[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13739-13740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6178]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-104-000]


Distrigas of Massachusetts Corporation; Notice of Application

March 8, 2000.
    Take notice that on February 28, 2000, Distrigas of Massachusetts 
Corporation (DOMAC), 75 State Street, 12th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 
02109, filed in Docket No. CP00-104-000, an application pursuant to 
Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part 157 of the 
Commission's Regulations, for a certificate of public convenience and 
necessity authorizing DOMAC to install, operate, and maintain 
facilities at its Everett, Massachusetts LNG Plant in order to recover 
natural gas vapor that is currently being vented to the atmosphere 
during LNG cargo transfer operations, 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 Internet at http://
www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 for assistance).
    DOMAC states that its existing vapor handling system adequately 
recovers the natural gas vapor that results from LNG storage. However, 
during cargo transfer, additional vapor is produced, causing 
approximately one percent of each LNG cargo to be vented to the 
atmosphere in order to maintain design pressure in the LNG tanks. DOMAC 
now seeks to recover this additional vapor by installing the proposed 
vapor recovery facilities, consisting of a turbo expander-driven 
compressor, a heat exchanger, a water pump, a meter, and associated 
interconnecting piping. DOMAC estimates that the proposed equipment 
will enable the yearly recovery of over 830,000 Mscf of vapor, which 
will be marketed. According to DOMAC, construction of the new 
facilities will conserve energy and reduce methane emissions. The 
estimated cost of the facilities is $7 million and will be financed 
from funds on hand.
    DOMAC states that it is not proposing any cost-based recovery of 
the cost associated with this facility, therefore, its existing 
customers will not subsidize the project. Further, DOMAC asserts that 
its proposal will not have any adverse impacts on its existing 
customers, competing pipelines and their existing customers, third 
party landowners, or the surrounding community. Based on this, DOMAC 
states that its proposal is consistent with

[[Page 13740]]

the Commission's certificate policy statement.\1\
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    \1\ Certification of New Interstate Natural Gas Pipeline 
Facilities, 88 FERC para.61,227 (1999), order clarifying, 90 FERC 
para.61,128 (2000).
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    Any questions concerning this application should be directed to 
Robert A. Nailling, Senior Counsel, Distrigas of Massachusetts 
Corporation, 75 State Street, 12th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 
at (617) 526-8300.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before March 29, 2000, file 
with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, 
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 or 385.214) 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 person to whom the protests 
are directed. 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 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 
intervenor 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 of 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 Regulatory 
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 hererin, 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 DOMAC to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-6178 Filed 3-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M