may require changes in the plans and specifications to assure the safety and adequacy of the project.

(E) The Licensee shall ensure that any lubricants that may be spilled during testing and installation of the post-tensioned anchors do not enter the stream or project reservoir.

(F) Within six months after completion of the installation of the post-tensioned anchors, the Licensee shall file "as-built" Exhibit L drawings for approval.

(G) This order shall become final 30 days from the date of its issuance unless an application for rehearing is filed as provided in Section 313(a) of the Act. Failure of the Licensee to file such an application shall constitute acceptance of this order. The acknowledgment of acceptance of this order shall be signed for the Licensee and returned to the Commission within 60 days from the date of issuance of this order.

> The order provides that the maximum normal reservoir elevation must not exceed 657 feet m.s.l. during the flood season (March through May) and that flood waters in excess of 50,000 cfs must be released in accordance with a predetermined schedule until the reservoir level reaches elevation 665 feet m.s.l. The requirements provide for a reservoir capacity of 165,000 acre-feet for storing flood waters during the flood months and 275,000 acre-feet of surcharge storage at all times.

The PMF has been defined as the flood that may be expected from the most severe combinations of critical meteorological and hydrological conditions reasonably possible in the region.

'This order requires the Licensee to take all necessary precautions to prevent any lubricants from entering the river or project reservoir.

On November 13, 1978, Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company (Arkla)' filed in Docket No. CP79-74 an application pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act for permission for and approval of the abandonment of approximately ten miles of 14-inch pipeline in Wheeler County, Texas, all as more fully set forth in the application.

The pipeline proposed to be abandoned was constructed in 1928 and functioned as a transmission line with gas supply coming from the Texas Panhandle Field until 1963. When the Texas Panhandle Field was depleted, Arkla acquired new supplies of gas in central Oklahoma. In 1964 Arkla sold its Texas Main Line Compressor Station as well as part of its pipeline. Although there was no practical or economical use for the remaining segment of line at that time, it was retained by Arkla for any possible future gas supply development in the area.

Testing and upgrading the subject pipeline to operate as a transmission pipeline, in the event new supply is developed, is no longer considered economically feasible. The pipeline would have to be repaired and it would have to be reditched and lowered to meet current safety requirements. Currently, the pipeline is blocked off due to leaks and

there is no gas remaining in the line. There are no customers currently being served by the pipeline.

The facilities proposed to be abandoned are used for the transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, and the abandonment thereof is subject to the requirements of Subsection (b) of Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.

After due notice by publication in the Federal Register on December 11, 1978 (43 F.R. 57944), no notice of intervention, protest to the granting of the application, or petition to intervene has been filed.

At a hearing held on March 21,1979, the Commission on its own motion received and made a part of the record in this proceeding all evidence, including the application and exhibits thereto, submitted in support of the authorization sought herein, and upon consideration of the record, The Commission finds:

The abandonment proposed by Arkla is permitted by the public convenience and necessity and should be approved as hereinafter ordered. The Commission orders:

(A) Upon the terms and conditions of this order, permission for and approval of the abandonment by Arkla of the facilities hereinbefore de

scribed, all as more fully described in the application in this proceeding, are granted.

(B) Arkla shall advise the Commission of the date of abandonment within 10 days thereof.

-Footnote

'Arkla, a Delaware corporation having its principal place of business in Shreveport, Louisiana, is a “natural-gas company" within the meaning of the Natural Gas Act as heretofore found by order issued January 26, 1943, in Docket No. G-252 (3 FPC 910).

On December 4, 1978, Cities Service Gas Company (Cities)' filed in Docket No. CP79-99, an application pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act for a certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing construction of facilities to provide natural gas service to sixteen rural customers, all as more fully set forth in the application.

The proposed facilities will enable Cities to render natural gas service to authorized local natural gas distribution companies for resale to fifteen rural domestic customers, and directly to one irrigation customer.2

Cities proposes to tap certain of its existing transmission, gathering and storage pipelines and to construct measuring and regulating equipment and appurtenant facilities.

Estimated costs by Cities for all taps is $11,000. Costs include measuring and regulating equipment and appurtenant facilities. Proposed facilities will be paid for from cash on hand.

All of the proposed customers have requested natural gas service pursuant to right-of-way easements and agreements entered into with Cities. The customers to be served are located in the states of Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The prospective customers have relied upon the provisions of the proposed natural gas service as major portion of the consideration given to these individuals by Cities in exchange for the voluntary grant of the easements.

The annual sales for each rural domestic service proposed herein will average approximately 250 Mcf. Therefore, the total annual sales for fifteen such services are estimated to be approximately 3,750 Mcf. The proposed sale for the one irrigation customer is expected to average between 3,000 and 5,000 Mcf annually. At the present time, it is anticipated that the sale to the irrigation customer will be made by Cities on a direct sale basis. The sales to the other customers will be made to Union Gas System, Inc. and The Gas Service Company for resale to these customers.

The service proposed by Cities will be in interstate commerce subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission and such service and the construction and operation of facilities therefor are subject to the requirements of Subsection (c) and (e) of Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.

After due notice by publication in the Federal Register on December 26, 1978 (43 F.R. 60193), no petitions to intervene, notices of intervention, or protests to the granting of the application have been filed.

At a hearing held on March 21, 1979, the Commission on its own motion received and made a part of the record in this proceeding all evidence, including the application and exhibits thereto, submitted in support of the authorization sought herein, and upon consideration of the record, The Commission finds:

(1) Cities is able and willing properly to do the acts and to perform the service proposed and to conform to the provisions of the Natural Gas Act and the requirements, rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,

(2) The construction and operation of the facilities and the delivery and sale of natural gas for resale by Cities are required by the public convenience and necessity, and a certificate therefor should be issued as hereinafter ordered and conditioned. The Commission orders:

(A) A certificate of public convenience and necessity is issued authorizing Cities to construct and operate the proposed facilities and to sell natural gas to Union Gas System, Inc. and The Gas Service Company for resale to fifteen of Cities' right-of-way grantors and to deliver natural gas directly to one other right-of-way grantor in the states of Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, all as hereinbefore described and as more fully described in the application in this proceeding and in the

Appendix hereto, upon the terms and conditions of this order.

(B) The certificate issued by paragraph (A) above and the rights granted thereunder are conditioned upon Cities' compliance with all applicable Commission Regulations under the Natural Gas Act and particularly the general terms and conditions set forth in paragraphs (a), (c)(3), (c)(4), (e) and (f) of Section 157.20 and Part 154 of such Regulations.

(C) The facilities authorized herein shall be constructed and placed in actual operation and the

service authorized in paragraph (A) above shall commence as provided by paragraph (b) of Section 157.20 of the Regulations under the Natural Gas Act, within one year from the date of this order. -Footnotes

Cities, a Delaware corporation having its principal place of business in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a "natural-gas company" within the meaning of the Natural Gas Act as heretofore found by order issued December 28, 1943, in Docket No. G-298 (4 FPC 471).

? Cities states that it will serve the customers directly if no local authorized natural gas distributor company is willing or able to make such service.

On December 15, 1978, Columbia Gulf Transmission Company (Columbia Gulf)' and Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (Natural)' filed in Docket No. CP79-121 an application pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act for permission

for and approval of the abandonment of a side tap and 367 feet of 8-inch pipeline located offshore Louisiana, all as more fully set forth in the application.

The side tap and pipeline proposed to be

abandoned extend from platform 309C to Columbia Gulf's 20-inch pipeline in Block 309 in the Eugene Island Area, offshore Louisiana. The transportation of natural gas on an interim basis has ceased' and if the facilities were to be reconnected they would be used only on an emergency basis. The side tap and pipeline proposed to be abandoned were disconnected in order to repair damages to Columbia Gulf's 20-inch pipeline in the immediate area. The facilities are no longer necessary to the efficient operation of Applicants' pipeline system and the benefit of reconnecting would not justify the costs involved.

The facilities proposed to be abandoned are used for the transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, and the abandonment thereof is subject to the requirements of Subsection (b) of Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.

After due notice by publication in the Federal Register on January 17, 1979 (44 F.R. 3562), no notice of intervention, protest to the granting of the application, or petition to intervene has been filed.

At a hearing held on March 21, 1979, the Commission on its own motion received and made a part of the record in this proceeding all evidence, including the application and exhibits thereto, sub

mitted in support of the authorization sought herein, and upon consideration of the record, The Commission finds:

The abandonment proposed by Columbia Gulf and Natural is permitted by the public convenience and necessity and should be approved as hereinafter ordered.

The Commission orders:

(A) Upon the terms and conditions of this order, permission for and approval of the abandonment by Columbia Gulf and Natural of the facilities hereinbefore described, all as more fully described in the application in this proceeding, are granted. (B) Applicants shall advise the Commission of the date of abandonment within 10 days thereof.

-Footnotes

'Columbia Gulf, a Delaware corporation, having its principal place of business in Houston, Texas, is a "naturalgas company" within the meaning of the Natural Gas Act as heretofore found by order issued November 5, 1958, in Docket No. G-15524 (20 FPC 681).

' Natural, a Delaware corporation, having its principal place of business in Chicago, Illinois, is a "natural-gas company" within the meaning of the Natural Gas Act as heretofore found by order issued October 13, 1942, in Docket No. G-235 (3 FPC 830).

› Delivery and transportation of natural gas is presently being accomplished through other facilities.

Sheldon.

On April 13, 1978, Equitable Gas Company (Equitable) filed in Docket No. CP73-321 a petition to amend the order of October 30, 1973,' 50 FPC 1336, issued in the instant docket pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act so as to authorize the construction and operation of 38.27 miles of 20inch and 17.05 miles of 16-inch transmission lines in Lewis, Harrison, Marion, and Monongalia Counties, West Virginia, all as more fully set forth in the petition to amend.

The October 30, 1973 order authorized Equitable to construct 47.6 miles of 20-inch transmission lines in the aforementioned counties of West Virginia, over a 4-year period at an estimated cost of $6,900,000 and to abandon in place 48.8 miles of existing transmission line upon completion of construction in 1976.

Construction actually commenced in 1974 instead of 1973, as originally scheduled. Equitable

installed 55.32 miles of 20-inch and 16-inch transmission line at a cost of $10,944,007, a cost overrun of $4,044,007. Equitable states that the two pipe sizes were installed when the increased volumes which Equitable's original design anticipated in this section of its transmission system failed to materialize, and construction studies revealed that sections of the pipeline could be reduced to 16-inch diameter and still maintain the required delivery capacity, with a savings in labor and materials. Prior to actual construction, Equitable failed to secure authorization for facilities other than those initially authorized.

Equitable gives the following reasons for the installation of the additional 7.72 miles of pipeline:

1. The final field survey revealed additional pipeline would be required to complete the project.

2. Field inspections also revealed that existing rights-of-way, especially on some ridges, would not

accommodate additional construction. This was due to either other existing lines in a limited area or a potential land slippage problem from additional construction. This occurred in several areas and rights-of-way had to be relocated around the areas and resulted in the necessity for additional lengths of pipeline.

3. Rights-of-way in several areas had to be relocated because current landowners had completed or were planning surface development that precluded additional construction by Equitable.

4. New coal mining and coal stripping, some in progress at the proposed right-of-way or approaching it, required additional footage to circumvent the

areas.

5. Small mine communities were built up around the areas of proposed construction and required relocation.

6. Proximity of coal mine facilities such as tipples, storage areas, and tracks required relocation of the pipeline.

7. A power company developed an ash haul disposal area that obstructed construction and access to existing right-of-way.

8. The construction of interstate highway I-79 required relocations of the pipeline.

Equitable states in its petition that past experience had shown that field surveys more than a year old often resulted in changes and required another survey due to changes in surface use of the land and that decision was therefore made to survey and secure permits only for that section scheduled for actual construction within a particular year. This was not, in fact, how Equitable proceeded in securing authorization for the Commission. Rather,

Equitable made representations to the Commission in support of a four-year project with the apparent knowledge that there might have to be deviations from the facilities initially proposed and did, in fact, construct facilities other than those authorized. This was a violation of the Natural Gas Act. Equitable should take measures to assure that in the future facilities are not constructed without appropriate prior authorization.

After due notice by publication in the Federal Register on May 12, 1978 (43 F.R. 20546), no petition to intervene, notice of intervention, or protest to the granting of the petition to amend has been filed.

The Commission finds:

It is necessary and appropriate in carrying out the provisions of the Natural Gas Act and the public convenience and necessity require that the order in Docket No. CP73-321 issued October 30, 1973, be amended as hereinafter ordered and conditioned.

The Commission orders:

The order issued October 30, 1973, is amended to authorize the construction and operation of 38.27 miles of 20-inch and 17.05 miles of 16-inch transmission pipeline in Lewis, Harrison, Marion and Monongalia Counties, West Virginia, at a total cost of $10,944,007. In all other respects said order, as amended, shall remain in full force and effect.

-Footnote

'This proceeding was commenced before the FPC. By joint regulation of October 1, 1977 (10 CFR 1000.1), it was transferred to the Commission.

On November 7, 1978 Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (Natural) and Transwestern Pipeline Company (Transwestern) filed in Docket No. CP75-71 a petition to amend further the order of June 20, 1977, 58 FPC 2721, issuing a certificate of public convenience and necessity in said docket pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act so as to authorize the exchange of gas at an additional point, all as more fully set forth in the petition to amend.

Pursuant to the order dated June 20, 1977, as amended in said docket, Natural and Transwestern are authorized to exchange natural gas under an exchange agreement dated August 12, 1974, as amended.

Natural has preferential rights under existing gas purchase contracts to purchase additional reserves now available from a well in Ward County, Texas. Transwestern also has an interest in gas from the well and has connected said well to its existing