[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 241 (Friday, December 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65564-65565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31626]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP97-134-000]


MarkWest Hydrocarbon Partners, Ltd.; Notice of Petition for 
Declaratory Order

December 9, 1996.
    Take notice that, on November 27, 1996, in Docket No. CP97-134-000, 
MarkWest Hydrocarbon Partners, Ltd. (MarkWest), 5613 DTC Parkway, Suite 
400, Englewood, Colorado 80111, filed a petition with the Commission, 
pursuant to Rule 207 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure (18 CFR 385.307), for a declaratory order disclaiming 
jurisdiction over the Cobb Extraction Plant in Kanawha County, West 
Virginia, and the Boldman Extraction Plant in Pike County, West 
Virginia, all as more fully set forth in

[[Page 65565]]

the application, which is on file with the Commission and open to 
public inspection.
    Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (Columbia) filed an 
application pursuant to section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act in a 
related proceeding in Docket No. CP97-116-000, for permission and 
approval to abandon the Cobb and Boldman Plants. MarkWest states that 
it built the Boldman Plant and leased it to Columbia. According to 
MarkWest, Columbia is now selling the Cobb Plant (to MarkWest) and 
canceling its Boldman Plant lease with MarkWest.
    Previously, in similar proceedings that are still pending before 
the Commission, Columbia filed an application in Docket No. CP96-118-
000, for permission and approval to abandon (by sale to MarkWest) its 
Kenova Gas Processing Plant, in Wayne County, West Virginia, and 
MarkWest filed a companion petition in Docket No. CP96-121-000, for a 
declaratory order disclaiming jurisdiction over the new gas processing 
plant that MarkWest was building at the old Kenova Plant site. MarkWest 
incorporates (by reference) in Docket No. CP97-134-000, its reasoning 
and support for the disclaimer of jurisdiction that it sought in Docket 
No. CP96-121-000.
    MarkWest states that the natural gas liquids (NGL) extracted from 
the Cobb and Boldman Plants have been part of the same sales contract 
covering NGL extraction from the Kenova Plant. MarkWest states that 
Columbia filed a comprehensive settlement on November 22, 1996, in 
Docket No. RP95-408-000, et al. MarkWest further states that, as part 
of Columbia's comprehensive settlement of its pending rate case, in 
Docket No. RP95-408-000, under section 4 of the Natural Gas Act, and in 
other proceedings, Columbia is completing the unbundling of gathering 
and products extraction, spinning-off all of its products extraction 
services to MarkWest.
    MarkWest states that all consenting parties to Stipulation II of 
Columbia's November 22, 1996 settlement proposal either support or do 
not oppose Columbia's proposed abandonment of the Cobb and Boldman 
Plants, as set forth in Columbia's application in Docket No. CP97-116-
000. MarkWest states that the consenting parties also support or do not 
oppose the Kenova transfer in Dockets CP96-118-000 and CP96-121-000. 
MarkWest further states that Commission authorization of the spin-off 
transfer of the Kenova, Cobb, and Boldman Plants to MarkWest, as 
specified in the aforementioned dockets, is a condition precedent to 
the Commission's final approval of the overall settlement.
    Accordingly, MarkWest requests the Commission to issue an order 
finding that the Cobb and Boldman Extraction Plants are outside the 
Commission's certificate jurisdiction under section 7 of the Natural 
Gas Act.
    Any person desiring to be heard, or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should, on or before December 30, 1996, 
file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C., 
20426, a motion to intervene or 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 the proceeding, or to participate 
as a party in any hearing therein, must file a motion to intervene in 
accordance with the Commission's Rules.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-31626 Filed 12-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M