Opinion ID: 729784
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Process Gas Consumers Group's Motion to Dismiss

Text: 36 While these appeals were pending, Mojave Pipeline notified FERC that it declined to accept the certificate of public convenience and necessity issued to it in FERC's Final Order. FERC notified this court of Mojave Pipeline's decision and filed two motions in response: one to dismiss these appeals as moot and one for leave to issue an order vacating not only the orders appealed but also all other orders regarding the Mojave Pipeline application. In addition, on April 29, 1996, subject to leave of this court, FERC issued an order vacating six orders relating to Mojave Pipeline's application, including all of the orders subject to review in these consolidated cases. Order Vacating Prior Orders and Dismissing Motions, Mojave Pipeline Co., 75 F.E.R.C. P61,108 (April 29, 1996). 37 In response to these events, intervenor Process Gas Consumers Group moved to dismiss these cases, arguing that when FERC vacated its prior orders regarding Mojave Pipeline's application, CPUC and PG&E ceased to be aggrieved. Under the NGA, such aggrievement is a prerequisite to petitioner's standing to appeal to this court. 15 U.S.C. 717r(b); Tenneco. Inc. v. FERC, 688 F.2d 1018 (5th Cir. 1982). 38 Nevertheless, we deny Process Gas Consumers Group's motion because FERC cannot vacate its orders while an appeal is pending. The plain language of the NGA makes clear that FERC may modify or set aside its orders only until the record in a proceeding shall have been filed in a court of appeals. 15 U. S.C. 717r(a). Once that record is so filed, the court of appeals has exclusive jurisdiction to modify or set aside FERC's orders. Id. 717r(b). 39 In these cases, certified lists were filed in lieu of the records. Such substitution is permitted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2112(a). All such filings occurred before FERC issued its April 1996 order. Therefore, under the NGA, FERC had no jurisdiction to vacate its orders. Indeed, FERC acknowledged its lack of jurisdiction in the order itself, explicitly making the order subject to this court's leave. Order Vacating Prior Orders and Dismissing Motions, Mojave Pipeline Co., 75 FERC at  2. Because FERC's April 1996 order is without effect until this court acts, CPUC and PG&E remain aggrieved. Therefore, Process Gas Consumers Group's motion to dismiss for lack of standing is denied.