[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 134 (Thursday, July 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17046]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 14, 1994]


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FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. CP94-645-000]

 

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp.; Notice of Application

July 8, 1994.
    Take notice that on July 6, 1994, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line 
Corporation (Transco), P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251, filed in 
Docket No. CP94-645-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act for a certificate of public convenience and necessity 
authorizing it to construct and operate a Mississippi River Crossing, 
whereby two 30-inch pipelines will be replaces with one 36-inch 
pipeline. Transco requests a permanent certificate and construction 
clearance by August 1, 1994 and, if a permanent certificate is not 
issued by August 1, Transco requests that a temporary certificate and 
construction clearance be issued by that date, all as more fully set 
forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open 
to public inspection.
    Transco states that on May 20, 1994, it filed a 30-day notice 
pursuant to Section 2.55(b)(1)(iii) of the Commission's Regulations 
regarding a planned replacement activity exceeding the cost limits 
provided in Section 157.208(d) of the Regulations. In such notice, 
Transco states that it proposed to replace two shallow 30-inch 
Mississippi River crossing pipelines which have been rendered 
inoperable by river channel scour. It is stated that the two 30-inch 
pipeline's will be replaced with one 36-inch installed by horizontal 
drilling under the river.
    Transco states that it received a letter dated June 17, 1994, from 
the Director of the Office of Pipeline regulation (OPR) which stated:
    ``On May 12, 1994, the Commission clarified its section 2.55(b) 
regulations. In Docket No. CP91-2069-000, Arkla Energy Resources 
Company, the said `* * * that section 2.55(b) means that replacement 
facilities must be constructed within the existing right-of-way.'
    Based on Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation's (Transco) 
filing on May 20, 1994 and supplemented on June 2, 1994, 30-day notice 
of section 2.55(b) replacement of two 30-inch-diameter pipelines with 
one 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana 
Parishes, Louisiana is not in the existing right-of-way. Therefore, 
this project does not qualify for replacement treatment under section 
2.55(b). Transco needs to file a section 7(c) application for this 
project.
    Accordingly, Transco states that it filed the instant application.
    Transco proposes to install approximately 4,100 feet of 36-inch 
diameter pipeline by horizontal drilling under the Mississippi River, 
at the location of its established pipeline crossing corridor of the 
Mississippi River between Point Coupee and West Feliciana Parishes, 
Louisiana. It is states that approximately 900 feet of 36-inch tie-in 
pipeline on the banks of the river will be required to connect the 
drilled crossing to Transco's mainline system. It is stated that the 
proposed installation will replace two 30-inch pipeline that have been 
exposed and damaged by Mississippi River channel scour and are now 
inoperable. Transco states that the proposed replacement will restore 
the long-term integrity of Transco's transmission system at the 
Mississippi River crossing.\1\ Transco estimates that the cost of the 
replacement is approximately $7 million.
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    \1\Transco states that directionally drilled pipelines under 
rivers are significantly more secure than older pipelines which 
installed by way of trenching the river bed. It is stated that the 
36-inch pipeline crossing will be 90 feet below the deepest 
Mississippi River channel. Transco states that because of the strong 
currents in the Mississippi River, over time, the shallow, trenched 
crossings have become exposed and failed.
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    Transco states that the system capacity across the Mississippi 
River after construction of the 36-inch crossing will be 2,346.5 MMcf 
per day (MMcfd) compared to a capacity of 2,334 MMcfd in 1982 prior to 
the first failure of one of Transco's shallow pipeline crossings. 
Accordingly, Transco states that its three directionally drilled 
pipelines at the Mississippi River crossing (including the one 
installed pursuant to the instant application) will have a 
substantially equivalent designed delivery capacity as the five 
shallow, conventionally installed pipelines and will therefore result 
in only a nominal increase in capacity at the river crossing. It is 
stated that all shallow river crossings at this location have been or 
will be retired.
    Transco states that it needs both the Commission authorization and 
construction clearance by August 1, 1994 to commence construction of 
this project as soon as possible because, historically, the water level 
in the Mississippi River is at its annual low point at this time of the 
year. It is stated that this is important because the drilling 
equipment will be located on the west bank of the river, inside the 
flood control levee. During the months of August and September, Transco 
states that it is expected that the west bank will be dryer than at any 
time during the year and thus will provide the most secure conditions 
for the equipment. Transco states that there is only a 2-3 month 
``window'' period for this type of construction before the water level 
in the river typically rises to a level which would prevent the 
emplacement of the drilling equipment.
    Transco states that it is vitally important that it complete the 
installation of the new 36-inch pipeline in order to replace the 
capacity lost as a result of the two 30-inch lines being rendered 
inoperable by river channel scour. It is stated that this crossing must 
be completed in time to provide service during the upcoming winter 
heating season to ensure that the necessary volumes of gas will be able 
to flow from the production areas--across the Mississippi River--to 
Transco's markets.
    Transco states that issuance of a certificate by August 1 for the 
Mississippi River crossing is justified by two reasons: (1) the above-
mentioned need for security of gas service during the upcoming winter 
heating season, and (2) the de minimis impact on the environment of the 
crossing project (as described below). Furthermore, Transco states that 
the Commission staff is already familiar with this project because of 
Transco's previous filing of the 30-day notice pursuant to section 
2.55(b) of the regulations. Transco states that with respect to the 
environment, the following are the significant points:
    1. In 1992 Transco installed a 36-inch pipeline by directional 
drilling under the Mississippi River at the same general location. On 
the west side of the river, the property to be used for temporary work 
space is owned by Transco in fee. This temporary work place is 
essentially the same area that was used in 1992. Transco states that an 
additional 0.4 acre of forested wetlands area is to be cleared on the 
west side for the proposed installation.
    On the east side of the river, the area to be used for temporary 
work space is essentially the same area that was used in 1992. Transco 
states that an additional 1.0 acre of forested wetlands areas is to be 
cleared on the east dies for the proposed installation. The area is 
within the area which Transco has leased for ten years from the 
landowner. The ten-year period was to have expired on August 13, 1994, 
but Transco has recently negotiated an extention until August 13, 1995.
    In summary, Transco states that the temporary work areas are 
essentially the same areas which were previously used in 1992, and the 
additional areas to be cleared are minor in nature, i.e., a total of 
1.4 acres, with 0.4 acre being on Transco-owned land.
    2. All clearances have been received with respect to endangered/
threatened species and cultural resources.
    3. There are no residential dwellings near this project. The owner 
of the land on the east side of the river does not live on such land.
    4. Transco does not have the option of in situ replacement because 
it is replacing shallow trenched pipelines with a directionally drilled 
one deep beneath the river bed. Transco states that it is locating the 
planned 36-inch pipeline as close as prudently feasible to the 36-inch 
pipeline installed by directional drilling in 1992. The planned 
pipeline is within Transco's established Mississippi River crossing 
corridor.
    Transco points out that, additionally, the details of its proposed 
Mississippi River replacement crossing have been presented for public 
comment. It is stated that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) 
processing of Transco's application for a permit for this project 
involves the issuance of public notice which allows any members of the 
public to make comments by July 5, 1994.
    Therefore, Transco states that in view of (1) the fast-approaching 
``window'' period for installation of a directionally drilled pipeline 
at this Mississippi River location, (2) the essential need for the 
crossing to be completed in time to provide service during the upcoming 
winter heating season, (3) the de minimis environmental impact of 
Transco's project and (4) the opportunity for public participation 
already present in the COE processing of Transco's application for a 
permit, Transco requests that the Commission issue it a permanent 
certificate and construction clearance by August 1, 1994.
    Transco also requests that if a permanent certificate is not issued 
by August 1, 1994, a temporary certificate and construction clearance 
be issued by that date so that Transco will be able to complete the 
crossing in time to provide service during the upcoming winter heating 
season.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before July 18, 1994, 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 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 with 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 is 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 Transco to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-17046 Filed 7-13-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M