[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40516-40517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19867]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP96-809-003]
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Amendment to
Application
July 23, 1997.
Take notice that on July 11, 1997, Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline,
L.L.C. (Maritimes), a Delaware limited liability company, filed an
amendment to its September 23, 1996, application for a certificate of
public convenience and necessity, under to Section 7(c) of the Natural
Gas Act, and Part 157 of the Commission's regulations. Maritimes's
September 23rd application seeks authority to construct, own, operate
and maintain a natural gas pipeline from Wells, Maine to the U.S.-
Canadian border near Woodland, Maine and related pipeline laterals and
compressor stations. The July 11th amendment changes certain parts of
the route of Maritimes's proposed pipeline, changes certain parts of
the lateral routes, and relocates the proposed Richmond Compressor
Station. The details of the route changes are more fully set forth in
the amendment which is on file and available to the public for
inspection.
Maritimes's September 23 Application is for Phase II of its
Project, as previously revised by its amendment filed on February 24,
1997 in Docket No. CP96-809-002. Maritimes's Phase II Project involves
the construction of natural gas pipeline facilities from Wells to
Woodland, as well as the provision of natural gas transportation
service through those facilities. The overall Maritimes Project is part
of a natural gas transportation facility for the Sable Offshore Energy
Project (SOEP), which is being developed by a consortium of United
States and Canadian energy companies. The SOEP is scheduled to bring
offshore natural gas to the Maritimes Provinces in Canada and the
northeastern United States in 1999. The joint construction, ownership
and operation of a part of the Phase II facilities, from Wells to
Westbrook, Maine is pending in Docket No. CP97-238-000; Portland
Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS) is the joint applicant, along
with Maritimes. The February 24th amendment reflects changes in Phase
II of Maritimes's project related to the joint facilities.
The July 11th Amendment reflects the reroutes of the proposed
mainline and lateral facilities and the relocation of a compressor
station that have been adopted by Maritimes since its filing of the
original pipeline rout in the September 23rd Application. Maritimes
states that the reroutes and compressor station location reflected in
the Amendment will result in:
(i) a reduction in the number of major water body crossings;
(ii) a reduction in the number of miles of wetlands crossed;
(iii) a reduction in impacts to residences; and,
(iv) an increase in the number of miles of proposed pipeline that
are located adjacent to or within existing rights-of-way.
Maritimes provided the following summary description of the three
largest mainline reroutes that it has adopted as part of its Phase II
primary route, as well as a description of the new compressor station
location and the Northern Alternative in the Richmond and Kennebec
River area. Smaller route modifications are described in the exhibits
and resource reports which accompanied the amendment.
The Bangor Hydro reroute, located in Washington and Hancock
Counties, Maine, comprises about 46 miles of the reroutes proposed in
the July 11th Amendment. Maritimes incorporated this reroute into its
primary route to follow the existing Stud Mill Road corridor, the
proposed Bangor Hydro corridor, and existing landowner-owned roads.
Maritimes says that these landowner-owned roads provide both an
existing corridor for the pipeline and potential overlap for work space
where none originally existed. Maritimes says that although the Bangor
Hydro reroute results in an increase of over three miles to the length
of the original route, it determined that the environmental benefits of
this reroute (mitigating the impact to existing forested lands and
existing salmon habitat and deer yards in the Machias and Narraquagus
River watersheds) warranted incorporated this reroute into its primary
route.
Maritimes has incorporated another reroute in the Bangor-Brewer
area, known as the Bangor Water District (BWD) Reroute. This reroute
comprises about 20 miles long. Maritimes proposes to reroute the
pipeline in this area since its original route traversed portions of a
BWD watershed that comprises one of the sources of potable water for
the Bangor-Brewer area, and to avoid Camp Roosevelt, a property owned
by the Katahdin Council (Boy Scouts of America).
Maritimes has also proposed 12 miles of reroute in the Richmond,
Maine area. Maritimes says that the Richmond Reroute is the result of
its effort to improve its original route by avoiding residential and
wetlands areas and by mitigating the environmental impacts and
engineering constraints related to crossing existing roadways and the
Kennebec Rivers. As a result of this reroute, Maritimes proposes to
relocate its proposed compressor station in the Richmond area, which
was originally proposed to be located near Milepost 145, to a location
near revised Milepost 143. The environmental report provided by
Maritimes as part of the July 11th amendment discusses a ``Northern
Alternative Route'' which Maritimes says would make greater use of
existing rights-of-way in the Richmond area.
Maritimes does not expect the reroutes and the change in compressor
station location applied for in the Amendment to materially affect the
cost of the Phase II Project, although the revised Exhibit G shows a
4.2-mile net increase in the length of the proposed mainline. The July
11th Amendment does not reflect any changes in Maritimes's proposed
Phase II cost estimate, rates or tariff or related exhibits.
Maritimes requests a preliminary determination on non-environmental
issues in this proceeding by September 1997. With respect to a final
certificate addressing environmental issues, Maritimes requests that
the Commission act upon its amended application as soon as reasonably
possible.
Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with
reference to said Amendment should on or before August 13, 1997, file
with the Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, a
motion to intervene or protest in accordance with the requirements of
the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 or
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. Any person who has already filed a motion to
intervene in Docket Nos. CP96-809-000 or CP96-809-002 need not file
again to obtain intervenor status.
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 Amendment if no petition to
intervene is filed within the time required herein or if the
[[Page 40517]]
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
petition for leave to intervene is 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 Maritimes & Northeast to appear or be
represented at the hearing.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-19867 Filed 7-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M