[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