[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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