[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 94 (Monday, May 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30978-30979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12080]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-233-000]


Southern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application

May 9, 2000.
    Take notice that on May 1, 2000, Southern Natural Gas Company, Post 
Office Box 2563, Birmingham, Alabama 35202-2563, filed an application 
in Docket No. CP00-233-000 pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas 
Act (NGA), for a certificate of public convenience and necessity 
authorizing the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline, 
compression, measuring and other related facilities, 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.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222).
    Southern states that during November 1999, it announced an open 
season to obtain requests for additional firm service. It is stated 
that Southern Company Services, Inc. (SCS), South Carolina Pipeline 
Corporation (SCPC), and the City of LaGrange, Georgia (LaGrange) have 
subscribed for a total of 335,800 Mcf per day of firm transportation 
(FT) service on Southern's system, with shipper signing a service 
agreement with a 15-year term. To provide this FT service, Southern 
requests authorization to construct, install, and operate certain 
pipeline loops, compression, measurement, and appurtenant facilities in 
two phases. Southern indicates that Phase I will consist of the 
facilities necessary to provide 139,900 Mcf per day of transportation 
demand, with an in-service date of June 1, 2002. It is further stated 
that Phase II will consist of the facilities to provide the remaining 
transportation demand with an in-service date of June 1, 2003. 
Specifically, Southern requests authorization to construct, install, 
and operate the following:
    Phase I: (1) approximately 5.67 miles of 30-inch South Main 3rd 
Loop Line extending in Clarke County, Mississippi; (2) approximately 
5.0 miles of 30-inch South Main 3rd Loop Line in Sumter County, 
Alabama; (3) approximately 7.82 miles of 30-inch South Main 3rd Loop 
Line in Perry and Dallas Counties, Alabama; (4) approximately 7.97 
miles of 30-inch South Main 3rd Loop Line in Dallas and Autauga 
Counties, Alabama; (5) approximately 5.96 miles of 30-inch South Main 
4th Loop Line in Macon County, Alabama; (6) approximately 5.08 miles of 
24-inch South Main 2nd Loop Line in Jefferson County, Georgia; (7) 
approximately 1.50 miles of 8-inch LaGrange Extension Loop Line in Lee 
County, Alabama; (8) install a Caterpillar 3616 high-speed 
reciprocating compression rated at 4,445 horsepower, replace existing 
primary pulsation bottles and make piping modifications at Enterprise 
Compressor Station in Clarke County, Mississippi; (9) reconfigure 
existing station piping for parallel operation (currently in series 
configuration), re-wheel existing Dresser-Rand compressors on the GE 
turbines, and install a Solar Centaur 40 (ISO rated at 4,700 
horsepower) turbine-driven centrifugal compressor at York Compressor 
Station in Sumter County, Alabama; (10) reconfigure existing station 
piping for parallel operation (currently in series configuration) and 
re-wheel existing Dresser-Rand compressors on the GE turbines at Selma 
Compressor Station in Dallas County, Alabama; (11) reconfigure existing 
station piping for parallel operation (currently in series 
configuration), re-wheel existing Dresser-Rand compressors on the GE 
turbines, and install a Solar Taurus 70 (ISO rated at 10,310 
horsepower) turbine-driven centrifugal compressor at Auburn Compressor 
Station in Lee County, Alabama; (12) install a Caterpillar 3616 high-
speed reciprocating compressor, rated at 4,445 horsepower, at Thomaston 
Compressor Station in Upson County, Georgia; (13) interconnection 
facilities to provide SCS's Phase I transportation demand to the Goat 
Rock Plant located in Lee County, Alabama; and (14)

[[Page 30979]]

measurement facilities to provide SCPC with its transportation demand 
in Aiken County, South Carolina.
    Southern states that there are also non-jurisdictional facilities 
related to the Phase I Facilities. It is stated that Southern will 
construct facilities to enable delivery of gas to the Goat Rock Plant 
located in Lee County, Alabama. It is indicated that the Goat Rock 
Plant is a non-jurisdictional power plant to be constructed, owned and 
operated by one of the electric utility affiliates of SCS. Southern 
states that an affiliate of SCS also will construct and own a new meter 
station and approximately 5.07 miles of 20-inch connecting pipeline 
located between the Goat Rock Tap and the new meter station, with 
Southern operating the connecting pipe and meter station. Southern also 
states that SCPC will construct, own, and operate approximately 2.5 
miles of 16-inch connecting pipeline.
    Phase II: (1) approximately 10.39 miles of 30-inch South Main 3rd 
Loop Line extending Loop in Clarke and Lauderdale Counties, 
Mississippi; (2) approximately 10.54 miles of 30-inch South Main 3rd 
Loop Line extending Loop 2 in Sumter County, Alabama; (3) approximately 
8.06 miles of 30-inch South Main 3rd Loop Line in Autauga County, 
Alabama; (4) approximately 5.0 miles of 30-inch South Main 4th Loop 
Line extending Loop 5 in Tallapoosa and Macon Counties, Alabama; (5) 
install a Solar Taurus 70 (ISO-rated at 10,310 horsepower) turbine-
driven centrifugal compressor at Selma Compressor Station in Dallas 
County, Alabama; and (6) interconnection facilities to deliver 98 Mmcfd 
at the Autaugaville Plant in Autauga County, Alabama.
    Southern indicates that there are also certain non-jurisdictional 
facilities related to the Phase II Facilities. Southern states that it 
will construct facilities to enable delivery of gas to the Autaugaville 
Plant located in Autauga County, Alabama. It is stated that the 
Autaugaville Plant is a non-jurisdictional power plant to be 
constructed, owned and operated by one of the electric utility 
affiliates of SCS. It is also stated that an affiliate of SCS also will 
construct and own a new meter station and approximately 11.2 miles of 
20-inch pipeline located between the Autaugaville Tap and the new meter 
station. Southern states that it will operate the connecting pipe and 
meter station.
    Southern states that the total cost of the facilities (Phases I and 
II) is estimated to be $147.3 million, to be financed initially through 
short term financing, available cash from operations or a combination 
of both, and ultimately through permanent financing. Southern requests 
that the Commission approve a predetermination of roll-in for the 
expansion in its next rate proceeding, citing both financial benefits 
to existing customers and system-wide operational benefits.
    Southern is requesting that the Commission issue a Preliminary 
Determination on Non-environmental issues by December 1, 2000, with 
final approval on all issues by May 1, 2001.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make protest with reference 
to said application should on or before May 30, 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 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 parties directly involved. 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 Commission and will receive copies of all 
documents filed by the Applicant and by every one of the intervenors. 
Any 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 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 Southern to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-12080 Filed 5-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M