[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 190 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 52691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26245]



[[Page 52691]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP97-729-001]


Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Amendment

September 25, 1998.
    Take notice that on September 16, 1998, pursuant to Sections 7(c) 
of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company 
(Eastern Shore), P.O. Box 1769, Dover, Delaware 19903-1769, filed in 
Docket No. CP97-729-001 an amendment to its certificate issued at 
Docket No. CP97-729-000 (82 FERC para. 62,160 (1998)), on March 6, 1998 
in order to increase the diameter of the 2.3 mile section of pipeline 
replacement from the authorized 10 inches to 16 inches, all as more 
fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission 
and open to public inspection.
    On March 6, 1998, the Commission authorized Eastern Shore to 
replace 2.3 miles of 6-inch pipeline with 10-inch pipeline, and .2 
miles of 10-inch pipeline with 16-inch pipeline, all in connection with 
a highway realignment project required by the State of Delaware 
Department of Transportation (DelDOT). Eastern Shore states that as 
presented in the original application, the estimated total cost of the 
2.3 miles of 10-inch pipeline is $781,517. Eastern Shore also notes 
that it requested and received a preliminary determination that rolled-
in rate treatment would be appropriate for the entire cost of the 
upsized pipeline segments. Eastern Shore is requesting the current 
authorization to increase the diameter of the approved 2.3 mile 
pipeline from 10 inches to 16 inches because, in late September, it 
will file an application for authorization to construct and operate 
additional facilities, which in combination with the change requested 
herein, will enable Eastern Shore to provide additional firm advice to 
existing customers.
    Eastern Shore believes that DelDOT will require the construction of 
the 2.3 mile segment of pipeline prior to the Commission's approval of 
the additional facilities that Eastern Shore proposes to file for 
authorization with the Commission in September. Eastern Shore claims 
that DelDOT's current construction schedule may require Eastern Shore 
to begin construction as early as November of 1998. Consequently, 
Eastern Shore asserts that it faces a timing dilemma that can best be 
resolved by amending the Commission's March 9, 1998 order to allow it 
to install the 16-inch diameter pipe. Eastern Shore claims that the 
incremental cost of increasing the diameter of the 2.3 mile segment to 
16-inches is $369,853, if undertaken in conjunction with the DelDOT 
project. By comparison, Eastern Shore notes that if it were to install 
the previously approved 10-inch pipeline and later loop the line, the 
cost of installing the looping on new right-of-way without the benefit 
of the ongoing highway construction would be in excess of the 
$1,460,594 that Eastern Shore estimated in the original application as 
the cost to separately install a 10-inch pipeline loop. Eastern Shore 
states that it is not this time seeking a preliminary determination of 
rolled-in rate treatment for the incremental cost of upsizing the 
pipeline segment, it will however do so in its next rate case, assuming 
the Commission approves the proposed facilities to be filed with the 
Commission in September.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before October 9, 1998, file 
with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., 
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 385.211) 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. 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.
    Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
and subject to jurisdiction conferred upon the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission by Sections 7 and 15 of the Natural Gas Act and 
the Commission's Rules and Regulations, a hearing will be held without 
further notice before the Commission or its designee on this 
application if no motion to intervene is 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 Eastern Shore to appear or be represented at 
the hearing.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-26245 Filed 9-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M