[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 14, 1996)] [Notices] [Page 5759] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-3228] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Co.; Notice of Application [Docket No. CP96-169-000] February 8, 1996. Take notice that on February 5, 1996, Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company (Williston Basin), 200 North Third Street, Suite 300, Bismarck, North Dakota 58501, filed in Docket No. CP96-169-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act for permission and approval to abandon storage and transportation service for suppliers under Rate Schedule S-2 of Williston Basin's FERC Gas Tariff, Second Revised Volume No. 1, all as more fully set forth in the application on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. Williston Basin states that on June 15, 1983, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., now MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU), predecessor in interest to Williston Basin, was authorized by temporary certificate to store natural gas on behalf of certain of its suppliers and to provide incidental transportation of such gas pursuant to Rate Schedule S-2. Williston Basin further states that on May 25, 1984, the Commission issued its Order Approving Contested Settlement which granted MDU a permanent certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing the storage and transportation services proposed to be performed on behalf of its suppliers under Rate Schedule S-2. In addition, Williston Basin states that on February 13, 1985 in Docket No. CP82-487-000, et al., Williston Basin was authorized to acquire and operate the interstate pipeline facilities previously owned and operated by MDU as well as to provide the certificated services previously provided by MDU. It is stated that although the original certificate for the Rate Schedule S-2 service was limited to a maximum four-year term for injections into storage for each Rate Schedule S-2 service agreement, the May 22, 1990 Order Granting Rehearing and Denying Request for Clarification, 51 FERC para. 61,199, allowed the Rate Schedule certificate to run for each individual service contract until all of the gas injected into storage under that service contract was withdrawn from storage. It is further stated that service contract was withdrawn from storage. It is further stated that on November 28, 1995, the Commission accepted in Docket No. CP83-254-490, the termination of Williston Basin's final Rate Schedule S-2 service agreement. Therefore, Williston Basin requests abandonment of the certificate authorizing service under Rate Schedule S-2 effective as of the date Commission approval for such requested abandonment is received. Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with reference to said application should on or before February 29, 1996, 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 the 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 permission and approval for the proposed abandonment are 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 Williston Basin to appear or be represented at the hearing Lois D. Cashell, Secretary. [FR Doc. 96-3228 Filed 2-13-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M