[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 57 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14437-14438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7248]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP99-241-000]


ANR Pipeline Company; Notice of Application

March 19, 1999.
    Take notice that on March 8, 1999, as supplemented on March 19, 
1999 ANR Pipeline Company (ANR), 500 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 
Michigan 48243, filed an application pursuant to Section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act and Subpart A of Part 157 of the Commission's 
regulations for a certificate of public convenience and necessity 
authorizing ANR to construct, own, and operate an expansion of its 
mainline facilities located west of its Joliet Compressor Station near 
Joliet, Illinois, and to its mainline facilities located in eastern 
Wisconsin (the Wisconsin Expansion Phase II facilities), all as more 
fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission 
and open to public inspection. This filing may be viewed on the web at 
http://www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 for 
assistance).
    In order to meet increasing gas requirements in the State of 
Wisconsin by November 1, 2000, ANR proposes to install certain 
additional loop pipeline, compression, tie-line, and related facilities 
on parts of its existing mainline facilities located in Wisconsin and 
Illinois. ANR states that these facilities will increase its 
transmission capacity into Wisconsin by up to 194,000 dekatherms per 
day (194 
Mdt/d), thereby enabling ANR to provide additional firm transportation 
service for shippers from the ANR Joliet Hub to the Wisconsin market 
area for ANR's system. In order to allow sufficient time for 
construction of the proposed facilities and to meet the proposed in-
service date, ANR requests that the Commission issue a preliminary 
determination order by August 1, 1999 and a final order by no later 
than February 1, 2000.
    Specifically, ANR seeks authority to construct: (1) approximately 
3.0 miles of 42-inch diameter loop pipeline between milepost 801 and 
milepost 804 along ANR's existing Michigan Leg South in Kendall County, 
Illinois; (2) two 10,000 horsepower (hp) turbine compressor units to be 
located at ANR's existing Woodstock Compressor Station in McHenry 
County, Illinois; (3) one 1,500 hp turbine compressor unit to be 
located at ANR's existing Weyauwega Compressor Station in Waupaca 
County, Wisconsin; (4) 0.11 mile of 16-mile diameter pipeline 
traversing from the Weyauwega Compressor Station to the Marinette 
Junction tap site on ANR's existing 24-inch mainline; (5) one 1,500 hp 
reciprocating compressor unit to be located at ANR's existing 
Janesville Compressor Station in Rock County, Wisconsin; and (6) minor 
related facilities. ANR states that these facilities are estimated to 
cost $37,516,622.
    ANR states that the proposed 3.0 miles of 42-inch loopline along 
the Michigan Leg South comprise an extension of a 15.9 mile segment of 
certain Michigan Leg South loopline facilities that are currently 
pending approval in Docket No. CP97-319-000 (ANR's ``SupplyLink'' 
project). ANR contends that, although the design for the facilities 
proposed herein includes this pending 15.9 mile loopline segment, the 
facilities proposed here are required to serve different market needs 
in Wisconsin, and are not part of Docket No. CP97-319-000. ANR presumes 
that the SupplyLink facilities will be in service by the time ANR 
places the

[[Page 14438]]

facilities proposed herein in service.\1\ In the event that the 
SupplyLink loopline facilities are not available in the proposed time 
frame, ANR states that it will be required to seek appropriate 
authorizations from the Commission in this Docket to accommodate any 
such delays.
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    \1\ In Docket No. CP97-319-000, ANR proposed to place the 
SupplyLink facilities in service by November 1, 1999.
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    ANR proposes to charge the subscribing shippers rates that do not 
exceed its currently effective Mainline Area rates under the provisions 
of its rate schedules for firm service under its existing Second 
Revised Volume No. 1 to its FERC Gas Tariff.
    ANR states that it recently conducted an open season. As a result, 
a number of shippers expressed an interest in receiving firm 
transportation service on ANR. According to ANR, these shippers desired 
service from various existing and proposed pipeline interconnecting 
points located near or within the vicinity of the ANR Joliet Hub near 
Chicago, to markets located within the State of Wisconsin. ANR states 
that those non-affiliated shippers have entered into executed precedent 
agreements with ANR for new services that will utilize 94 Mdt/d of the 
new capacity proposed herein. ANR is also proposing to construct as 
part of this project 100 Mdt/d of presently uncommitted capacity that 
will be used to serve, on a timely basis, the projected near term 
demand growth in Wisconsin.
    According to ANR, a report recently published by the Wisconsin 
energy Bureau, entitled Wisconsin Energy Statistics 1998, indicates 
that, from 1987-1997, natural gas demand in Wisconsin grew at an annual 
rate of approximately 2.6 percent. ANR states that it currently serves 
firm peak day entitlements of approximately 2,200 Mdt/d, which equates 
to an annual growth in peak day requirements on the ANR system of 
approximately 57 Mdt per year. ANR contends that when this proposed 
project is placed in service approximately two years from now, normal 
growth patterns indicate that the 100 Mdt/d of additional capacity will 
be required in Wisconsin.
    ANR submits that its proposal to build additional facilities to 
meet projected growth in demand is in the overall public interest, and 
is consistent with Commission precedent. According to ANR, additional 
unsubscribed capacity for future growth as required has been previously 
approved as part of an application to replace mainline facilities.\2\ 
ANR further states that building all the necessary facilities as part 
of one single project will also reduce the potential for repeated 
environmental disturbance that might occur in the same location if the 
facilities were constructed on a piecemeal basis as part of two 
different projects.\3\
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    \2\ ANR cites Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation, 72 FERC 
para. 61,018 (1995).
    \3\ ANR cites Pacific Gas Transmission Company, 70 FERC para. 
61,016 at 61,043 (1995).
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    ANR argues that its expansion at the level proposed is justified, 
given that during the last two winter heating seasons ANR has 
experienced peak day throughout levels at or near capacity, despite the 
fact that both winters were warmer than normal. ANR states that its 
capacity expansion is an appropriate response to existing increased 
demands on its system, and the 100 Mdt/d of additional capacity 
represents only approximately four percent of ANR's current capacity 
into the State of Wisconsin.
    ANR also states that it has also contacted shippers whose capacity, 
if reduced or released permanently, would reduce the need for the 
proposed new construction, in order to ensure that the new facilities 
are appropriately sized. ANR states that no shipper offered to reduce 
or release its capacity on a permanent basis.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said amendment should on or before April 9, 1999, 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 385.214 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 parties directly involved. 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 filed by the applicant and every one of the 
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 submit copies of comments or any other filing it makes 
with the Commission to every other intervenor in the proceeding, as 
well as 14 copies with the Commission.
    A person does not have to intervene, however, in order to have 
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 Commisson by Sections 7 and 15 of the Natural Gas Act and 
the Commission's Rules of Practice and procedure, a hearing will be 
held with further notice before the Commisson or its designee on this 
application if no motion to intervene is filed within the time required 
herein, or if the Commission on its own review of the matter finds that 
permission and approval for the proposed certificate are 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 ANR to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-7248 Filed 3-24-99 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M