[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 174 (Friday, September 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47122-47124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22768]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP96-720-000, et al.]


Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, et al.; Natural Gas 
Certificate Filings

August 29, 1996.
    Take notice that the following filings have been made with the 
Commission:

1. Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America

[Docket No. CP96-720-000]

    Take notice that on August 16, 1996, Natural Gas Pipeline Company 
of America (NGPL), 701 East 22nd Street, Lombard, Illinois 60148, filed 
an application: (1) For authorization, pursuant to section 7(b) of the 
Natural Gas Act, to abandon (by removal) a compressor unit located at 
NGPL's Station No. 139 in Lea County, New Mexico; and (2) for a 
certificate of public convenience and necessity, pursuant to section 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, authorizing NGPL to construct (i.e., 
relocate and upgrade) and operate the aforementioned compressor unit as 
part of NGPL's Station No. 346 facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, 
all as more fully set forth in the application, which is on file with 
the Commission and open to public inspection.
    NGPL states that the subject compressor is no longer needed at 
Station No. 139, and has not been utilized since January of 1993. NGPL 
proposes to abandon and remove the entire compressor unit (including 
the removal of all associated conduit, wiring, supports and piping), 
and have the compressor engine manufacturer upgrade it to the ``Best 
Available Control Technology'' (BACT) in order to reduce nitrous oxide 
(NOX) emissions. In addition to the BACT upgrade, NGPL proposes to 
increase the compressor unit to a 4,500 hp rating. NGPL proposes to 
relocate the upgraded compressor unit to its Station No. 346 facility 
on its Louisiana Line, in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, thereby increasing 
the Louisiana Line's capacity by 63 MMcfd. NGPL adds that it will 
perform certain non-jurisdictional activities as part of the Louisiana 
Line expansion project, including the re-wheeling of three existing 
compressors at its Station No. 346, and certain modifications to 
station piping at

[[Page 47123]]

NGPL's Station No. 342, in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
    NGPL states that its gas transmission system consists of two 
mainlines, its Amarillo Mainline, Gulf Coast Mainline, plus NGPL's A/G 
Line, which connects the two mainlines. NGPL adds that its Louisiana 
Line consists of 30-inch and 36-inch diameter pipelines which extend 
along the Gulf of Mexico from St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, to near Port 
Arthur, at the Texas/Louisiana border, and on to an interconnection 
with NGPL's Gulf Coast Mainline, in Montgomery County, Texas. NGPL 
states that the Louisiana Line section of its system serves east coast 
markets by delivering a total of 1,000 MMcfd of gas to other interstate 
pipeline companies, with approximately 414 MMcfd of this total being 
delivered to the eastern terminus of the Louisiana Line at the Henry 
Hub.
    According to NGPL, MidCon Gas Service Corporation (MidCon), a 
marketing affiliate of NGPL, responded to an open season that NGPL held 
with respect to the possible expansion of capacity on its Louisiana 
Line, by signing a precedent agreement with NGPL for 50 MMcfd of the 
proposed 63 MMcfd capacity expansion for NGPL's Louisiana Line. NGPL 
states that the MidCon contract is for firm transportation service at a 
rate of $0.20, for seven years. NGPL also states that the revenues 
provided by the MidCon contract will cover the cost of the additional 
compression, and that NGPL will endeavor to market the remaining 13 
MMcfd of uncommitted capacity.
    NGPL further states that it will seek to roll-in the cost of the 
expansion facilities in its first rate case following the Commission's 
certification of the subject facilities. NGPL asserts that rolled-in 
rate treatment will reduce general system transportation rates, because 
the increased transportation revenues generated by the expansion 
facilities will exceed the incremental cost of such facilities.
    Comment date: September 19, 1996, in accordance with Standard 
Paragraph F at the end of this notice.

2. Northern Natural Gas Company

[Docket No. CP96-731-000]

    Take notice that on August 20, 1996, Northern Natural Gas Company 
(Northern), P.O. Box 3330, Omaha, Nebraska 68103-0330, filed in Docket 
No. CP96-731-000 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 install and operate new delivery point 
facilities located in Goodhue County, Minnesota, under Northern's 
blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP82-401-000, pursuant to 
Section 7(c) 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.
    Northern proposes to install and operate a new delivery point to 
accommodate natural gas deliveries to Northern States Power Company 
(NSP) under Northern's currently effective throughput service 
agreement(s) for redelivery to the community of Goodhue, Minnesota. It 
is indicated that NSP requests authorization to install a new delivery 
point due to the expansion of its distribution system into new areas. 
It is stated that this community does not currently have natural gas 
service. Northern states that the estimated volumes proposed to be 
delivered to NSP to the proposed delivery point are 500 MMBtu 
equivalent of natural gas on a peak day and 34,100 MMBtu equivalent on 
an annual basis. Northern states that it will own, operate, and 
maintain the delivery point. Northern estimates the total costs to 
install this delivery point to be $66,000.
    Northern advises that the total volumes to be delivered to the 
customer after the request do not exceed the total volumes authorized 
prior to the request. Northern states that the proposed activity is not 
prohibited by its existing tariff and that it has sufficient capacity 
to accommodate the changes proposed herein without detriment or 
disadvantage to Northern's other customers.
    Comment date: October 15, 1996, in accordance with Standard 
Paragraph G at the end of this notice.

3. Northwest Pipeline Corporation

[Docket No. CP96-736-000]

    Take notice that on August 21, 1996, Northwest Pipeline Corporation 
(Northwest), 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158-0900, filed in 
Docket No. CP96-736-000 an application pursuant to Sections 7(b) and 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act for authorization to construct and operate 
replacement pipeline and measurement facilities and to abandon existing 
pipeline and measurement facilities in LaPlata County, Colorado, all as 
more fully set forth in the application on file with the Commission and 
open to public inspection.
    Northwest proposes to relocate the facilities because they would be 
submerged by the Ridges Basin Dam and Reservoir which is being 
constructed 2 miles southwest of the town of Durango in LaPlata County. 
Specifically, Northwest proposes to construct and operate approximately 
6 miles of 26-inch replacement pipeline and to install a new, relocated 
meter station in LaPlata County. Northwest proposes to abandon by 
removal 0.6 mile of 26-inch existing pipeline and to abandon in place 
4.02 miles of existing 26-inch pipeline and the existing Durango 
delivery tap. Northwest estimates the cost of the abandonment and 
construction at $7.3 million, which would be reimbursed by the U.S. 
Bureau of Reclamation, which is building the dam and reservoir. It is 
stated that the proposed relocation is needed to assure the operational 
integrity of Northwest's mainline transmission system and to avoid 
significant reliability concerns associated with the inundation of the 
facilities by the dam and reservoir. It is asserted that the design 
capacity of Northwest's system would not be affected by the proposal.
    Comment date: September 19, 1996, in accordance with Standard 
Paragraph F at the end of this notice.

4. Koch Gateway Pipeline Company

[Docket No. CP96-739-000]

    Take notice that on August 22, 1996, Koch Gateway Pipeline Company 
(Koch Gateway), P.O. Box 1478, Houston, Texas 77521-1478, filed in 
Docket No. CP96-739-000, an application, pursuant to Section 7(c) of 
the Natural Gas Act, for a certificate of public convenience and 
necessity authorizing the construction and operation of compresson 
facilities, all as more fully set forth in the application which is on 
file with the Commission and open to public inspection.
    Specifically, Koch Gateway requests authorization to construct and 
operate a 1,600 horsepower compression facility, to be known as the 
White Oak Compressor Station, in Gregg County, Texas. Koch Gateway 
states that the compression facilities are to be located on its 
existing 16-inch Latex-Fort Worth Main Line, designated as Index 1. 
Koch Gateway states that the gas requirements of its customers have 
changed, necessitating a directional change in the flow of natural gas, 
and that the proposed compression facilities will enhance its ability 
to move supplies through its system.
    Comment date: September 19, 1996, in accordance with Standard 
Paragraph F at the end of this notice.

5. Florida Gas Transmission Company

[Docket No. CP96-742-000]

    Take notice that on August 26, 1996, Florida Gas Transmission 
Company (FGT), 1400 Smith Street, Houston, Texas 77002, filed in Docket 
No. CP96-

[[Page 47124]]

742-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act 
for permission and approval to abandon a sale for resale service for 
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (Transco) which was 
authorized in Docket No. CP68-111,1 all as more fully set forth in 
the application on file with the Commission and open to public 
inspection.
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    \1\ See 9 FERC para. 61,069 (1979).
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    FGT proposes to abandon the sale for resale service it once 
provided Transco under an agreement dated August 28, 1967 which is 
designated as Rate Schedule X-2 in FGT's FERC Gas Tariff, Original 
Volume No. 3. FGT states that the August 28, 1967 agreement expired 
under its own terms on April 30, 1970. FGT further states that the 
proposed abandonment will not result in the abandonment of facilities 
nor will it result in the abandonment of service to any other customer 
of FGT.
    Comment date: September 19, 1996, in accordance with Standard 
Paragraph F at the end of this notice.

Standard Paragraphs

    F. Any person desiring to be heard or make any protest with 
reference to said filing should on or before the comment date file with 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., 
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 385.211 and 385.214) 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 filing 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 the applicant to appear or be represented at 
the hearing.
    G. Any person or the Commission's staff may, within 45 days after 
the 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 
therefore, 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. 96-22768 Filed 9-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P