[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 79 (Friday, April 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20390-20391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10900]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP98-340-000]


Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America; Notice of Application

April 20, 1998.
    Take notice that on April 9, 1998, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of 
America (Natural), 701 East 22nd Street, Lombard, Illinois 60148 filed 
in Docket No. CP98-320-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(b) and 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part 157 of the Commission's 
Regulations for permission and approval to abandon existing mainline 
facilities and authorization to install and operate certain minor 
replacement facilities, all as more fully set forth in the application 
on file with the Commission and open to public inspection.
    Specifically, Natural proposes to abandon: (1) Approximately 176 
miles of Natural's 30-inch Gulf Coast No. 1 line, in eastern Texas 
north of Natural's Compressor Station No. 302, by sale to a non-
affiliated third party for conversion to non-natural gas service; (2) 
seven 2,800 HP compressor units at Compressor Station 303; (3) seven 
2,800 HP compressor units at Compressor Station 304; and (4) three 
taps, two laterals, and one meter facility along the 176-mile segment 
which are no longer required to provide natural gas transmission 
service.
    Natural also proposes to construct and operate minor facilities at 
seventeen locations along the 176-mile segment which will have the 
effect of replacing previously certificated receipt/delivery facilities 
impacted by the abandonment of No. 1 line. Natural also proposes to 
install one new, additional tap to support and maintain storage 
discharge capability at its North Lansing storage

[[Page 20391]]

facility, which is located at the north end of the 176-mile segment.
    Natural states that it has agreed to sell the 176 miles of pipe to 
a non-affiliated third party, Mid-Valley Products Pipeline L.L.C., 
(Purchaser) for an arms-length negotiated sales price. Natural explains 
that the Purchaser will convert the 176 miles of pipe to petroleum 
products service and therefore, following receipt of abandonment 
authority, the ownership and operation of the pipe will not be subject 
to the NGA authority of the Commission. Natural indicates that the 
compressor units, for which abandonment authority is sought, are not 
being sold to the third party. Natural claims that these compressor 
units are old and have not been needed for Gulf Coast Mainline 
operations for some time.
    Natural further states that Natural's remaining 30-inch No. 2 line 
and 36-inch No. 3 line, and the remaining compression along the 176-
mile segment, will be fully adequate to serve current demand in that 
discrete section of its Gulf Coast Mainline.
    Any person desiring to participate in the hearing process or to 
make any protest with reference to said application should on or before 
May 11, 1998, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
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 385.214 or 385.211) 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.
    Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
and subject to jurisdiction conferred upon the Federal Energy 
Regulatory 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 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 authorization 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 Natural to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-10900 Filed 4-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M