[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35740-35741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16873]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP95-595-000]


Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation; Notice of Application

July 5, 1995.
    Take notice that on June 30, 1995, Texas Eastern Transmission 
Corporation (Texas Eastern), 5400 Westheimer Court, Houston, Texas 
77056-5310, filed an application in Docket No. CP95-557-000 pursuant to 
Sections 7(b) and Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act requesting 
permission and approval to abandon certain pipeline segments by removal 
and certain pipeline segments in place, and for a certificate of public 
convenience and necessity authorizing it to construct, install and 
operate replacement facilities, all as more fully set forth in the 
application on file with the Commission and open to public inspection.
    Texas Eastern states that its present mainline crossings of the 
Brazos River in Austin and Waller Counties, Texas consist of one 24-
inch diameter pipeline (Line No. 11) \1\ and one 16-inch diameter 
auxiliary pipeline (16-inch line), both of which are situated in 
trenches in the riverbed. Texas Eastern explains that monitoring of the 
river bottom in the vicinity of the two lines conducted on November 11, 
1994, indicated extensive scouring at the crossing site attributable 
mostly to record rainfall and flooding conditions in October 1994 which 
washed out large quantities of dirt in the vicinity of Line No. 11. 
Texas Eastern states that approximately 166 feet of Line No. 11 and 
approximately 128 feet of the 16-inch line are exposed to the forces of 
the river, with a maximum suspension of six feet. As a consequence of 
the riverbed erosion, Line No. 11 was removed from service on November 
11, 1994. The 16-inch has remained in service to date. Texas Eastern 
notes that in addition to hazard posed by riverbed scouring, the river 
channel itself is migrating eastward toward the mainline at the rate of 
25 feet per year. It is noted that the bank of the river has moved to 
within 50 feet of the mainline at one location near the crossing and 
that riverbank stabilization efforts have been unsuccessful. Texas 
Eastern asserts that these conditions necessitate replacement of the 
river crossing.

    \1\ Line No. 11 was authorized by Commission order dated 
December 15, 1952, in Docket No. G-1947--11 FPC 435 (1952).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Texas Eastern requests authorization to replace and operate 
approximately 8,240 feet of 24-inch diameter pipeline and appurtenant 
facilities at its mainline crossing of the Brazos River between 
Milepost 52.24 and Milepost 53.81 in Austin and Waller Counties, Texas. 
The alignment for the proposed replacement pipeline will be 
approximately 5,150 feet northeast of the existing crossing. Texas 
Eastern states that approximately 2,170 feet of the replacement 
pipeline will be installed by horizontal directional drilling under the 
riverbed while the remaining 6,070 feet will be installed to tie-in the 
new crossing to the existing mainline system. It is indicated that the 
existing 16-inch pipeline will remain in service until completion of 
the new crossing. Texas Eastern also requests authority to abandon by 
removal the segments of the Line No. 11 and the 16-inch line which are 
exposed within the Brazos River channel and to abandon 

[[Page 35741]]
the remainder of Line No. 11 and the 16-inch line in place. Texas 
Eastern estimates that the cost of the project will be $2,808,289, 
which will be financed initially from corporate funds on hand. Texas 
Eastern states that the replacement will not affect system design 
delivery capacity.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before July 17, 1995, file 
with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 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 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 permission and approval for 
the proposed abandonment 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 Texas Eastern to appear or be represented at 
the hearing.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-16873 Filed 7-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M