[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 18, Volume 1] [Revised as of April 1, 2004] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 18CFR157.203] [Page 529-530] TITLE 18--CONSERVATION OF POWER AND WATER RESOURCES CHAPTER I--FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PART 157_APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY Subpart F_Interstate Pipeline Blanket Certificates and Authorization Under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act for Certain Transactions and Abandonment Sec. 157.203 Blanket certification. (a) Effect. A blanket certificate issued pursuant to this subpart authorizes the certificate holder, in accordance with the provisions of this subpart, to engage in any of the activities specified in Sec. 157.208 through Sec. 157.218 (as may be amended from time to time). (b) Automatic authorization. A blanket certificate issued pursuant to this subpart authorizes the certificate holder to engage in transactions described in Sec. 157.208(a), Sec. 157.209(a), Sec. 157.211(a)(1), Sec. 157.215, Sec. 157.216(a), or Sec. 157.218 without further Commission approval. (c) Prior notice required. A blanket certificate issued pursuant to this subpart authorizes the certificate holder to engage in activities described in Sec. 157.208(b), Sec. 157.211(a)(2), Sec. 157.214, or Sec. 157.216(b), if the requirements of Sec. 157.205 have been fulfilled. (d) Landowner notification. (1) Except as identified in paragraph (d)(3) of this section, no activity described in paragraph (b) of this section is authorized unless the company makes a good faith effort to notify all affected landowners, as defined in Sec. 157.6(d)(2), at least 30 days prior to commencing construction or at the time it initiates easement negotiations, whichever is earlier. A landowner may waive the 30-day prior notice requirement in writing as long as the notice has been provided. For activity required to restore service in an emergency, the 30-day prior notice period is satisfied in the event a company obtains all necessary easements. The notification shall include at least: (i) A brief description of the facilities to be constructed or replaced and the effect the construction activity will have on the landowner's property; (ii) The name and phone number of a company representative who is knowledgeable about the project; and (iii) An explanation of the Commission's Enforcement Hotline procedures, as codified in Sec. 1b.21 of this chapter, and the Enforcement Hotline telephone number. (2) For activities described in paragraph (c) of this section, the company shall make a good faith effort to notify all affected landowners, as defined in Sec. 157.6(d)(2), within at least three business days following the date that a docket number is assigned to the application or at the time it initiates easement negotiations, whichever is earlier. The notice should include at least: (i) A brief description of the facilities to be constructed or replaced and the effect the construction activity will have on the landowner's property; (ii) The name and phone number of a company representative that is knowledgeable about the project; [[Page 530]] (iii) The docket number (if assigned) for the company's application; and (iv) The following paragraph: This project is being proposed under the prior notice requirements of the blanket certificate program administered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Under the Commission's regulations, you have the right to protest this project within 45 days of the date the Commission issues a notice of the pipeline's filing. If you file a protest, you should include the docket number listed in this letter and provide the specific reasons for your protest. The protest should be mailed to the Secretary of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. A copy of the protest should be mailed to the pipeline at [pipeline address]. If you have any questions concerning these procedures you can call the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (202) 208-1088. (3) Exceptions. (i) No landowner notice is required for replacements which would have been done under Sec. 2.55 of this chapter but for the fact that the replacement facilities are not of the same capacity and as long as they meet the location requirements of Sec. 2.55(b)(1)(ii) of this chapter; or any replacement done for safety, DOT compliance, environmental, or unplanned maintenance reasons that are not foreseen and that require immediate attention by the certificate holder. (ii) No landowner notice is required for abandonments which involve only the sale or transfer of the facilities, and the easement will continue to be used for transportation of natural gas. (iii) No landowner notice is required if there is only one landowner and that landowner has requested the service or facilities. (iv) No landowner notice is required for activities that do not involve ground disturbance or changes to operational air and noise emissions. (4) If paragraphs (d)(1) or (d)(2) of this section require an applicant to reveal Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (CEII), as defined by Sec. 388.113(c) of this chapter, to any person, the applicant shall follow the procedures set out in Sec. 157.10(d). [Order 234, 47 FR 24266, June 4, 1982, as amended by Order 319, 48 FR 34888, Aug. 1, 1983; Order 436, 50 FR 42490, Oct. 18, 1985; Order 603, 64 FR 26607, May 14, 1999; Order 609, 64 FR 57391, Oct. 25, 1999; Order 609-A, 65 FR 15238, Mar. 22, 2000; Order 633, 68 FR 31605, May 28, 2003; Order 643, 68 FR 52096, Sept. 2, 2003]