Optional Certificate and Abandonment Procedures for Applications for New Service Under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act

On September 15, 1999, the Commission issued a policy statement to provide the industry with guidance with respect to how the Commission will evaluate new proposals for pipeline construction projects to take account of changes in the natural gas industry in recent years (Policy Statement). In view of the new framework for analyzing pipeline certificate applications announced in the the Policy Statement, the Commission is removing the optional certificate regulations because it believes that a uniform regulatory scheme applicable to all certificate applications will best accomplish the Commission's goals, as set out in the Policy Statement, of assuring that all relevant interests and circumstances are considered and balanced in assessing the public convenience and necessity.