[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 203 (Friday, October 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54429-54430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26767]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP96-178-002]


Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Amendment

October 11, 1996.
    Take notice that on September 23, 1996, Maritimes & Northeast 
Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes & Northeast), c/o M&N Management Company, 
1284 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, Massachusetts, 02135, filed for 
authority under Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) to construct, 
install, own, operate, and maintain a 30-inch diameter natural gas 
pipeline as an alternative to its currently proposed Phase I, 24-inch 
diameter pipeline from Dracut, Massachusetts to Wells, Maine (Docket 
No. CP96-178-000). The proposed facilities were included in an 
application to construct certain other facilities for Phase II of its 
project (Docket Nos. CP96-809-000).\1\ We will sever those parts of the 
text and exhibits in Docket No. CP96-809-000 pertaining to the 30-inch 
pipeline from Dracut to Wells and treat them as an amendment to Phase I 
of Maritimes & Northeast's project (Docket No. CP96-178-002). Thus 
future filings concerning the 30-inch single pipeline alternative from 
Dracut to Wells should be filed under Docket No. CP96-178-002. Filings 
concerning the 30-inch pipeline alternative from Wells to Cumberland/
Portland, Maine will be considered in Docket No. CP96-809-000. The 
details of Maritimes & Northeast's proposal are more fully set forth in 
its September 23rd filing, which is on file with the Commission and 
open to public inspection.
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    \1\ A separate public notice of the application in Docket No. 
CP96-809-000 is being issued concurrently with Docket No. CP96-178-
002.
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    Maritimes & Northeast is a limited liability company, organized and 
existing under the laws of the state of Delaware. Maritimes & 
Northeast's members are M&N Management Company, a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of PanEnergy Corp.; Westcoast Energy (U.S.) Inc., a wholly-
owned subsidiary of Westcoast Energy, Inc. and Mobil Midstream Natural 
Gas Investment, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mobil Oil 
Corporation.
    Maritimes & Northeast's Phase I project is from Dracut, 
Massachusetts to Wells, Maine. The Commission issued Preliminary 
Determination (PD) for this project on July 31, 1996, in Docket No. 
CP96-178-000. The project is currently under environmental review. A 
final certificate for Phase I has not yet been considered by the 
Commission.
    The PD encouraged Maritimes & Northeast and the Portland Natural 
Gas Transmission System (PNGTS) \2\ to consider a single pipeline 
alternative or a joint right-of-way between Haverhill, Massachusetts 
and Portland, Maine. As part of its September 23, 1996, filing for 
Phase II of its project,\3\ Maritimes & Northeast submitted an 
engineering design for a 30-inch single pipeline alternative from 
Dracut to Cumberland/Portland. At this time the Commission Staff 
believes that the 30-inch alternative has enough capacity for it and 
PNGTS to share.
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    \2\ See Order issued July 31, 1996, in Docket Nos. CP96-248-000 
and CP96-249-000.
    \3\ Phase II is a two-stage extension of Maritimes & Northeast's 
proposed project, first from Wells, Maine to Portland, Maine for 
1998 interim service (south to north flow), and then from Portland 
to the Canadian border for 1999 service (provide access to Sable 
Island supply, north to south flow).
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    Maritimes & Northeast filed certain exhibits describing a 30-inch 
single-pipe alternative that it seeks to construct from Dracut to a 
proposed interconnection with Granite State Gas Transmission Company 
near Wells. Maritimes & Northeast says that its 30-inch single-pipe 
alternative is designed to accommodate service to PNGTS (or other 
arrangements such as a joint pipeline or common right-of-way) and

[[Page 54430]]

to meet the 1997 in-service requirements for Maritimes & Northeast's 
Phase I facilities. Maritimes & Northeast requests the Commission 
consider its 30-inch single-pipe alternative from Dracut to Wells in a 
timely manner in order that it may be approved, if selected as the most 
desirable alternative, in time for the 1997 Phase I commencement of 
service.
    The Commission Staff, however, cannot establish a schedule for the 
proposed 30-inch pipeline alternative until Maritimes & Northeast files 
additional certificate application exhibits. These are, in part, 
further Exhibit G--Flow Diagrams and Exhibit K--Cost of Facilities. 
Further, Maritimes & Northeast and PNGTS should file, as soon as 
possible, the appropriate agreements for the specific joint-use 
structure of a single-pipe alternative or joint-use right-of-way. Also, 
Maritimes & Northeast should clarify whether the route for its 30-inch 
alternative is along the route currently being studied for its 23-inch 
proposal, along the route currently being studied for the PNGTS 
proposal, or a combination of the two.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before November 4, 1996, 
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 385.214 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 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 petition to 
intervene is filed within the time required herein or if the Commission 
on its own review of the matter finds that a grant of the application 
is required by the public convenience and necessity. If a petition 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 given.
    Under the procedure herein provided for, unless otherwise advised, 
it will be unnecessary for Maritimes & Northeast to appear or be 
represented at the hearing.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-26767 Filed 10-17-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M