37-5-102. Purposes; budget. (Note: this law is repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 34, § 4. effective 7/1/2020.)

(a) The purpose for which the authority is created is to plan, finance, construct, develop, acquire, maintain and operate a pipeline system or systems within or without the state of Wyoming to facilitate the production, transportation, distribution and delivery of natural gas and associated natural resources produced in this state, including natural gas and associated natural resources received as royalties "in kind" pursuant to mineral leases by the state, its agencies and political subdivisions, which authorize the lessor to receive royalties, or received as royalties from the federal government. In order to provide for the financing, construction, development, maintenance and operation of the pipeline system, the authority may lease or rent facilities constructed pursuant to the authority conferred herein, and all facilities, structures and properties incidental and necessary thereto, to facilitate the production, transportation, distribution and delivery of natural gas and associated natural resources to point of consumption or to the point of distribution for consumption.

(b) The system may be inclusive of pipelines, pumps, storage and all other facilities, structures and properties incidental and necessary or useful in the production, transportation, distribution and delivery of natural gas and associated natural resources to points of sale, consumption or to the point or points of distribution for consumption.

(c) The authority shall establish and collect fees, schedule of fees, rentals and other charges for the use of the facilities of the authority, including capacity procured by the authority pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, as the board may determine, and may borrow funds for the execution of the purposes of the authority, and mortgage and pledge any lease or leases granted, assigned or subleased by the authority.

(d) Except as provided in this section, the authority shall not exercise any of the rights or powers granted to it in this section, if private persons, firms, or corporations are performing the acts, constructing or have constructed the facilities, or are providing the services contemplated by the authority. Prior to exercising any rights or powers granted to it in this section, the authority shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation in Cheyenne, and in a newspaper in the area where the facilities or services are contemplated, in the manner prescribed by law, a notice describing the acts, facilities, or services contemplated by the authority, and private persons, firms or corporations wishing to perform the acts, construct the facilities or provide the services described in the notice shall have a period of ninety (90) days from the date of last publication of the notice within which to notify the authority of intention to perform the acts, construct the facilities, or provide the services described in the notice, including an anticipated timeline for completion of the acts, construction or services. In the absence of notification by a private person, firm or corporation, or if a person, firm or corporation, having given notice of intention to perform the acts, construct the facilities, or provide the services contemplated by the authority, fails to commence same within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of notification of the authority of its intention, the authority may proceed to perform the acts, construct the facilities, or provide the services originally contemplated. A private person, firm or corporation that has made necessary applications to acquire any federal, state, local or private permits, certificates or other authorizations or approvals necessary to perform the acts, construct the facilities or provide the services pursuant to this subsection within the time required is deemed to have commenced the same. At any time a private person, firm or corporation has given notice of its intent to perform or is performing the acts, constructing the facilities or providing the services contemplated by the authority, the authority may conduct hearings or meetings with such person, firm or corporation to obtain information to assess the progress toward completion of the intended acts to be performed, the facilities to be constructed or the services to be provided. If it appears to the authority that progress or completion of any or all of the intended acts may be delayed for one (1) year or more, the authority may proceed to perform the acts, construct the facilities, or provide the services originally contemplated.

(e) The authority may acquire, purchase, hold, use, lease, license, sell, transfer and dispose of an undivided or other interest in or the right to capacity in any pipeline system or systems within or without the state of Wyoming in order to facilitate the production, transportation, distribution or delivery of natural gas and associated natural resources produced in this state. The provisions of subsection (d) of this section shall not apply to the authority in exercising any power pursuant to this subsection.

(f) Before any appropriation is made to the authority, the authority shall submit its budget for review as provided by W.S. 9-2-1010 through 9-2-1014. Any appropriation to the authority shall be used only for financial support for purely administrative purposes, which shall include planning and research.