[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52727-52728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22100]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP99-580-002 and CP99-582-003]


Southern LNG Inc.; Notice of Petition to Amend

August 24, 2000.
    Take notice that on August 15, 2000, Southern LNG Inc. (Southern 
LNG), 1900 Fifth Avenue North, P.O. Box 2563, Birmingham, Alabama 
35202-2563, filed an application pursuant to section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA) for limited amendment to the Order Issuing 
Certificate, section 3 Authorization, And Denying Request For Rehearing 
issued in this proceeding on March 16, 2000.\1\ Southern LNG requests 
the Commission's authorization for limited modifications to the sendout 
system (Sendout Modification) at the liquefied natural gas (LNG) import 
terminal on Elba Island, in Chatham County, Georgia (Elba Island 
Terminal). The Sendout Modification will increase the peak vaporization 
capacity from 540 Mmcf/d to 675 Mmcf/d.
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    \1\ On April 17, 2000, Southern LNG filed a motion for 
clarification of the authorization in the March 16, 2000 order in 
Docket No. CP99-579-002 which is being considered in conjunction 
with this petition to amend.
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    Copies of this filing are on file with the Commission and are 
available for public inspection. The application may be viewed on the 
web at www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (Call (202) 208-2222 for 
assistance). Any questions regarding the application may be directed to 
Patrick B. Pope, General Counsel, P.O. Box 2563, Birmingham, Alabama 
35202-2563, (205) 325-7126.
    The Sendout Modification is required to enhance the flexibility and 
reliability of firm service at Elba Island Terminal, because it will 
enable the terminal to receive LNG from various sources. El Paso 
Merchant Energy-Gas, Ltd. (Merchant Energy), which holds the capacity 
at Elba Island Terminal, now anticipates importing LNG purchased from 
Enron Americas LNG Company, in addition to Point Fortin LNG Exports 
Ltd., with supplies coming from various foreign production areas. The 
Sendout Modification will not alter the marine transfer or storage 
systems at the Elba Island Terminal. Southern LNG proposes the 
following modifications to the sendout system:
     Remove five existing Ryan Industries LNG vaporizers with 
capacity of 108 Mmcf/d each, having submerged combustion, six-burner 
configuration and replacing these existing units with five state-of-
the-art, natural gas-fired vaporizers with high efficiency, single 
burner configuration and submerged combustion water bath heaters. The 
new vaporizers will provide a sendout rate of up to 135 Mmcf/d per 
unit. In addition, Southern LNG will install a spare secondary LNG pump 
and associated transfer piping.
     Installing facilities to control a heating value of 
vaporized LNG delivered at the tailgate of the Elba Island Terminal. 
The imported LNG cargoes may have varying heating values, some of which 
may exceed the maximum in Southern LNG's tariff of 1,075 Btu per 
standard cubic foot (scf). Therefore, Southern LNG has developed two 
design alternatives for Btu stabilization facilities: (1) Injection of 
2% Nitrogen into the Sendout Stream which will allow receipt of 
approximately 1,090 Btu/scf, and (2) injection of 3.8% air which will 
allow receipt of approximately 1,117 Btu/scf. Southern LNG will propose 
a final design for Btu stabilization after further progress in the on-
going discussions with downstream shippers.
    The Sendout Modification will not involve any greenfield 
construction. The construction will be confined to an onshore area 
within previously disturbed and currently maintained property owned by 
Southern LNG and addressed in the environmental assessment (EA) and 
March 16, 2000 order.
    Southern LNG states that no subsidy from the existing customers 
exists in this proposal. Southern LNG proposes to roll the cost of the 
Sendout Modification into initial rates approved in the March 16, 2000 
order. The rolled-in rate treatment allocates 100% of the cost to 
Merchant Energy, who holds 100% of the capacity.
    The estimates of the capital cost for the Sendout Modification is 
$32,698,837 using air injection, and $42,197,710 using nitrogen 
injection, with the decision on the method to be made after further 
discussions. The cost and rate design effects of these two options are 
shown in Exhibit P of the amendment.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before September 14, 2000, 
file with the 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 385.214 and 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 the 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 Secretary of 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 serve copies of comments 
or any other filing it makes with the Commission to every other 
intervener 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

[[Page 52728]]

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 comments or those requesting intervener 
status.
    Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
and subject to the jurisdiction conferred upon, the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission by sections 7 and 15 of the Natural Gas Act, as 
amended, and the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, a 
hearing will be held without further notice before the Commission 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 a grant of the requested authorization 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 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 LNG to appear or to be represented 
at the hearing.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-22100 Filed 8-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M