[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 125 (Thursday, June 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34436-34437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16225]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP01-384-000, CP01-385-000 and CP01-386-000]


Islander East Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Applications

June 22, 2001.
    Take notice that on June 15, 2001, Islander East Pipeline Company, 
L.L.C. (Islander East), P.O. Box 1642, Houston, Texas 77251-1642, filed 
applications pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act. In Docket 
No. CP01-384-000, Islander East seeks a certificate of public 
convenience and necessity authorizing it to construct, install and 
operate pipeline, compression, and metering facilities, as well as 
lease pipeline capacity on Algonquin Gas Transmission Company's 
(Algonquin) system. In Docket No. CP01-385-000, Islander East seeks a 
blanket certificate authorizing certain routine activities under Part 
157, Subpart F of the Commission's Regulations. In Docket No. CP01-386-
000, Islander East seeks a blanket certificate pursuant to 18 CFR part 
284, Subpart G of the Commission's Regulations for self-implementing 
transportation authority. Islander East's proposals are 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.rimsweb1.ferc.fed.us/rims.q?rp~intro (call 202-208-2222 for 
assistance).
    Islander East proposes in Docket No. CP01-384-000 to construct and 
operate approximately 44.8 miles of 24-inch pipeline from an 
interconnection with the facilities of Algonquin near North Haven, 
Connecticut to the town of Brookhaven, New York. At Brookhaven, 
Islander East will deliver gas to KeySpan Energy Delivery Long Island, 
a local distribution company, and to Brookhaven Energy Limited 
Partnership, an affiliate of American National Power, which is 
developing a power plant in Brookhaven. In addition, Islander East 
proposes to construct and operate approximately 5.6 miles of 24-inch 
pipeline from the Islander East mainline near Wading River, New York to 
a proposed power plant near Calverton, New York that is being developed 
by AES Endeavor, a division of AES Corporation. Further, Islander East 
seeks authority to construct and operate three metering stations and 
other appurtenant facilities. Islander East states that the capacity of 
the proposed pipeline is 285,000 Dth per day. The estimated cost of the 
facilities is approximately $149.6 million.
    Islander East also seeks authorization to lease 285,000 Dth per day 
of capacity on Algonquin's C-1 and C-1 L systems for an initial term of 
20 years. The fixed monthly lease payment under the lease agreement is 
$334,135. In addition, Islander East will pay a monthly operating and 
maintenance charge of $32,307. Islander East states that the monthly 
lease payment is less than what it would pay Algonquin for firm 
transportation service and thus meets Commission standards for lease 
payments.
    Islander East proposes to provide open access firm and 
interruptible service under Rate Schedules FTS and ITS, respectively. 
Islander East will offer both negotiated and recourse rates. Islander 
East designed its recourse rate using he straight fixed-variable 
method. Islander East has also included a pro forma FERC Gas Tariff 
under which it will provide transportation service.
    Islander East asserts that its project will provide the 
Connecticut, Long Island, and New York City markets with access to gas 
for: local distribution company growth, new gas-fired electric 
generating plants, and gas conversions. Further, Islander East states 
that its proposal is consistent with the Commission's statement of 
policy on certification of new interstate natural gas pipeline 
facilities. Islander East

[[Page 34437]]

requests a preliminary determination on non-environmental issues by 
December 31, 2001, and final certificate authorization by July 15, 
2002. Islander East states that this will allow construction to be 
completed by its proposed in-service date of November 1, 2003.
    Any questions regarding the application should be directed to 
Steven E. Tillman, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Islander East 
Pipeline Company, L.L.C., P.O. Box 1642, Houston, Texas 77251-1642 at 
713-627-5113 or by facsimile at 713-627-5947.
    There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of 
this project. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by 
becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or 
before July 13, 2001, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, a motion to 
intervene 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). A person obtaining party 
status will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary 
of the Commission and will receive copies of all documents filed by the 
applicant and by all other parties. A party must submit 14 copies of 
filings made with the Commission and must mail a copy to the applicant 
and to every other party in the proceeding. Only parties to the 
proceeding can ask for court review of Commission orders in the 
proceeding.
    However, a person does not have to intervene in order to have 
comments considered. The second way to participate is by filing with 
the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as possible, an original and 
two copies of comments in support of or in opposition to this project. 
The Commission will consider these comments in determining the 
appropriate action to be taken, but the filing of a comment alone will 
not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. The Commission's 
rules require that persons filing comments in opposition to the project 
provide copies of their protests only to the party or parties directly 
involved in the protest.
    Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of 
this project should submit an original and two copies of their comments 
to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commenters will be 
place don the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive 
copies of the environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings 
associated with the Commission's environmental review process. 
Environmental commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed 
documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commenters will 
not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by 
the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents 
issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court 
review of the Commission's final order.
    The Commission may issue a preliminary determination on non-
environmental issues prior to the completion of its review of the 
environmental aspects of the project. This preliminary determination 
typically considers such issues as the need for the project and its 
economic effect on existing customers of the applicant, on other 
pipelines in the area, and on landowners and communities. For example, 
the Commission considers the extent to which the applicant may need to 
exercise eminent domain to obtain rights-of-way for the proposed 
project and balances that against the non-environmental benefits to be 
provided by the project. Therefore, if a person has comments on 
community and landowner impacts from this proposal, it is important 
either to file comments or to intervene as early in the process as 
possible.
    Comments, protests, and interventions may be filed electronically 
via the internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and 
the instructions on the Commission's web site at http://www.ferc.gov/documents/makeanelectronicfiling/doorbell.htm.
    If the Commission decides to set the application for a formal 
hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, the Commission will issue 
another notice describing that process. At the end of the Commission's 
review process, a final Commission order approving or denying a 
certificate will be issued.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-16225 Filed 6-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M