Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Amendment to Application

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 11850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5891]



[[Page 11850]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP96-213-009]


Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Amendment to 
Application

March 4, 1999.
    Take notice that on February 24, 1999, Columbia Gas Transmission 
Corporation (Columbia), a Delaware corporation, having its principal 
place of business at 12801 Fair Lakes Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-
1046, an abbreviated application pursuant to Sections 7(b) and Section 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, as amended, to amend its certificates 
previously issued by the Commission in an Order Denying Rehearing and 
Issuing Certificates on May 14, 1997, Order Amending Certificate on 
November 25, 1997, and Order Amending Certificates on June 30, 1998 in 
Docket Nos. CP96-213-000, et al., Columbia's Market Expansion Project 
(MEP).
    In support of its application, Columbia states that it proposes to 
make the specific following facility modifications to the 1999 
construction previously authorized:

1.8.1  Laurel Storage Field--Hocking County, Ohio Abandon Well No. 
11483.

    Well No. 11483 was approved for enhancement as part of 
Columbia's 1997 Market Expansion program. After the enhancement 
activities, salt water began flowing into the well bore. In 
Columbia's August 11, 1998 request for a variance. Columbia 
indicated that additional work would be required to stop the water 
flow. However, upon further consideration, the probability of 
successfully shutting off the flow water into the well bore, without 
adversely impacting gas deliverability, is low. In addition, 
Columbia's evaluation of the overall 1997-98 enhancement program for 
Laurel indicates that the success of the other enhancement work 
offsets the loss of this well. Therefore, Well 11483 is no longer 
needed and Columbia now proposes to plus and abandon the well. If 
well 11483 is not plugged, the salt water encroachment could 
possibly affect nearby wells in the storage zone.

7.27  Artemas A Storage Field--Bedford County, Pennsylvania Abandon 
3.2 miles of 16-inch pipeline in association with the approved 6.1 
miles of 24-inch Artemas pipeline construction (Project Item 1.1.2).

    Continued evaluation of the project revealed that the section of 
existing 16-inch to the north of A Field is not needed for future 
operations, and that installation costs for the new 24-inch could be 
reduced by utilizing existing trench when the northern section of 
16-inch is abandoned and removed. Columbia's proposal to remove the 
northern section of 16-inch and use the existing ditch to install 
the new 24-inch will minimize the difficulty of side hill 
construction by reducing the need for blasting. Design Day 
construction by reducing the need for blasting. Design Day flows for 
the Artemas Field are not affected by the abandonment.

    The revised pipeline construction at Artemas results in an 
approximate decrease of $500,000 in the estimated Gross Investment for 
the MEP, from $256,067,400 to $255,567,400. The estimated cost of 
retirement for the proposed abandonments is $248,500, with salvage 
estimated to be approximately $87,800. The resulting net decrease in 
project costs after salvage is approximately $339,300.
    Any person desiring to participate in the hearing process or to 
make any protest with reference to said application should on or before 
March 25, 1999, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street NE, Washington, DC 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 proceedings. The Commission's rules require 
that protesters provide copies of their protests to the party or 
parties directly involved. 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. 
This filing may be viewed on the web at www.ferc.fed.us/online/
rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 for assistance).
    A person obtaining intervenor status will be placed on the service 
list maintained by the Secretary of the Commission and will receive 
copies of all documents filed by the applicant and by every one of the 
intervenors. An intervenor can file for rehearing of any Commission 
order and can petition for court review of any such order. However, an 
intervenor must submit copies of comments or any other filing it makes 
with the Commission to every other intervenor in the proceeding, as 
well as 14 copies with the Commission.
    A person does not have to intervene, however, in order to have 
comments considered. A person, instead, may submit two copies of 
comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Commenters will be placed 
on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive copies of 
environmental documents and will be able to participate in meetings 
associated with the Commission's environmental review process. 
Commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on 
all other parties. However, commenters will not receive copies of all 
documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission and will 
not have the right to seek rehearing or appeal the Commission's final 
order to a federal court.
    The Commission will consider all comments and concerns equally, 
whether filed by commenters or those requesting intervenor status.
    Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
and subject to the jurisdiction conferred upon the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission by Sections 7 and 15 of the Natural Gas Act and 
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 certificate 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 Columbia to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-5891 Filed 3-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M