[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46366-46367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21986]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP99-599-000]


Paiute Pipeline Company; Notice of Application

August 19, 1999.
    Take notice that on August 11, 1999, Paiute Pipeline Company 
(Paiute), P.O. Box 94197, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-4197, filed in Docket 
No. CP99-599-000, an application pursuant to Sections 7(b) and 7(c) of 
the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part 157 of the Commission's Regulations 
for an order granting a certificate of public convenience and 
necessity, and permission and approval to abandon facilities. Paiute 
proposes to replace a segment of deteriorating pipeline on its Carson 
Lateral and at the same time enhance the capacity on its Carson Lateral 
to meet the growth requirements of its shippers served by that portion 
of Paiute's mainline system, all as more fully set forth in the 
application which is on file with the Commission and open to public 
inspection. The application may be viewed on the web at 
www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call (202) 208-2222 for assistance).
    Paiute proposes to replace a deteriorated portion of the original 
10-inch transmission line on its Carson Lateral. Paiute states that due 
to the existing and projected load growth in the areas served by the 
Carson Lateral,

[[Page 46367]]

it also proposes to enhance the capacity of its Carson Lateral 
facilities by replacing the deteriorated segment with 20-inch diameter 
pipeline and by installing two new loop pipeline segments. 
Specifically, Paiute proposes to: (1) construct and operate 
approximately 5.5 miles of 20-inch replacement pipeline between 
mileposts 31.85 and 37.34 on the Carson Lateral in Lyon County, Nevada; 
(2) abandon in place approximately 5.5 miles of existing 10.75-inch 
pipeline between mileposts 31.85 and 37.34 on the Carson Lateral in 
Lyon County, Nevada; (3) construct and operate approximately 2.3 miles 
of 20-inch loop pipeline between mileposts 2.95 and 5.25 on the Carson 
Lateral in Storey and Lyon Counties, Nevada; and (4) construct and 
operate approximately 1.9 miles of 12.75-inch loop pipeline between 
mileposts 14.28 and 16.18 on its South Tahoe Lateral in Douglas County, 
Nevada.
    Paiute states that in response to a general open season held early 
this year, Southwest Gas Corporation-Northern Nevada (Southwest-
Northern Nevada) indicated that there had been a significant shift in 
its forecasted requirements and it requires additional delivery 
capability from Paiute downstream of the Wadsworth Junction in order to 
meet its projected winter peak day load profile for northern Nevada. 
Paiute further states that under the service agreement with Southwest-
Northern Nevada, Paiute is not obligated to transport more than 65,350 
Dth per day of gas for Southwest-Northern Nevada through the Wadsworth 
Junction. Southwest-Northern Nevada requested that level to be 
increased by 10,800 Dth to 76,150 Dth.\1\ Paiute also states that 
Sierra Pacific Power Company wants to have the capability to have 
transported and delivered to the Fort Churchill Power Plant up to the 
full contractual maximum daily quantity for that delivery point on a 
winter peak demand day. Paiute states that in order to maintain such 
capability and to meet the requirements of its other firm shippers 
served by the Carson Lateral, Paiute needs to install the proposed 
facilities.
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    \1\ Paiute states that the proposed facilities will add a 
nominal quantity of capacity on the Carson Lateral of 10,800 Dth on 
a design winter peak day. Paiute also states that upon placing the 
facilities in service, it intends to amend its service agreement 
with Southwest-Northern Nevada to increase by 10,800 Dth the limit 
on the quantity of gas that Paiute is obligated to transport for 
Southwest-Northern Nevada through the Wadsworth Junction.
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    The estimated cost of the proposed facilities is $5,425,000. The 
cost to abandon in place the existing 10.75-inch pipeline segment is 
estimated to be $22,000. Paiute states that it proposes to finance the 
above-described costs through ongoing regular financing programs and 
internally generated funds. Paiute requests the Commission to make a 
determination that the costs of the proposed facilities can be rolled 
into Paiute's systemwide rates in Paiute's next general rate case under 
Section 4 of the NGA. Paiute states that the proposed construction 
satisfies each of the three criteria required by the Policy Statement 
for rolled-in pricing. Paiute requests authorization no later than 
March 1, 2000, so that the proposed facilities can be constructed and 
placed in service by November 1, 2000.
    Any questions regarding this application should be directed to 
Edward C. McMurtrie at (702) 876-7178, Paiute Pipeline Company, P.O. 
Box 94197, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-4197.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before September 9, 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 385.211 and 385.214) and the regulations under 
the NGA (18 CFR 157.10). All protests filed with the Commission will be 
considered by it in determining he appropriate action to be taken but 
will not serve to make the protestants parties to the proceeding. Any 
person wishing to become a party in any proceeding herein 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 
interenvor 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 
comments considered. A person, instead, may submit two copies of such 
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 Commission by 
Sections 7 and 15 of the NGA and the 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 permission and approval for 
the proposed abandonment 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 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 Paiute to appear or to be represented at the 
hearing.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-21986 Filed 8-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M