[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 214 (Monday, November 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55933-55934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27671]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-10-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp.; Notice of Application

October 30, 2001.
    Take notice that on October 22, 2001, Transcontinental Gas Pipe 
Line Corporation (Transco), PO Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251-1396, 
filed an application in Docket No. CP02-10-000 pursuant to section 7(c) 
of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and part 157(A) of the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission's Regulations (Commission), for a certificate of 
public convenience and necessity authorizing Transco's construction and 
operation of certain facilities at Compressor Station No. 110 (Station 
110) in Randolph County, Alabama to comply with the Clean Air Act 
Amendments of 1990, all as more fully set forth in the application 
which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. 
Copies of this filing are on file with the Commission and are available 
for public inspection. This filing may also be viewed on the web at 
http://www.ferc.gov using the ``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket #'' and 
follow the instructions (call 202-208-2222 for assistance).
    Transco states that the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and state 
implementation plans require certain reductions of NOX 
(oxides of nitrogen) air emissions at several of Transco's compressor 
stations. Accordingly, during the past few years and over the next few 
years Transco has installed and plans to install certain facilities at 
these stations to achieve the required reductions of NOX. 
Transco states that it plans to install these facilities 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 the stations where the estimated total cost of installing 
these facilities is more than $20.6 million, Transco states that it is 
not authorized to perform such work pursuant to its blanket facilities 
certificate and, therefore, is required to file an application for a 
certificate of public convenience and necessity.
    Transco states that it proposes to modify several of its existing 
reciprocating engines at Station 110 in order to comply with the State 
of Alabama plan to implement the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. 
Station 110 has 16 units including 15 reciprocating/compressor units 
and one Solar Mars gas turbine driven centrifugal compressor unit. The 
facilities at Station 110 are located within a fenced area of 
approximately 28 acres.
    Transco states that it plans to install turbochargers and 
associated equipment on 9 of the 15 reciprocating engines in order to 
reduce NOX emissions. These engines currently do not have 
turbochargers on them. Transco plans to modify the existing 
turbochargers at the other 6 reciprocating units to increase their 
capacity and install associated equipment in order to reduce 
NOX emissions. At all 15 engines, emissions will be reduced 
by achieving a true lean air-fuel ratio, injecting high pressure fuel 
directly into the power cylinders and making other engine adjustments. 
The injection of high pressure fuel directly into the power cylinders 
significantly improves the combustion process by producing a more 
homogeneous mixture of air and fuel within the power cylinder. The true 
lean air-fuel ratio coupled with the high pressure fuel injection works 
by promoting stable combustion characteristics and thus reduces the 
formation of NOX.
    Transco states that following installation of the turbochargers, 
the 9

[[Page 55934]]

engines will have the potential to perform above their current 
operating horsepower. However, since Station 110 is automated, Transco 
has the ability to shut down other engines or reduce their load to 
ensure that the station will not operate above the station's total 
certificated horsepower. Since Transco will install these turbochargers 
at Station 110 solely to achieve an environmental improvement, i.e., 
lower NOX emissions, Transco states that it has no intent or 
need to operate the station above its certificated horsepower. 
Therefore, Transco states that when it installs these turbochargers at 
Station 110 it will adjust the automation program at the station so 
that it will not operate above its certificated horsepower.
    At the other 6 engines, Transco states that modification of the 
existing turbochargers to increase their capacity will not create the 
potential of these engines performing above their current operating 
horsepower because the engines are already operating at maximum 
horsepower and cannot operate at a higher horsepower output. 
Accordingly, Transco states that there will be no increase in the 
capacity of Transco's system in the vicinity of the station as a result 
of installing the 9 new turbochargers and modifying the 6 existing 
turbochargers.
    Transco states that installation of new turbochargers and 
modifications to existing ones at Station 110 will require some work to 
be done outside of the compressor building. All of the proposed work 
described above will be built within 50 feet of existing station 
facilities and will be done within the confines of previously disturbed 
areas. Approximately 0.2 acre of previously disturbed ground will be 
affected by the proposed project. Restoration of this area will be 
conducted according to the Commission's Upland Erosion Control, 
Revegetation, and Maintenance Plan.
    Transco states that it estimates the proposed modifications will 
cost $26.8 million. Transco states that the installation 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 and that a state air permit 
will be negotiated with the Alabama Department of Environmental 
Management (ADEM).
    Transco states that this project will serve the public convenience 
and necessity because it will reduce NOX emissions at 
Station 110 and will enable Transco to comply with the Clean Air Act 
Amendments of 1990 and the requirements of the ADEM implementing 
regulations.
    Transco states that it needs to commence the work at Station 110 in 
January 2002 in order to complete the work on a timely basis with 
respect to the requirements of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and 
the requirements of the ADEM, while at the same time accommodating the 
operational needs of its pipeline system and ensuring that Transco's 
gas service obligations are met.
    Any questions regarding this application should be directed to Tom 
Messick, P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251-1396 at (713) 215-2772.
    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 November 20, 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 
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.
    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.
    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. 01-27671 Filed 11-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P