[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 74 (Monday, April 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20441-20442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9474]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-165-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation; Notice of Application

April 11, 2000.
    Take notice that on April 3, 2000, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line 
Corporation (Transco), P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251, filed in 
Docket No. CP00-165-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act for a certificate of public convenience and necessity 
authorizing Transco's Sundance Expansion Project (Sundance), located in 
Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina, an incremental 
expansion of Transco's existing pipeline system which will provide 
236,383 dekatherms per day (dts/d) of new firm transportation capacity 
to serve increased market demand in the Southeastern region of the 
United States by a proposed in-service date of May 1, 2002, 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 states that an order to create the firm transportation 
capacity for the Sundance project, it proposes to construct and operate 
the following facilities on its mainline pipeline system:
    1. 12.03 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline loop from milepost (MP) 
772.81 on Transco's mainline in Clarke County, Mississippi to MP 784.84 
in Choctaw County, Alabama (the DeSoto loop).
    2. 9.36 miles of 48-inch diameter pipeline loop from MP 851.46 on 
Transco's mainline in Dallas, County, Alabama to MP 860.82 in Perry 
County, Alabama (the Summerfield loop).
    3. Piping modifications at Transco's existing Compressor Station 
No. 105, which is located in Coosa County, Alabama.
    4. 8.97 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline loop from MP 1247.03 on 
Transco's mainline in Cleveland County, North Carolina to MP 1256.00 in 
Gaston County, North Carolina (the Kings Mountain loop).
    5. 7.67 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline loop from MP 1287.11 on 
Transco's mainline to MP 1294.78 in Iredell County, North Carolina (the 
Mooresville loop).
    6. The installation of one new 18,975 horsepower compressor unit, 
and the uprating of an existing 15,000 horsepower compressor unit, and 
an existing 16,500 horsepower compressor unit to 18,975 horsepower each 
at Transco's existing Compressor Station No. 115, which is located in 
Coweta County, Georgia. The proposed Sundance project will increase the 
total certificated compression at this station to 56,425 horsepower.
    7. The installation of one new 15,000 horsepower compressor unit, 
and the uprating of an existing 4,000 horsepower compressor unit to 
4,800 horsepower at Transco's existing Compressor Station No. 125, 
which is located in Walton County, Georgia. The proposed Sundance 
project will increase the total certificated compression at this 
station to 38,800 horsepower.
    8. The installation of gas coolers at Transco's existing Compressor 
Station No. 150, which is located in Iredell County, North Carolina.
    Transco declares that the total estimated cost for the proposed 
facilities will be $134.67 million.
    Transco states that the construction and operation of the proposed 
facilities will not have a significant impact on human health or the 
environment. Transco asserts that the proposed facilities, for the most 
part, will be installed either within or immediately adjacent to 
existing pipeline or utility rights-of-way and Transco's existing 
compressor station yards. Transco certifies that the proposed 
facilities will be designed, constructed, operated, and maintained in 
accordance with all applicable safety standards and plans for 
maintenance and inspection.
    Any questions regarding the application should be directed to Toi 
Anderson, at (713) 215-4540 and (1-888) 214-8475, Transcontinental Gas 
Pipe Line Corporation, P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251.
    Transco states that it held an open season from April 16 through 
June 1, 1999, during which it received written expressions of interest 
from potential shippers desiring new firm transportation service to be 
made available as a result of the Sundance project. As a result of the 
open season, Transco declares that it executed precedent agreements 
with the following twelve shippers: Carolina Power & Light Company 
(75,000 dts/d); City of Buford, Georgia (2,588 dts/d); Clinton-Newberry 
Natural Gas Authority, South Carolina (2,000 dts/d); City of Commerce, 
Georgia (207 dts/d); City of Covington, Georgia (776 dts/d); City of 
Fort Hill, South Carolina (8,000 dts/d); City of Fountain Inn, South 
Carolina (3,500 dts/d); City of Greer, South Carolina (2,500 dts/d); 
City of Sugar Hill, Georgia (518 dts/d); City of Toccoa, Georgia (1,035 
dts/d); City of Winder, Georgia (259 dts/d); and Southern Company 
Services, Inc. (140,000 dts/d). Transco states that 100% of the firm 
capacity to be created by the Sundance project is subscribed to by 
these twelve shippers.
    Transco declares that the firm transportation service under the 
Sundance project will be provided under Rate Schedule FT of Transco's 
FERC Gas Tariff, Volume No. 1, and Transco's blanket certificate under 
Part 284(G) of the Commission's regulations. Transco states that the 
proposed cost-based recourse rate for the Sundance project is based on 
a straight fixed-variable rate design methodology and an increment cost 
of service.
    Transco requests that the Commission issue a preliminary 
determination on the non-environmental aspects of this proposal by 
September 1, 2000, and a final order granting the authorizations by 
April 1, 2001.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said Application should on or before May 2, 2000, 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 Rule of Practice and 
Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 or 18 CFR 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. 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

[[Page 20442]]

in accordance with the Commission's Rules.
    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 Natural Gas Act and the Commission's Rules and Procedure, 
a hearing will be held without further notice before the Commission or 
its designee on this Application if no petition 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 abandonment is required by the 
public convenience and necessity. If a petition 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 Applicant to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-9474 Filed 4-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M