[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16581-16582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7671]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-127-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation; Notice of Application

March 23, 2000.
    Take notice that on March 16, 2000, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line 
Corporation (Transco), Post Office Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251, 
filed an application for a certificate of public convenience and 
necessity authorizing Transco to construct and operate certain 
facilities at its Compressor Station No. 120 in Henry County, Georgia 
in order to comply with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, all as 
more fully set forth in the application on file with the Commission and 
open to public inspection. This filing may be viewed

[[Page 16582]]

on the web at http://www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 
for assistance).
    Transco proposes to modify several of its existing reciprocating 
engines at Compressor Station No. 120 (Station 120) in order to comply 
with the State of Georgia plan to implement the Clean Air Act 
Amendments of 1990. Station 120 has 18 units including 15 
reciprocating/compressor units, one Solar Centaur gas turbine, and two 
12,000 HP Ansaldo electric motor driven centrifugal compressor units. 
The facilities at Station 120 are located within a fenced area of 
approximately 20 acres.
    Transco states that it plans to install turbochargers and 
associated equipment on 8 of the 15 reciprocating engines in order to 
reduce NOX emissions. Transco plans to modify the existing 
turbochargers at the other 7 reciprocating units to increase their 
capacity and install associated equipment in order to reduce NOX 
emissions. Transco states that the 8 engines which will have 
turbochargers installed will have the potential to perform above their 
current operating horsepower. However, since Station 120 is automated, 
Transco says that it has the ability to shut down other engines or 
reduce its load to ensure that the station will not operate above the 
station's total certificated horsepower. Since Transco will install 
these turbochargers at Station 120 solely to achieve an environmental 
improvement, i.e., lower NOX emissions, Transco states that 
it has no intent or need to operate the station above its certificated 
horsepower. Therefore, when Transco installs these turbochargers at 
Station 120 Transco states that it will adjust the automation program 
at the station so that it will not operate above its certificated 
horsepower.
    At the other 7 engines, Transco states that modification of the 
existing turbochargers to increase their capacity will not create the 
potential of these engines performing above their current operating 
horsepower because the engines are already operating at maximum 
horsepower and cannot operate at a higher horsepower output. 
Accordingly, Transco emphasizes that there will be no increase in the 
capacity of Transco's system in the vicinity of the station as a result 
of installing the 8 new turbochargers and modifying the 7 existing 
turbochargers.
    Transco estimates that the proposed modifications will cost $25.4 
million.
    Transco states that it needs to commence the work at Station 120 on 
May 15, 2000 in order to complete the work on a timely basis with 
respect to the requirements of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and 
the state implementation plan, while at the same time accommodating the 
operational needs of its pipeline system and ensuring that Transco's 
gas service obligations are met. Accordingly, Transco requests that the 
Commission issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity by 
May 15, 2000.
    Any questions regarding this application should be directed to 
Alfred E. White, Jr., Senior Attorney, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line 
Corporation, P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251 14203 at (713) 215-
2000.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make a protest with reference 
to said application should on or before April 13, 2000, 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 or 385.214) and the regulations under the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA) (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.
    A person obtaining intervener status will be placed on the service 
list maintained by the Commission and will receive copies of all 
documents issued by the Commission, filed by the applicant, or filed by 
all other interveners. An intervener can file for rehearing of any 
Commission order and can petition for court review of any such order. 
However, an intervener must submit copies of comments or any other 
filing it makes with the Commission to every other intervener 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 be able to participate in meetings 
associated with the Commission's environmental review process. 
Commenters will not required to serve copies of filed documents on all 
other parties. However, commenters will not receive copies of all 
comments filed by other parties or issued by the Commission and 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 intervener status.
    Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
and subject to 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 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 Transco to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-7671 Filed 3-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M