Questar Overthrust Pipeline Company; Notice of Application

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Federal RegisterAug 3, 2006
71 Fed. Reg. 44023 (Aug. 3, 2006)
July 27, 2006

Take notice that on July 19, 2006, Questar Overthrust Pipeline Company (Overthrust), 180 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111, filed an application under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act seeking authority to construct and operate the Wamsutter Expansion Project consisting of: (i) 77.2 miles of 36-inch diameter pipeline and related facilities extending from the eastern terminus of its transmission system located at Questar Pipeline Company's Kanda-Nightingale-Coleman Compressor Complex and terminating at the proposed interconnect with Rockies Express Pipeline LLC (REX) near Wamsutter, Wyoming (Wamsutter) in Sweetwater County; (ii) 700 feet of 20-inch diameter main-line connector pipeline and related facilities extending from the Rendezvous Tap Valve to a tie-in point with Tie Line (TL) 90 in Lincoln County, Wyoming; (iii) the new Roberson compressor station, totaling 30,000 horsepower (Hp), in Lincoln County, Wyoming; (iv) the new Rock Springs compressor station, totaling 15,000 Hp, in Sweetwater County, Wyoming; (v) three new receipt points; and (vi) one new delivery point, with the project components located within Lincoln, Uinta and Sweetwater Counties, Wyoming, all as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open for public inspection. These filings are available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.

The Rendezvous Tap Valve is proposed to be installed as part of Overthrust's expansion project in Docket No. CP06-167-000.

Any questions regarding this application should be directed to Lenard G. Wright, Manager, Federal Regulatory Affairs, Questar Pipeline Company, 180 East 100 South, P.O. Box 45360, Salt Lake City, Utah 84145-0360 at (801) 324-2459, or by fax at (801) 324-5834.

The proposed Wamsutter Expansion project will enable Overthrust to transport an additional 750,000 Dth/d of natural gas from the proposed new receipt points on Overthrust's interstate transmission system to an existing interconnect with Wyoming Interstate Company, Ltd. (WIC), and 625,000 Dth/d to the proposed delivery point with REX near Wamsutter, Wyoming. It is further explained that Overthrust has negotiated a long-term capacity lease with REX, initially for 625,000 Dth/d of incremental transportation capacity and a firm precedent agreement with WIC for 125,000 Dth/d that supports construction of the proposed project. Overthrust estimates the total cost for the Wamsutter Expansion to be $202.3 million and requests the Commission issue an order by March 31, 2007.

On March 29, 2006, the Commission staff granted Overthrust's request to utilize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Pre-Filing Process and assigned Docket No. PF06-19-000 to staff activities involving the Overthrust's expansion project. Now, as of the filing of Overthrust's application on July 19, 2006, the NEPA Pre-Filing Process for this project has ended. From this time forward, Overthrust's proceeding will be conducted in Docket No. CP06-423-000, as noted in the caption of this Notice. Additionally, the Commission will review the project as a part of the Environmental Impact Statement being prepared for the REX Project in Docket No. CP06-354-000.

There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of this project. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or before the below listed comment date, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, a motion to intervene 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 NGA (18 CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party 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 all other parties. A party must submit 14 copies of filings made with the Commission and must mail a copy to the applicant and to every other party in the proceeding. Only parties to the proceeding can ask for court review of Commission orders in the proceeding.

However, a person does not have to intervene in order to have comments considered. The second way to participate is by filing with the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as possible, an original and two copies of comments in support of or in opposition to this project. The Commission will consider these comments in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but the filing of a comment alone will not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. The Commission's rules require that persons filing comments in opposition to the project provide copies of their protests only to the party or parties directly involved in the protest.

Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of this project should submit an original and two copies of their comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commenters will be placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive copies of the environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings associated with the Commission's environmental review process. Environmental commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commenters will not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court review of the Commission's final order.

Motions to intervene, protests and comments may be filed electronically via the internet in lieu of paper; see, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site under the “e-Filing” link. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings.

Comment Date: August 17, 2006.

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. E6-12511 Filed 8-2-06; 8:45 am]

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