[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37218-37219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18159]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. RP97-411-000]


Sea Robin Pipeline Company; Notice of Proposed Changes in FERC 
Gas Tariff

July 7, 1997.
    Take notice that on July 1, 1997, Sea Robin Pipeline Company (Sea 
Robin) tendered for filing as part of its FERC Gas Tariff, First 
Revised Volume No. 1, the original and revised Tariff sheets set forth 
on Appendix A to the filing, pursuant to Section 4 of the Natural Gas 
Act to become effective August 1, 1997.
    Sea Robin states that the tariff sheets filed by Sea Robin set 
forth the terms and conditions under which Sea Robin proposes to 
implement a new, flexible firm service on its system. Such flexible 
firm service will be generally available to all eligible shippers under 
the new, proposed Rate Schedule FTS-2. The filing contains the new Rate 
Schedule FTS-2, the Service Agreement under Rate Schedule FTS-2, and 
the Reserve Commitment Agreement. Shippers eligible for service under 
Rate Schedule FTS-2 will commit their reserves to Sea Robin under a 
Reserve Commitment Agreement.
    To be eligible for service under Rate Schedule FTS-2, Shippers must 
dedicate committed leases with at least 40 Bcf of proven, recoverable 
reserves to Sea Robin for transportation. Shippers with committed 
leases that are connected to Sea Robin's system as of August 1, 1997, 
will be eligible for this service even through the proven recoverable 
reserves from those committed leases are less than 40 Bcf.
    Under the proposed Rate Schedule FTS-2, Sea Robin proposes to 
charge a volumetric rate equal to the 100% load factor derivative of 
this currently effective firm transportation rate. Such volumetric 
rates will be applied provided that shippers maintain a throughput 
level of 80% of MDQ on a three month rolling average. Shippers that do 
not meet the 80% throughput threshold will pay the currently effective 
firm reservation charge. Shippers will have the flexibility to

[[Page 37219]]

have different levels of MDQ, which can vary as often as every three 
months, in order to accommodate their production schedules and to 
change their MDQs annually based on updated production information. In 
addition, Shippers will have an opportunity to change their MDQs once 
per year, upon six months notice to Sea Robin, for any reason.
    Sea Robin submits that it has modeled the proposed Rate Schedule 
FTS-2 after the flexible firm rate schedules approved by the Commission 
in Shell Gas Pipeline Co., 76 FERC para. 61,126 (1996); and Destin 
Pipeline Company, L.L.C., 79 FERC para. 61,395 (1997). Sea Robin 
believes that implementation of such a Rate Schedule on its system is 
necessary to remain competitive with the newer pipelines offering this 
type of firm service for the connection of natural gas supplies.
    In conjunction with the new Rate Schedule, Sea Robin proposes to 
make some clarifications to its existing tariff in order to implement 
the new service. Specifically, Sea Robin proposes to allocate capacity 
under both Rate Schedules FTS and FTS-2, if necessary, on a net present 
value basis. In addition, Sea Robin's capacity release provisions will 
be applicable to Rate Schedule FTS-2, for those months when shippers 
are paying the Reservation Charge component of Rate Schedule FTS-2.
    Sea Robin has requested to place the new Rate Schedule FTS-2 into 
effect August 1, 1997. It proposes to post an open season for initial 
requests for service under the new rate schedule; and, upon review of 
any valid requests, Sea Robin proposes to implement service under Rate 
Schedule FTS-2 on October 1, 1997.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to protest this filing should 
file a motions to intervene or protest with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, 
in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR Sections 385.211 and 385.214). All such 
motions and protests must be filed on or in accordance with Section 
154.210 of the Commission's Regulations. Protests will be considered by 
the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but 
will not serve to make protestants parties to the proceeding. Any 
person wishing to become a party must file a motion to intervene. 
Copies of this filing are on file with the Commission and are available 
for public inspection in the Public Reference Room.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-18159 Filed 7-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M