[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 173 (Thursday, September 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46617-46618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22336]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-433-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation; Notice of Application

August 30, 2001.
    On August 27, 2001, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation 
(Transco), P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251, filed an application in 
Docket No. CP01-433-000 pursuant to Sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA) for (1) a certificate of public convenience and 
necessity authorizing Transco's installation and operation of two 
electric motor driven centrifugal compressors at Transco's existing 
Compressor Station No. 35 in Harris County, Texas to comply with the 
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, and (2) an order permitting and 
approving abandonment by removal of the four existing natural gas-fired 
compressors at Station No. 35. To comply with requirements set by the 
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) for the 
Metropolitan Houston-Galveston Intrastate Air Quality Control Region, 
Transco needs to start work at the station in January 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.gov using the ``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from 
the RIMS Menu and follow the instructions (please call (202) 208-2222 
for assistance).
    Transco states that the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and state 
implementation plans pursuant thereto require certain reductions of 
NOX (oxides of nitrogen) air emissions at certain of 
Transco's compressor stations. Accordingly, during the past few years 
and over the next few years Transco has and plans to install or modify 
certain facilities at these stations to achieve the required reductions 
of NOX. In most cases, installations and modifications would 
be made on existing natural gas-fired compressors, and Transco would 
make these installations and modifications pursuant to its blanket 
facilities certificate (18 CFR 157.208) issued in Docket No. CP82-426 
when it is authorized to do so (either under automatic or prior notice 
authorization, depending on the estimated dollar amount). However, at 
Station No. 35 the existing natural gas-fired compressors will be 
retired and replaced with units driven by electric motors, and thus 
Transco states it will need individual certificate and abandonment 
authority from the Commission.
    Transco states that the facilities at Station No. 35 are located 
within a fenced area of approximately 23 acres. All proposed 
construction activities associated with the installation of the new 
facilities and removal of existing facilities will occur within the 
boundaries of the existing station property. Extensions to existing 
access roads will be located within the fenced area.
    Transco states that it proposes to eliminate NOX 
emissions from the existing natural gas-fired compressor engines 
located at Station No. 35. These NOX emission reductions are 
required to comply with the TNRCC requirements set for the Metropolitan 
Houston-Galveston Intrastate Air Quality Control Region. This 
NOX emissions elimination will be achieved by replacing the 
four existing compressors driven by Nordberg 3800 HP natural gas-fired 
engines with two new centrifugal compressors, each driven by a 7455 HP 
General Electric synchronous electric motor. The horsepower of the new 
units will be sufficient to meet Transco's contract obligations to its 
firm shippers.
    Transco states that a new compressor building housing the new units 
will be approximately 75 feet x 110 feet. This compressor building will 
be constructed north of the existing pipeline. Yard piping will be 
modified to accommodate the new building. A new 35 foot by 72 foot 
auxiliary building will be constructed to house control and safety 
equipment and an emergency generator. A new 16 foot by 50 foot skid-
mounted switchgear building will be constructed to house the electrical 
equipment for the electric driven centrifugal compressors.
    Transco states a new substation will be constructed for the 
transformers and electrical equipment that will supply electric power 
to the electric driven centrifugal compressors. The substation area 
will be approximately 120 feet x 200 feet and will be located in the 
northwest corner of the property. The substation will be constructed 
and owned by Transco. The substation will receive electric power via a 
high voltage service drop from an existing transmission line of Houston 
Lighting and Power Company, located along the western edge of the 
station property.

[[Page 46618]]

    Transco states that approximately four acres of the existing 
station site will be impacted by the installation activity.
    Transco states that no ground or surface water impacts will occur 
as a result of this project. The existing fenced station facility 
property does not contain any wetlands or surface water bodies. Areas 
disturbed by the installation activity will be restored and maintained 
according to applicable provisions in the Commission's Upland Erosion 
Control, Revegetation, and Maintenance Plan (``Plan'').
    Transco states that the station noise emissions after the 
installation of the new electric units will be equal to or lower than 
the current station noise emissions at the nearest noise-sensitive 
areas.
    Transco states that the above-discussed installations will cost 
approximately $18.2 million.
    Transco states that no air permits are required for the compressor 
conversion, although a new natural gas-fired auxiliary generator will 
be registered with the TNRCC, at which time it will be authorized under 
a Permit-By-Rule. The TNRCC Title V permit will be modified upon the 
completion of this NOX emission reduction project. Other 
than the above, Transco is not aware of any application to supplement 
or effectuate the proposal set forth herein which must be or is to be 
filed by Transco, any of Transco's customers, or any other persons with 
any other Federal, State or regulatory body.
    Transco states that the construction and operation of the proposed 
facilities will have no significant impact on the quality of human 
health or the environment other than the positive impact of reducing 
NOX emissions. 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.
    Transco states that because of installation of the new electric 
units, the existing natural gas-fired compressors and associated 
equipment will not be needed. Accordingly, the four units and all 
associated equipment required for operation of these units will be 
removed. The existing compressor building will be demolished and 
removed. This will require the disturbance of an additional one acre 
within the Station No. 35 site. This area will be restored pursuant to 
the Commission's Plan and maintained as a grassy area. The estimated 
cost of this removal work is approximately $2.5 million.
    Transco submits that this project will serve the public convenience 
and necessity because it will eliminate NOX emissions at 
Station No. 35 and enable Transco to comply with the Clean Air Act 
Amendments of 1990 and the requirements set by the TNRCC for the 
Metropolitan Houston-Galveston Intrastate Air Quality Control Region.
    Transco's contact person for this project is Tom Messick, P.O. Box 
1396, Houston, Texas 77251, at (713) 215-2772.
    There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of 
this abandonment. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by 
becoming a party to the proceedings for this abandonment should, on or 
before September 20, 2001, file with David P. Boergers, Secretary, 
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. Copies of this 
filing are on file with the Commission and are available for public 
inspection. 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 
under the ``e-Filing'' link.
    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 
abandonment. 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 abandonment 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 abandonment should submit an original and two copies of their 
comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commenters 
will be placed on 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.
    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. 01-22336 Filed 9-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P