[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 179 (Thursday, September 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55512-55513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23599]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP97-168-005]


Alliance Pipeline L.P.; Notice of Amendment

September 8, 2000.
    Take notice that on August 28, 2000, Alliance Pipeline L.P. 
(Alliance), 605-5th Avenue SW., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3H5, 
filed, pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part 
157 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) 
Regulations, in Docket No. CP97-168-005 for an amendment of the 
certificate of public convenience and necessity issued to Alliance on 
September 17, 1998, in Docket No. CP97-168-000, et al.,\1\ to delete 
the authority to: (1) Construct and operate an interconnection with 
Natural Gas Pipline Company (NGPL); and (2) install a spare, backup 
compressor unit at the Tampico compressor station, 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).
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    \1\ Alliance pipeline L.P., 84 FERC para. 61,239 (1998).
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    Any questions regarding the application should be directed to Mr. 
William A. Williams, Attorney for Alliance, Fulbright & Jaworski 
L.L.P., 801 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20004-2615, or call 
(202) 662-4673.
    Alliance states that the NGPL interconnect and the spare compressor 
unit at the Tampico compressor station that were authorized in the 
September 17, 1998 order are no longer needed. The NGPL interconnect is 
no longer

[[Page 55513]]

required because NGPL was granted authority, on June 7, 1999, in Docket 
No. CP99-546,\2\ to construct and operate alternative interconnect 
facilities which, among other things, provide the capability for 
Alliance to deliver to NGPL up to 1.6 Bcfd, the same level authorized 
by the Alliance certificate order.
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    \2\ Natural Gas Pipeline Company, 90 FERC para. 62,013 (2000).
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    Additionally, Aux Sable Liquid Products L.P. (Aux Sable) has 
decided to construct a twin-train processing plant, as opposed to its 
originally contemplated one-train facility. Alliance explains that the 
redundancy built into the two-train design results in excess 
compression capability within the Aux Sable plant when both trains are 
operational. Alliance states that it may meet any need for spare or 
backup compression capability by utilizing the redundant compression 
capability within the Aux Sable plant.
    Alliance states that, in its calculation of the initial rates filed 
in its August 4, 2000, application in Docket No. CP97-168-004, et al., 
Alliance has reflected both the savings associated with the deletion of 
the spare unit at Tampico and the actual costs attributable to the 
alternative interconnect approved in the NGPL proceeding. Alliance 
argues that, while there may be costs associated with Alliance's use of 
the compression capability within the Aux Sable plant, it is far more 
cost effective and efficient for Alliance to rely upon that excess Aux 
Sable plant compression than to incur the $14 million capital cost of 
the spare unit at Tampico.
    Alliance concludes that because this application involves the 
deletion of facilities previously certificated there will be no 
negative impact on the environment and no landowner will be affected. 
Additionally, Alliance avers that deletion of the subject facilities 
will have no effect upon Alliance's presently certificated services as 
the NGPL interconnect is replaced by an alternate interconnect with the 
same capability to deliver 1.6 Bcfd to NGPL, and, since no 
authorization had been granted to operate the spare compressor unit at 
Tampico, its elimination likewise has no effect on Alliance's ability 
to provide service to its customers.
    Any person desiring to participate in the hearing process or to 
make any protest with reference to said application should on or before 
September 29, 2000, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
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 or 385.211) and the Regulations under the 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. 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.
    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 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 formal hearing is 
required, further notice of such hearing will be duly given.
    Under the procedure provided for, unless otherwise advised, it will 
be unnecessary for Alliance to appear or be represented at the hearing.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-23599 Filed 9-13-00; 8:45 am]
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