[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 48 (Monday, March 13, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13428-13430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6079]



[[Page 13428]]

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. CP95-52-000, et al.]


Granite State Gas Transmission, Inc., et al.; Natural Gas 
Certificate Filings

March 6, 1995.
    Take notice that the following filings have been made with the 
Commission:

1. Granite State Gas Transmission, Inc.

[Docket No. CP95-52-000]

    Take notice that on November 3, 1994, Granite State Gas 
Transmission, Inc. (Granite State), 300 Friberg Parkway, Westborough, 
Massachusetts 01581, filed in Docket No. CP95-52-000, an application 
pursuant to Sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 
of the Commission's Regulations for a certificate of public convenience 
and necessity and an order authorizing the abandonment of facilities 
and services, all as more fully set forth in the application and a 
subsequent supplemental filing which are on file with the Commission 
and open to public inspection.
    Granite State seeks authorization to:
    (1) Construct and operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank in the 
Town of Wells (York County) Maine, with a capacity to store the 
equivalent of 2 Bcf of natural gas, together with vaporization 
equipment, metering equipment and delivery lines to deliver vaporized 
LNG into Granite State's adjacent 8-inch main pipeline;
    (2) Provide an LNG storage and vaporization service for its 
distributor customer, Northern Utilities, Inc. (Northern Utilities) 
under a proposed Rate Schedule LNG-1 in its FERC Gas Tariff, Third 
Revised Volume No. 1;
    (3) Abandon, upon expiration of the lease on March 31, 1997, the 
operation of an 18-inch pipeline which Granite State leases from 
Portland Pipe Line Corporation (Portland Pipe Line) and converted to 
natural gas service in 1987 under a certificate issued in Docket No. 
CP87-39-0001;

    \1\40 FERC  61,165.
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    (4) Abandon transportation services provided for Bay State Gas 
Company (Bay State) and Northern Utilities over the leased pipeline;
    (5) Abandon such facilities as Granite State constructed to 
interconnect the leased pipeline with its pipeline in the vicinity of 
Portland, Maine;
    (6) Abandon Granite State's firm transportation services for Bay 
State under Rate Schedules FT-NN and FT-1 upon termination of the 
lease;
    (7) Institute a new Rate Schedule FTX for transportation and 
exchange services rendered to Bay State upon termination of the lease; 
and
    (8) Increase the firm transportation service for Northern Utilities 
under Rate Schedule FT-NN from 28,768 Dth a day to 78,770 Dth a day 
coincident with the inauguration of the proposed Rate Schedule LNG-1 
service.
    According to Granite State, since November 1987, it has received 
supplies of Canadian gas at the U.S.-Canadian border into a former 
crude oil pipeline which Granite State leased from its owner, Portland 
Pipe Line, and converted to natural gas service, pursuant to the 
certificate issued August 4, 1987 in Docket No. CP87-39-000. The leased 
18-inch pipeline extends 166 miles from the border near North Troy, 
Vermont, to a connection with Granite State's pipeline in the vicinity 
of Portland, Maine. Granite State says that it receives up to 31,036 
MMBtu a day at the border into the leased pipeline, which is 
immediately resold to Bay State and Northern Utilities, and transported 
for their accounts over the leased pipeline and pipeline facilities 
owned by Granite State.
    Granite State also states that the proposed 2 Bcf LNG facility will 
provide the necessary gas supply to maintain gas deliveries to Northern 
Utilities after the expiration of the extended Portland Pipe Line lease 
on March 31, 1997. The LNG tank will be filled with LNG purchased and 
stored for the account of Northern Utilities. Northern Utilities 
intends to purchase its LNG supply from Distrigas of Massachusetts 
Corporation (DOMAC) and take delivery at DOMAC's marine terminal in 
Everett, Massachusetts, in cryogenic tank trucks for over-the-road 
transportation to the site of the facility in the Town of Wells. 
Granite State says that it will construct the facility, which is 
estimated to cost $44,221,000, and store and vaporize the LNG for 
Northern Utilities pursuant to a new incremental Rate Schedule LNG-1 in 
its FERC Gas Tariff, Third Revised Volume No. 1, which is submitted 
with its application. Granite State proposes to finance the 
construction phase of the LNG facility with short-term loans, and 
permanent financing will consist of long-term loans and equity 
contributed by its parent, Bay State.
    The projected date for the receipt and storage of LNG for the 
account of Northern Utilities is September 1997. Granite State further 
says that, coincidental with the in-service date, it will increase the 
firm transportation service for Northern Utilities under Rate Schedule 
FT-NN from 28,768 Dth per day to 78,770 Dth per day, reflecting the 
transportation of the vaporized gas in its pipeline.
    Because the configuration of its operations will change 
significantly after the expiration of the Portland Pipe Line lease on 
March 31, 1997, and Bay State's actual use of Granite State's pipeline 
system will be reduced, Granite State says that it will abandon its 
existing Rate Schedule FT-NN and Rate Schedule FT-1 services for Bay 
State and substitute a new Rate Schedule FTX which will reflect the on-
going use of its system by Bay State.
    Granite State's application contains an estimated initial 
Deliverability Charge, a Capacity Charge and a Vaporization Charge for 
its firm Rate Schedule LNG-1 service, and an estimated rate for 
interruptible storage and vaporization service based on the cost of 
service for operating and maintaining the LNG facility. Granite State 
says that Northern Utilities will own all the LNG in the tank (except 
for the heel), and Granite State's entire initial capability to store 
and deliver vaporized LNG as proposed in the application would be 
required by Northern Utilities as a replacement supply of gas after 
March 31, 1997, barring another extension of the Portland Pipe Line 
lease. Granite State also says that it will not offer Rate Schedule 
LNG-1 service to other customers on a firm basis. Granite State further 
says that it operates as a restructured pipeline under Part 284 of the 
Commission's regulations and intends to offer interruptible storage, 
vaporization and transportation utilizing the LNG facility. According 
to Granite State, ninety days before the in-service date of the LNG 
facility, it will file initial rates with the Commission for its 
incremental Rate Schedule LNG-1 service.
    Comment date: March 27, 1995, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
F at the end of this notice.

2. Trunkline Gas Company

[Docket No. CP95-224-000]

    Take notice that on February 23, 1995, Trunkline Gas Company 
(Trunkline), P.O. Box 1642, Houston, Texas 77251-1642, filed in Docket 
No. CP95-224-000 a request pursuant to Sections 157.205 and 157.211 of 
the Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205, 
157.211) for authorization to construct and operate bi-directional 
facilities in Acadia Parish, Louisiana to be used for receipt and 
delivery of natural gas under Trunkline's blanket certificate 
authorizations issued in Docket Nos. CP83-84-000 and CP86-586-000 
pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act, all as more fully set 
forth in the request that is on file with the [[Page 13429]] Commission 
and open to public inspection.
    Trunkline proposes to construct and operate a 16-inch tee-tap and 
16-inch pipe valve on its Line 300-1-26'' located in Acadia Parish, 
Louisiana. Trunkline states that it would also install 50 feet of 16-
inch pipeline extending from the tee-tap to its right-of-way. Trunkline 
mentions it would use these facilities to inject and withdraw up to 300 
MMCF of gas per day at the LA1 Storage Field owned by Egan Gas Storage 
Company, Inc (Egan). Trunkline asserts that the $195,000 cost of its 
proposed facilities would be reimbursed by Egan. Trunkline also states 
that Egan would install and own 1,100 feet of 16-inch pipeline and a 
new metering and regulating station to enable Trunkline to use the LA1 
Storage Field.
    Comment date: April 20, 1995, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
G at the end of this notice.

3. Mojave Pipeline Company and Kern River Gas Transmission Company

[Docket No. CP95-229-000]

    Take notice that on March 1, 1995, Mojave Pipeline Company 
(Mojave), P.O. Box 10269, Bakersfield, California 93389, and Kern River 
Gas Transmission Company (Kern River), 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, 
Utah 84158, filed in Docket No. CP95-229-000 a joint request pursuant 
to Sections 157.205, 157.212 and 157.216 of the Commission's 
Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205, 157.212 and 
157.216) for authorization for Kern River to abandon by transfer to 
Mojave and for Mojave to own and operate a 4/11 interest in certain 
tap, metering and appurtenant facilities for the delivery of gas to 
Bear Mountain Limited at a point located in the City of Bakersfield, 
California, under Kern River's and Mojave's blanket certificates issued 
in Docket Nos. CP89-2048 and CP89-002, respectively, 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.
    The applicants state that the portion of Kern River and Mojave's 
facilities that runs from Daggett, California to the terminal points in 
Kern County is jointly-owned by Kern River and Mojave as tenants-in-
common (Common Facilities). The applicants also state that on October 
28, 1994, Kern River made a prior notice filing in Docket No. CP95-44-
000 pursuant to Sections 157.205 and 157.212 of the Commission's 
Regulations to construct, own and operate the Bear Mountain Delivery 
Point. It is further stated that no person filed a protest within the 
time specified by the Commission's Regulations, thus Kern River has 
obtained the necessary authorization through the operation of Sections 
157.205 and 157.212.
    The applicants state that the instant filing is necessary to 
implement a subsequent agreement between Mojave and Kern River to 
transfer a 4/11 ownership interest in the Bear Mountain Delivery Point 
facilities to Mojave. It is stated that this transfer will provide for 
the same percentage ownership in the Bear Mountain Delivery Point 
facilities that currently exists for the Common Facilities, including 
all existing delivery points located on and included within the Common 
Facilities. The applicants state that the transfer will conform 
ownership interests in the Bear Mountain Delivery Point to all other 
Common Facility delivery points and will thereby facilitate uniform 
cost allocations and accounting treatment of the Common Facilities 
pursuant to the Construction, Operation and Maintenance Agreement (COM 
Agreement) among Mojave, Kern River and Mojave Pipeline Operating 
Company (MPOC). In order to effectuate this transfer, Kern River 
requests that it be authorized to abandon by transfer to Mojave, and 
Mojave requests that it be authorized to acquire from Kern River and to 
own and operate, a 4/11 interest in the Bear Mountain Delivery Point 
facilities. It is stated that following transfer of the 4/11 interest 
in the facilities, both Kern River and Mojave shippers will be 
permitted to deliver gas to Bear Mountain, in accordance with the 
provisions of the COM Agreement regarding delivery points located on 
the Common Facilities.
    It is stated that following completion of construction, the Bear 
Mountain Delivery Point will consist of a 6-inch tap, a meter station 
with two 4-inch meter tubes and appurtenant facilities, and an 150-foot 
section of 6-inch lateral pipeline located immediately downstream of 
the meter station.
    It is stated that the deliver point will have a nominal design 
capacity of 12,500 Mcf per day. It is further stated that the delivery 
point will be operated and maintained on behalf of Mojave and Kern 
River by MPOC as operator of the Common Facilities pursuant to the COM 
Agreement.
    Comment date: April 20, 1995, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
G at the end of this notice.

4. Colorado Interstate Gas Company

[Docket No. CP95-230-000]

    Take notice that on March 1, 1995, Colorado Interstate Gas Company 
(CIG), P.O. Box 1087, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80944, filed a request 
with the Commission in Docket No. CP95-230-000 pursuant to Section 
157.205 of the Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (NGA) 
for authorization to abandon a sales meter station in Las Animas 
County, Colorado, under CIG's blanket certificate issued in Docket No. 
CP83-21-000 pursuant to Section 7 of the NGA, all as more fully set 
forth in the request which is open to the public for inspection.
    CIG proposes to abandon its Trinidad Power Plant Sales Meter 
Station2 by sale to the City of Trinidad. CIG states that it would 
sell the meter station to the City of Trinidad at the net book value of 
$1,314. CIG would continue to deliver natural gas to the City of 
Trinidad via the meter station following the sale of the facilities.

    \2\See order at 22 FPC 828 (1959).
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    Comment date: April 20, 1995, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
E at the end of this notice.

5. Ozark Gas Transmission System

[Docket No. CP95-231-000]

    Take notice that on March 1, 1995, Ozark Gas Transmission System 
(Ozark), 1700 Pacific Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75201 filed an application 
pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the 
Commission's Regulations requesting permission and approval to abandon 
service rendered to Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (Columbia) 
under Ozark's Rate Schedule T-1, certificated in Docket No. CP78-
532.3 In addition, in its application, Ozark requests permission 
and approval to charge Columbia a negotiated Exit Fee in consideration 
for Ozark's agreement to the early termination and abandonment of 
Ozark's Rate Schedule T-1 service for Columbia,4 and to the extent 
authority is necessary, to refund excess deferred income taxes that 
Ozark owes or will owe to Columbia and to receive from Columbia payment 
of previously unpaid demand charges owed to Ozark. The proposed 
abandonment of service would be effective upon the date both the 
Bankruptcy Court5 and the Commission have issued final orders 
approving a Stipulation negotiated between Columbia and Ozark dated 
December 9, 1994 in form and substance satisfactory to Ozark and 
Columbia. The Stipulation is pending before the Commission in 
[[Page 13430]] Docket No. RP95-98-000.6 The application is on file 
with the Commission and open to public inspection.

    \3\See, 16 FERC  61,099 (1981).
    \4\Ozark states the contract expires February 28, 1997.
    \5\Ozark states that all obligations of Columbia are subject to 
Chapter 11 procedures in Case Nos. 91-803 and 91-804 in the United 
States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
    \6\Filed December 20, 1994.
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    Comment date: March 27, 1995, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
F at the end of this notice.

6. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.

[Docket No. CP95-234-000]

    Take notice that on March 1, 1995, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company 
(Tennessee), P.O. Box 2511, Houston, Texas 77252, filed in Docket No. 
CP95-234-000 a request pursuant to Sections 157.205 and 157.212 of the 
Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205, 
157.212) for authorization to construct and operate delivery point 
facilities in Essex County, Massachusetts under Tennessee's blanket 
certificate issued in Docket No. CP82-413-000 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.
    Tennessee proposes to install, own, operate, and maintain data 
acquisition and control equipment, one six-inch hot tap assembly, 
approximately 2,100 feet of 8 inch pipe, and measurement facilities in 
order to deliver gas to Colonial Gas Company.
    Comment date: April 20, 1995, in accordance with Standard Paragraph 
G 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. 95-6079 Filed 3-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P