Columbia Gas Transmission has requested FERC authorization to sell pipeline and compression facilities in northern Pennsylvania to Somerset Gas Gathering of Pennsylvania LLC for an estimated $100,000. It also asked that the facilities be declared gathering that is exempt from FERC jurisdiction.

The facilities up for sale include 67.5 miles of pipelines, ranging in diameter from four to 12 inches, the Emporium Compressor Station and associated facilities. The pipe facilities, which were built in the mid-1950s, are located in McKean, Cameron and Clinton counties in northern Pennsylvania [CP06-466].

Somerset Gas Gathering is an affiliate of Columbus, OH-based Somerset Gas Transmission Co. LLC, which owns and operates gathering facilities in Pennsylvania and a 135-mile intrastate gas pipeline in Ohio.

Of the facilities to be sold, Columbia said that nearly 60 miles of pipeline and the Emporium Compressor Station have been idled since 1999. The remainder of the pipeline has been in active service to maintain deliveries to National Fuel Distribution Co.

“Columbia and Somerset have agreed to enter into a transportation service agreement that will allow Columbia to continue providing service to the one customer currently being served through the facilities. Therefore, Columbia does not anticipate any material change to, or interruption in, the services currently being provided through the facilities,” the NiSource pipeline told FERC.

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