[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20164-20165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10742]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP97-341-000]


Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership; Notice of 
Application

April 21, 1997.
    Take notice that on April 11, 1997, as supplemented on April 15, 
1997, Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership (Great Lakes), 
One Woodward Avenue, Suite 1600, Detroit, Michigan 48226, filed in 
Docket No. CP97-421-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(c) and 
7(b) of the Natural Gas Act for a temporary and permanent certificate 
of public convenience and necessity authorizing Great Lakes to 
construct and operate approximately 1,100 feet of off right-of-way 
replacement 10-inch diameter mainline and 12-inch diameter loopline, 
respectively, in Chippewa County, Michigan, all as more fully set forth 
in the application which is on file with the Commission and open to 
public inspection.
    Great Lakes states that the proposed facilities are necessary to 
remedy a force majeure condition on its system, resulting from soil 
subsidence along a slope adjacent to the North Branch of the Pine 
River, in Chippewa County, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. According to 
Great Lakes, the authorization will allow it to construct the permanent 
facilities necessary to replace a temporary emergency line which was 
installed as a bypass, as well as abandon and remove from service the 
damaged segments of pipeline.
    Great Lakes states that on April 7, 1997 it received information 
that a large section of hillside had subsided in the area of its main 
and loop lines in Chippewa County, Michigan, and that its lines were 
partially exposed. Great Lakes states that it immediately sent 
personnel to the site to investigate and found that an approximate 5 
acre plot of land had slid, both laterally and vertically, toward the 
North Branch of the Pine River (Section 35, T45N, R3W, Chippewa County, 
Michigan). As a result, approximately 970 feet of main and loop line 
moved between 45 to 50 feet laterally and 25 to 30 feet vertically. It 
is stated that the operating pressure of both lines was subsequently 
lowered and personnel were dispatched to man block valves on either 
side of the landslide area in the event that the lines ruptured. Great 
Lakes states that the affected customers, Michigan Consolidated Gas 
Company and TransCanada PipeLines Limited, were notified on April 8, 
1997. Great Lakes further states that the Department of Transportation, 
Michigan Public Service Commission and pertinent local authorities were 
also notified of the situation on that date.
    Great Lakes contends that upon investigation it appears that the 
landslide was the result of laterally unstable soils due to a high 
moisture content and a possible loss of lateral support due to erosion 
side-cutting a river channel located at the base of the slope. It is 
stated that the preliminary investigation revealed that the area was 
not stable and further shifts might occur. Great Lakes states that it 
began efforts to stabilize the site by directing excess moisture away 
from the slide area. Great Lakes then commissioned a geotechnical 
survey to assess soil stability and to assist in locating permanent 
replacement lines.
    Great Lakes states that the replacement 10-inch mainline and 12-
inch loopline will be located between its milepost 25.49 and milepost 
25.70 in Chippewa County, Michigan. It is stated that the new permanent 
pipe will be configured in a curved shape, the apex of which will 
locate the center lines of the new pipe approximately 275 feet east of 
the centerlines of the original main and loop lines. It is stated that 
the new right-of-way will be located on the same landowners property 
where Great Lakes' existing main and loop lines are located.\1\ Great 
Lakes states that there will be no permanent above-ground facilities 
installed as part of this project. In addition, there will be no stream 
crossings required in connection with constructing the new facilities.
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    \1\ Great Lakes states that the landowner for this property has 
agreed to Great Lakes' off right-of-way replacement. It is stated 
that an insignificant number of feet of the proposed lines will be 
located within Great Lakes' existing right-of-way at the edge of 
Michigan State forest land.
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    Great Lakes states that its 10-inch mainline and 12-inch loopline 
in this area of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan provide the sole 
transportation source for natural gas supplied to the communities of 
Rudyard and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, 
Canada. Given this, Great Lakes states that it began emergency efforts 
to maintain transportation through this area of its system. In this 
regard, on April 13, 1997, Great Lakes placed into service an above-
ground, 12-inch diameter emergency by-pass line to isolate the impacted 
main and loop lines, which were removed from service.
    Great Lakes states that its proposed facilities will permanently 
replace both the damaged main and damaged loop line segments and the 
emergency by-pass line. It is stated that the proposed facilities will 
not alter the capacity of Great Lakes' main and loop lines, nor be used 
to provide service to any new customer. It is stated that these 
facilities will enable Great Lakes to continue providing natural gas 
transportation service for communities which are completely reliant on 
Great Lakes for their upstream natural gas transportation needs. In 
light of the foregoing, Great Lakes states that the proposed facilities 
are required by the public convenience and necessity and should be 
approved for construction and operation.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before May 12, 1997, file 
with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20426, a 
motion to intervene or a protest in accordance with the

[[Page 20165]]

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 Great Lakes to appear or be represented at 
the hearing.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-10742 Filed 4-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M