[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6476-6477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3151]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 157

[Docket No. RM81-19-000]


Project Cost and Annual Limits

    Issued February 3, 1998.

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authority delegated by 18 CFR 375.307(e)(1), 
the Director of the Office of Pipeline Regulation computes and 
publishes the project cost and annual limits specified in Table I of 
Sec. 157.208(d) and Table II of Sec. 157.215(a) for each calendar year.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael J. McGehee, Division of Pipeline Certificates, OPR (202) 208-
2257.

Publication of Project Cost Limits Under Blanket Certificates; Order of 
The Director, OPR

    Section 157.208(d) of the Commission's Regulations provides for 
project cost limits applicable to construction, acquisition, operation 
and miscellaneous rearrangement of facilities (Table I) authorized 
under the blanket certificate procedure (Order No. 234, 19 FERC para. 
61,216). Section 157.215(a) specifies the calendar year dollar limit 
which may be expended on underground storage testing and development 
(Table II) authorized under the blanket certificate. Section 157.208(d) 
requires that the ``limits specified in Tables I and II shall be 
adjusted each calendar year to reflect the `GNP implicit price 
deflator' published by the Department of Commerce for the previous 
calendar year.''
    Pursuant to Sec. 375.307(e)(1) of the Commission's Regulations, the 
authority for the publication of such cost limits, as adjusted for 
inflation, is delegated to the Director of the Office of Pipeline 
Regulation. The cost limits for calendar year 1998, as published in 
Table I of Sec. 157.208(d) and Table II of Sec. 157.215(a), are hereby 
issued.
    Note that these inflation adjustments are based on the Gross 
Domestic Product (GDP) Implicit Price Deflator, rather than the Gross 
National Product (GNP) Implicit Price Deflator which is not yet 
available for 1997. The Commerce Department advises that in recent 
years the annual change has been virtually the same for both indices. 
Further adjustments will be made, if necessary.

List of Subjects in 18 CFR Part 157

    Natural gas.
Kevin P. Madden,
Director Office of Pipeline Regulation.
    Accordingly, 18 CFR Part 157 is amended as follows:

PART 157--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for Part 157 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 717-717w, 3301-3432; 42 U.S.C. 7101-7352.

[[Page 6477]]

Sec. 157.208  [Amended]

    2. Table I in Sec. 157.208(d) is revised to read as follows:

                                 Table I                                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Limit         
                                               -------------------------
                                                                Prior   
                     Year                          Auto.        notice  
                                                  Project      project  
                                                 cost limit   cost limit
                                                 (column 1)   (column 2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982..........................................   $4,200,000   12,000,000
1983..........................................    4,500,000   12,800,000
1984..........................................    4,700,000   13,300,000
1985..........................................    4,900,000   13,800,000
1986..........................................    5,100,000   14,300,000
1987..........................................    5,200,000   14,700,000
1988..........................................    5,400,000   15,100,000
1989..........................................    5,600,000   15,600,000
1990..........................................    5,800,000   16,000,000
1991..........................................    6,000,000   16,700,000
1992..........................................    6,200,000   17,300,000
1993..........................................    6,400,000   17,700,000
1994..........................................    6,600,000   18,100,000
1995..........................................    6,700,000   18,400,000
1996..........................................    6,900,000   18,800,000
1997..........................................    7,000,000   19,200,000
1998..........................................    7,100,000   19,600,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 157.215  [Amended]

    3. Table II in Sec. 157.215(a) is revised to read as follows:

                                Table II                                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Year                                Limit   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982.......................................................    2,700,000
1983.......................................................    2,900,000
1984.......................................................    3,000,000
1985.......................................................    3,100,000
1986.......................................................    3,200,000
1987.......................................................    3,300,000
1988.......................................................    3,400,000
1989.......................................................    3,500,000
1990.......................................................    3,600,000
1991.......................................................    3,800,000
1992.......................................................    3,900,000
1993.......................................................    4,000,000
1994.......................................................    4,100,000
1995.......................................................    4,200,000
1996.......................................................    4,300,000
1997.......................................................    4,400,000
1998.......................................................    4,500,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 98-3151 Filed 2-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M