[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 126 (Friday, July 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16066]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 1, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP94-604-000, et al.]

 

Colorado Interstate Gas Company, et al.; Natural Gas Certificate 
Filings

June 24, 1994.
    Take notice that the following filings have been made with the 
Commission:

1. Colorado Interstate Gas Company

[Docket No. CP94-604-000]

    Take notice that on June 15, 1994, Colorado Gas Interstate Gas 
Company (CIG), Post Office Box 1087, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80944, 
filed in Docket No. CP94-604-000 a request pursuant to 
Sec. Sec. 157.205 and 157.211 of the Commission's Regulations under the 
Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205 and 157.211) for authorization to 
construct a new delivery facility pursuant to CIG's blanket certificate 
issued in Docket No. CP83-21-000 to implement an interruptible 
transportation service for Meridan Oil, Inc. (Meridan), pursuant to 
Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, all as more fully set forth in the 
request which is on file with the Commission and open to public 
inspection.
    CIG proposes a new delivery facility to be located in Las Animas 
County, Colorado. CIG states the facility will consist of a two-inch 
meter run and facilities appurtenant thereto for the delivery of fuel 
gas to Meridan for the start up of a compressor station. CIG indicates 
it will transport approximately 200 Mcf per day on an interruptible 
basis for Meridian under its Part 284 blanket certificate.
    CIG indicates its tariff does not prohibit the addition of new 
delivery points. Further, CIG states the proposed facility will not 
have an impact on its peak day or annual deliveries.
    Comment date: August 8, 1994, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
G at the end of this notice.

2. NorAm Gas Transmission Company

[Docket No. CP94-612-000]

    Take notice that on June 17, 1994, NorAm Gas Transmission Company 
(NGT), 1600 Smith Street, Houston, Texas 77002, filed in Docket No. 
CP94-612-000 an abbreviated application pursuant to Section 7(b) of the 
Natural Gas Act, as amended, and Sec. Sec.  157.7 and 157.18 of the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) regulations 
thereunder, for permission to abandon a firm transportation service for 
Arkansas Western Gas Company, (Arkansas Western), all as more fully set 
forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open 
to public inspection.
    NGT states that it proposes to abandon a transportation service 
originally authorized by Commission order issued October 23, 1956, in 
Docket No. G-10591. NGT indicates that under the arrangement with 
Arkansas Western, NGT would provide for transportation for Arkansas 
Western from a point on Texas Gas Transmission Corporation (Texas Gas) 
lines near Lynchburg, Mississippi, to a point near Turrell, Arkansas, 
and exchange of gas during temporary periods of emergency. By letter 
dated March 30, 1994, both parties have agreed to the termination of 
the agreement. NGT indicates that no facilities are to be abandoned.
    Comment date: July 15, 1994, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
F at the end of this notice.

3. Northwest Pipeline Corporation

[Docket Nos. CP93-613-001]

    Take notice that on June 14, 1994, Northwest Pipeline Corporation 
(Northwest), 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158, filed in 
Docket No. CP93-613-001, pursuant to Sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act, an amendment to its August 2, 1993 application in 
Docket No. CP93-613-000. This amendment revises facilities proposed to 
be constructed and operated to provide 102,000 Dth equivalent per day 
of new long-term, firm transportation service to Northwest Natural Gas 
Company (Northwest Natural) from Stanfield, Oregon to various delivery 
points on Northwest's Grants Pass Lateral, all as more fully set forth 
in the amendment which is on file with the Commission and open for 
public inspection.
    Northwest says the facilities originally proposed to provide this 
new service now have been redesigned to reflect:
    (1) elimination of 11.3 miles of 30-inch mainline loop and 
associated cross-over taps because of the availability of additional 
existing capacity for this project resulting from the upcoming 
termination of a firm transportation agreement with Columbia Power 
Associates, LP (Columbia Power).
    (2) addition of a new pipeline loop on the Grants Pass Lateral as a 
result of correcting an error in the existing pipeline specifications 
used in the original flow studies; and
    (3) various refinements to the scope of work originally proposed 
for the remaining segments of the project which were identified during 
the on-going detailed design process.
    Northwest now amends its application to request certificate 
authority to construct and operate the following facilities:
     5,700 horsepower of additional compression, with 
appurtenances, at one existing compressor station;
     13.2 miles of 20-inch pipeline loop, on new right-of-way 
(deviating from the existing Grants Pass Lateral), near Gresham, 
Oregon;
     1.3 miles of 20-inch pipeline loop on the Grants Pass 
Lateral near Salem, Oregon;
     one new meter station and one cross-over tap to an 
existing meter station on the new Gresham Loop; and
     upgrades of six existing meter stations on the Grants Pass 
Lateral.
    Northwest also requests abandonment approval for certain existing 
facilities proposed to be replaced by upgraded facilities at the 
aforementioned six meter stations on the Grants Pass Lateral.
    Northwest says the estimated cost of the Northwest Natural 
Expansion Project has been revised and reduced from the original $45.0 
million estimate to $42.7 million. Northwest further says that the 
revised estimate includes an $8.6 million cost increase for the Gresham 
Loop attributable to a reassessment of the extensive right-of-way, 
environmental and construction complications associated with installing 
this loop.
    Northwest estimates that it will cost approximately $152,000 to 
remove the metering facilities proposed to be abandoned. Northwest 
further estimates that the total cost of the facilities proposed to be 
abandoned is $59,204 with an estimated salvage value of $2,400.
    Northwest requests any waivers of the ``Right-of-First-Refusal; 
Posting of Pipeline Capacity'' procedures set forth in Section 25 of 
the General Terms and Conditions of its FERC Gas Tariff, Third Revised 
Volume No. 1, which may be necessary to allow the capacity made 
available by the expiration of the Columbia Power agreement to be 
reserved and used for the Northwest Natural Expansion Project.
    Northwest proposes to finance the construction cost of this 
expansion with short-term bank borrowings. Northwest proposes to 
convert the short-term bank borrowings to an appropriate mix of long-
term debt and equity which will provide an overall corporate capital 
structure of approximately 45% long-term debt and 55% equity.
    Northwest submits that, in recognition of the benefits of the 
proposed Northwest Natural Expansion Project to its existing system and 
to facilitate prompt resolution of the rate issues pertinent to this 
proceeding, it no longer requests either conditional approval of 
alternative initial rates or preapproval of specific future rate case 
treatment for this project.
    Northwest says the Northwest Natural Expansion Agreement is subject 
to Northwest's open-access Rate Schedule TF-1 and will be implemented 
under Northwest's blanket transportation certificate and Subpart G of 
Part 284. Northwest requests approval for initial rates under the 
Northwest Natural Expansion Agreement to be its maximum Rate Schedule 
TF-1 rates, including applicable surcharges and fuel reimbursement in-
kind percentages, which are in effect at the time service commences 
under the agreement.
    Northwest avers that any issues which may be raised concerning the 
potential rate impact of this project and the appropriate future rate 
design for service under the Northwest Natural Expansion Agreement 
should be deferred for consideration in the first rate proceeding where 
Northwest files to include its expansion project costs in rates. 
Northwest further states that in the first general rate proceeding in 
which Northwest seeks to include the costs of the Northwest Natural 
Expansion Project in rates, Northwest intends to revise its rolled-in 
system rate to reflect the additional costs and billing determinants 
resulting from this project.
    Comment date: July 15, 1994, in accordance with with the first 
paragraph of Standard Paragraph F at the end of this notice.

4. NorAm Gas Transmission Company

[Docket No. CP94-617-000]

    Take notice that on June 20, 1994, NorAm Gas Transmission Company 
(NGT), 1600 Smith St., Houston, Texas 77002, filed in Docket No. CP94-
617-000 a request pursuant to Secs. 157.205, 157.211, and 157.212 of 
the Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205, 
157.211, and 157.212) for authorization to construct and operate 
certain facilities in Louisiana under NGT's blanket certificate issued 
in Docket No. CP82-384-000, et al., pursuant to Section 7 of the 
Natural Gas Act, all as more fully set forth in the request that is on 
file with the Commission and open to public inspection.
    NGT proposes to construct and operate a new 2-inch commercial tap 
for deliveries to Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company's (ALG) new customer, 
Winford Company, Inc., in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. The volume of 
gas to be delivered through this tap is approximately 27,900 Mcf 
annually and 900 Mcf on a peak day. The construction cost is estimated 
at $2,000 and will be reimbursed by ALG.
    Comment date: August 8, 1994, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
G at the end of this notice.

5. Columbia Gulf Transmission Co.

[Docket No. CP94-620-000]

    Take notice that on June 21, 1994, Columbia Gulf Transmission 
Company (Columbia Gulf), 1700 MacCorkle Avenue, S. E., Charleston, West 
Virginia 25314-1599, filed in Docket No. CP94-620-000 a request 
pursuant to Sec.  157.205 of the Commission's Regulations to abandon by 
sale to Stingray Pipeline Company (Stingray) certain offshore 
facilities in West Cameron Block 146, offshore Louisiana (Block 146) 
under Columbia Gulf's blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP83-
496-000, pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act, all as more 
fully set forth in the request on file with the Commission and open to 
public inspection.
    Columbia Gulf proposes to abandon 950 feet (0.18 mile) of 6-inch 
pipeline extending from Block 146 ``A'' platform to a subsea valve on 
National Gas Pipeline Company of America's pipeline, which Stingray 
currently leases, in Block 146; a 6-inch riser; and a dual 4-inch meter 
station and appurtenant facilities on the Block 146 ``A'' platform. 
Columbia Gulf states that Stingray would acquire the facilities under 
its blanket certificate in Docket No. CP91-1505-000 at a purchase cost 
of $126,500. Columbia Gulf states that Elf Exploration, Inc. and 
Phillips Petroleum Company, the sole producers/shippers on these 
facilities have consented to the abandonment by sale to Stingray.
    Comment date: August 8, 1994, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
G at the end of this notice.

6. Northwest Pipeline Corporation

[Docket No. CP93-673-001]

    Take notice that on June 15, 1994, Northwest Pipeline Corporation 
(Northwest), 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158, filed in 
Docket No. CP93-673-001, pursuant to Sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act, an amendment to its August 18, 1993 application in 
Docket No. CP93-673-000. This amendment reflects the downsizing of 
Northwest's originally proposed $228.6 million, 258,488 Dth per day 
equivalent system Expansion II Project to a $67.7 million, 62,175 Dth 
per day equivalent project, all as more fully set forth in the 
amendment which is on file with the Commission and open for public 
inspection.
    Northwest amends its application to request certificate authority 
to construct and operate, as its primary design case, the following 
facilities in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to implement 
its downsized project for an additional 62,175 Dth per day of new firm 
mainline expansion:
     19.2 miles of 24-inch loop pipeline in three segments on 
Northwest's mainline in Idaho and Wyoming;
     12.9 miles of new 20-inch loop pipeline in three segments;
     13.2 miles of new 30-inch pipeline loop in place of the 
20-inch loop (Gresham Loop) previously proposed in the Northwest 
Natural Expansion Project, Docket No. CP93-613-000;
     two new customer-specific delivery laterals: 8.1 miles of 
12-inch and 16-inch pipeline for the Weyerhaeuser Lateral and 0.2 mile 
of 12-inch pipeline for the Springfield Lateral;
     a total of 9,120 standard sea-level horsepower of 
additional compression at three existing compressor stations;
     modifications or upgrades of appurtenant facilities at 11 
existing compressor stations;
     three new meter stations; and
     crossover taps to new loop lines for three existing meter 
stations.
    Northwest also requests abandonment approval for certain existing 
facilities proposed to be replaced by upgraded facilities at six 
existing compressor stations and one meter station.
    Northwest says the certificate authority requested in this 
Northwest Expansion II Project assumes Northwest has received 
Commission approval to construct and operate the prerequisite 
facilities proposed in the Northwest Natural Expansion Project, in 
Docket No. CP93-613. If Northwest does not receive approval to 
construct the Northwest Natural Expansion Project in conjunction with 
or before the expansion project herein, Northwest alternatively 
requests that the proposed certificate authorization reflect the 
following changes from the primary design case facilities:
     eliminate 5,700 standard sea-level horsepower of 
additional compression proposed at one existing compressor station;
     add a crossover tap from an existing meter station to the 
Gresham Loop;
     install 13.2 mile 24-inch pipeline segment, instead of 
upgrading a loop (Gresham Loop) from 20-inch to 30-inch; and
     an additional 1.3 miles of 20-inch pipeline loop on the 
Grants Pass Lateral.
    Northwest estimates the revised total cost for this primary design 
Northwest System Expansion II Project to be $67.7 million. Northwest 
further estimates that it will cost approximately $105,300 to remove 
the facilities proposed to be abandoned. Northwest estimates that the 
total original cost of the facilities proposed to be abandoned is 
$604,641 with an estimated salvage value of $6,000. Northwest says 
about $10.9 million of costs for the Weyerhaeuser and Springfield 
Utility Board Laterals will be paid for incrementally by specific 
shippers.
    Northwest says it has requested, as part of its proposal in the 
Northwest Expansion II Project in Docket No. CP93-673, to upgrade the 
20-inch Gresham loop, requested in the Northwest Natural Expansion 
Project (Docket No. CP93-613), to a 30-inch pipeline loop. Northwest 
further says, if the Commission approves the upgrade from 20-inch to 
30-inch and approves the construction of all facilities in both 
projects concurrently, it will allocate to the Northwest Natural 
Expansion Project those costs attributable to constructing a 20-inch 
loop, and the Northwest Expansion II Project will be allocated costs 
attributable to increasing the pipe diameter from 20-inch to 30-inch.
    Northwest indicates that the net estimated cost of the alternative 
facility case (no prerequisite Northwest Natural Expansion Project and 
excluding the Weyerhaeuser and Springfield Utility Board Laterals) is 
$70.2 million.
    Northwest proposes to finance the construction cost of this 
expansion with short-term bank borrowings. Northwest further proposes 
to convert the short-term bank borrowings to an appropriate mix of 
long-term debt and equity which will provide an overall corporate 
capital structure of approximately 45% long-term debt and 55% equity.
    Northwest says it originally requested authorization in Docket No. 
CP93-673-000 to construct facilities necessary to expand its mainline 
and various laterals to accommodate 258,488 Dth per day of new firm 
service under 31 long-term agreements with 26 shippers. Northwest 
further says, as a result of a one-time contract termination/reduction 
option provided to the expansion shippers, coupled with an open season 
to solicit replacement shippers, 19 contracts for a total of 134,063 
Dth per day were terminated, 8 contracts were amended to reduce 
contract demands by a total of 62,500 Dth per day, 4 contracts did not 
change, and one new contract was executed for 250 Dth per day.
    Northwest says it now has 13 long-term firm contracts (primary term 
of 15 years from the in-service date and year to year thereafter) under 
Northwest's TF-1 Rate Schedule with 12 expansion shippers for a total 
of 62,175 Dth per day in mainline contract demand.
    Northwest submits that, in recognition of the benefits of this 
proposed Northwest Expansion II Project to its existing system and to 
facilitate prompt resolution of the rate issues pertinent to this 
proceeding, it no longer requests pre-approval of specific future rate 
case treatment for this project.
    Northwest says its Expansion II Agreements with the shippers are 
subject to Northwest's open-access Rate Schedule TF-1 and will be 
implemented under Northwest's blanket transportation certificate and 
Subpart G of Part 284. Northwest requests approval for initial rates 
for mainline service under the expansion agreements to be its maximum 
Rate Schedule TF-1 rates, including applicable surcharges and fuel 
reimbursement in-kind percentages, which are in effect at the time 
service commences under the agreements.
    Northwest avers that any issues which may be raised concerning the 
potential rate impact of this project and the appropriate future rate 
design for service under the Expansion II Agreements should be deferred 
for consideration in the first rate proceeding where Northwest files to 
include its expansion project costs in rates. Northwest says it intends 
to revise its rolled-in system rate to reflect the additional costs and 
billing determinants resulting from this project in the first general 
rate proceeding in which Northwest seeks to include the costs of this 
expansion in rate base.
    In addition to using existing Rate Schedule TF-1 rolled-in rates as 
its initial rates for the Expansion II mainline services, Northwest 
requests approval to incrementally recover the costs of the two 
proposed, customer-specific delivery laterals by assessing Facilities 
Cost-of-Service charges to the applicable shippers in accordance with 
the Facilities Reimbursement provisions of its tariff. Northwest 
proposes to initially charge Weyerhaeuser Company and Longview 
Cogeneration Company, affiliate and assignee of Mission Energy, 
$115,936 per month each for service on the proposed Weyerhaeuser 
Lateral and to initially charge Springfield Utility Board $5,140 per 
month for service on the Springfield Utility Board Lateral.
    Comment date: July 15, 1994, in accordance with the first paragraph 
of Standard Paragraph F at the end of this notice.

Standard Paragraphs

    F. Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before the comment date, 
file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 
20426, a motion to intervene or a protest in accordance with the 
requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 
CFR 385.214 or 385.211) and the Regulations under the Natural Gas Act 
(18 CFR 157.10). All protests filed with the Commission will be 
considered by it in determining the appropriate action to be taken but 
will not serve to make the protestants parties to the proceeding. Any 
person wishing to become a party to a proceeding or to participate as a 
party in any hearing therein must file a motion to intervene in 
accordance with the Commission's Rules.
    Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
and subject to the jurisdiction conferred upon the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission by Sections 7 and 15 of the Natural Gas Act and 
the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, a hearing will be 
held without further notice before the Commission or its designee on 
this application if no motion to intervene is filed within the time 
required herein, if the Commission on its own review of the matter 
finds that a grant of the certificate and/or permission and approval 
for the proposed abandonment are required by the public convenience and 
necessity. If a motion for leave to intervene is timely filed, or if 
the Commission on its own motion believes that a formal hearing is 
required, further notice of such hearing will be duly given.
    Under the procedure herein provided for, unless otherwise advised, 
it will be unnecessary for applicant to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
    G. Any person or the Commission's staff may, within 45 days after 
issuance of the instant notice by the Commission, file pursuant to Rule 
214 of the Commission's Procedural Rules (18 CFR 385.214) a motion to 
intervene or notice of intervention and pursuant to Section 157.205 of 
the Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205) a protest to 
the request. If no protest is filed within the time allowed therefor, 
the proposed activity shall be deemed to be authorized effective the 
day after the time allowed for filing a protest. If a protest is filed 
and not withdrawn within 30 days after the time allowed for filing a 
protest, the instant request shall be treated as an application for 
authorization pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-16066 Filed 6-30-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P