M