[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25492-25493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11933]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP99-392-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation; Notice of Application

May 6, 1999.
    Take notice that on April 29, 1999, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line 
Corporation (Transco), Post Office Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251, 
filed an application pursuant to sections 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 Transco to 
construct and operate facilities which will provide 204,099 dekatherms 
per day (dt per day) of new firm transportation capacity on Transco's 
system, 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).
    Transco seeks authorization of its SouthCoast Expansion Project 
(SouthCoast), an incremental expansion of Transco's pipeline system in 
its southern market area which will provide 204,099 dt per day of new 
firm transportation capacity on its system, by a proposed in-service 
date of November 1, 2000.
    Specifically, Transco proposes to construct and operate the 
following facilities which Transco estimates will cost $108,354,725:
    1. 11.31 miles of 42-inch pipeline loop from milepost 799.95 on 
Transco's mainline in Choctaw County, Alabama to Transco's Compressor 
Station 90 at milepost 811.26 in Marengo County, Alabama, which will 
include installation of a pig launcher at milepost 764.66 (upstream of 
the loop) and installation of a pig receiver and liquid scrubber at 
Station 90.
    2. 13.94 miles of 48-inch pipeline loop from milepost 837.52 on 
Transco's mainline in Marengo County, Alabama to milepost 851.46 on 
Transco's mainline in Dallas County, Alabama, which will include 
relocation of an existing pig receiver from milepost 837.52 to milepost 
851.46. A pig launcher for the loop already exists at Station 90.
    3. 19.01 miles of 24-inch pipeline loop from milepost 0.00 on 
Transco's North Georgia Extension in Walton County, Georgia to milepost 
19.01 on the North Georgia Extension in Gwinnette County, Georgia, 
which will include installation of a pig launcher at milepost 0.00 and 
installation of a pig receiver at milepost 19.01.
    4. A new 15,000 horsepower gas turbine-powered compressor unit at 
Station 105 in Coosa County, Alabama.
    5. A new 16,500 horsepower electric motor-driven compressor unit at 
Station 115 in Coweta County, Georgia. Also, at station 115 gas coolers 
will be installed which will cool the total station gas flow.
    6. Unit 16 will be rewheeled at Station 120.
    7. Suction piping at Station 100 will be modified to allow 
sufficient gas flow to Unit 10.
    Transco states that the facilities, for the most part, will be 
installed either entirely within or immediately adjacent to Transco's 
existing right-of-way and compressor station yards.
    Transco indicates that it held an open season from July 22, 1998, 
to August 24, 1998, during which it accepted requests for firm service 
under SouthCoast. Transco states that as result of the open season, 
Transco executed precedent agreements with the following twelve 
shippers:

Atlanta Gas Light Company--61,160 dt per day
Georgia Power Company--40,000 dt per day
Santee Cooper--80,000 dt per day
Sylacaugh Utilities Board--4,000 dt per day
Visy Paper, Inc--4,500 dt per day
City of Buford, Georgia--3,105 dt per day
City of Covington, Georgia--1,294 dt per day
East Central Alabama Gas District--518 dt per day
City of Lawrenceville, Georgia--3,105 dt per day
City of Sugar Hill, Georgia--2,277 dt per day
City of Toccoa, Georgia--3,105 dt per day
City of Winder, Georgia--1,035 dt per day

Transco points out that the capacity covered by these precedent 
agreements totals 204,099, which is the capacity of SouthCoast.
    Transco states that the firm transportation service under 
SouthCoast will be rendered under Transco's Rate Schedule FT and Part 
284(G) of the Commission's regulations. Additionally, Transco states 
that the SouthCoast shippers will pay Transco's Rate Schedule FT rate 
and will also be charged any applicable charges and surcharges under 
Rate Schedule FT.
    Transco requests that the Commission make a determination that the 
costs associated with the SouthCoast facilities may be rolled into 
Transco's cost of service in Transco's first Section 4 rate proceeding 
which becomes effective following the in-service of the project. 
Transco claims that a presumption to roll-in the SouthCoast costs 
applies because the rate impact on its existing customers under each 
firm rate schedule is less than five percent which is the level set 
forth in the Commission's Statement of Policy for a presumption of 
rolled-in rate treatment on the pricing of new pipeline construction. 
Transco also claims that the subject facilities will produce 
significant system benefits and will be fully integrated physically and 
operationally with Transco's existing system.
    Transco requests that the Commission issue a preliminary 
determination approving all aspects of the subject application other 
than environmental matters by August 1, 1999, and a final order 
granting all certification by December 1, 1999.
    Any person desiring to participate in the hearing process or to 
make any protest with reference to said application should on or before 
May 27, 1999, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE, Washington, DC 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 proceedings. Any person wishing to become a 
party to a proceeding or to participate as a party in any hearing

[[Page 25493]]

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 by 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 the jurisdiction conferred upon the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission by sections 7 and 15 of the Natural Gas Act and 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 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 time 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 Transco to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-11933 Filed 5-11-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M