[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61107-61108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29944]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP98-60-000, CP98-62-000, CP98-64-000, and CP98-65-000]


Viking Voyageur Gas Transmission Company, L.L.C.; Notice of 
Applications

November 7, 1997.
    Take notice that on October 31, 1997, Viking Voyageur Gas 
Transmission Company, L.L.C. (Viking Voyageur), 825 Rice Street, St. 
Paul, Minnesota 55117-5484, filed in Docket Nos. CP98-60-000, CP98-62-
000, CP98-64-000, and CP98-65-000 applications pursuant to Section 7(c) 
and Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Parts 284 and 157 of the 
Commission's regulations for: a certificate of public convenience and 
necessity to construct, own, operate, and maintain natural gas pipeline 
facilities; authorization pursuant to Section 3 of the NGA and a 
Presidential Permit for the siting, construction, operation, and 
maintenance of certain facilities for the importation of natural gas; a 
blanket certificate authorizing non-discriminatory, open-access 
transportation services; and blanket certificate authorization to 
engage in certain routine activities, all as more fully set forth in 
the applications which are on file with the Commission and open to 
public inspection.
    As part of a coordinated pipeline project designed to transport 1.4 
Bcf per day of natural gas from Empress, Alberta to the Joilet, 
Illinois area, Viking Voyageur proposes to construct the United States 
portion of the pipeline facilities. The proposed pipeline facilities 
will interconnect with several interstate pipelines and local 
distribution companies and will directly provide service to various 
delivery points in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Upon acceptance 
of the requested certification, Viking Voyageur will be a natural gas 
company subject to the Commission's jurisdiction.
    In Docket No. CP98-60-000, Viking Voyageur requests authorization 
to construct, own, operate, and maintain approximately 773 miles of 42-
inch diameter pipeline originating at a point of interconnection with 
the Canadian portion of the coordinated project at the U.S./Canada 
border at Noyes, Minnesota (near Emerson, Manitoba). The proposed 
pipeline facilities would extend through Minnesota and Wisconsin to a 
terminus in Will County, Illinois. Viking Voyageur also proposes to 
construct twenty-two meter stations and compression facilities totaling 
124,000 horsepower. The compression facilities will be located in 
Kittson and Otter Tail Counties, Minnesota and Polk and Waushara 
Counties, Wisconsin. The project cost is estimated to be about $1.24 
billion.
    Viking Voyageur requests a preliminary determination on non-
environmental issues by April 1, 1998, and a final order granting 
certificate authority by November 1, 1998, in order to meet a proposed 
in-service date of November 1, 1999.
    In Docket No. CP98-62-000, Viking Voyageur submitted an application 
pursuant to Section 3 of the NGA, part 153 of the Commission's 
regulations, and Executive Order 10485, as amended by Executive Order 
12038, and the Secretary of Energy's Delegation Order No. 0204-112, for 
Section 3 authorization and a Presidential Permit to site, construct, 
operate, and maintain certain facilities for the importation of natural 
gas to be located at the international border between the United States 
of America and Canada near Noyes, Minnesota.
    In Docket No. CP98-64-000, Viking Voyageur requests a blanket 
certificate under Part 284, Subpart G of the Commission's regulations. 
Viking Voyageur filed a pro forma tariff that offers firm and 
interruptible transportation with flexible delivery points. Viking 
Voyageur offers two negotiated rate options--either a 10-year or a 15-
year negotiated rate contract--as alternatives to Commission approved 
cost-of-service recourse rates for a 15-year term for firm 
transportation.
    In Docket No. CP98-65-000, Viking Voyageur requests a blanket 
certificate authorizing construction operation, and abandonment of 
certain facilities under Part 157, Subpart F of the Commission's 
regulations.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before November 28, 1997, 
file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, 
NE, 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. The Commission's rules require that protestors provide 
copies of their protests to the party or person to whom the protests 
are directed. 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.
    A person obtaining intervenor status will be placed on the service 
list maintained by the Secretary of the Commission and will receive 
copies of all documents issued by the Commission, filed by the 
applicant, or filed by all other intervenors. An intervenor can file 
for rehearing of any Commission order and can petition for court review 
of any such order. However, an intervenor must serve copies of comments 
or any other filing it makes with the Commission to every other 
intervenor in the proceeding, as well as filing an original and 14 
copies with the Commission.
    A person does not have to intervene, however, in order to have 
environmental comments considered. A person, instead, may submit two 
copies of comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Commenters will 
be placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive 
copies of environmental documents and will be able to participate in 
meetings associated with the Commission's environmental review process. 
Commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on 
all other parties. However, commenters will not receive copies of all 
documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission, and will 
not have the right to seek rehearing or appeal the Commission's final 
order to a Federal court.
    The Commission will consider all comments and concerns equally, 
whether filed by commenters or those requesting intervenor status.
    Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
and subject to jurisdiction conferred upon the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission by Sections 3, 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 
these applications if no motion to intervene is

[[Page 61108]]

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 Viking Voyageur to appear or be represented 
at the hearing.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-29944 Filed 11-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M