[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 63230]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30114]



[[Page 63230]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-31-000]


Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P.; Notice of Application

November 29, 2001.
    Take notice that on November 20, 2001, Iroquois Gas Transmission 
System, L.P. (Iroquois), One Corporate Drive, Suite 600, Shelton, 
Connecticut 06484, filed an application in the above-referenced docket 
number pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act and Parts 157 of 
the Commission's Rules and Regulations, for a certificate of public 
convenience and necessity authorizing Iroquois to construct and operate 
its Brookfield Expansion Project (Brookfield Project). The application 
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#'' and follow the instructions (please 
call (202) 208-2222 for assistance).
    In order to implement the Brookfield Project, Iroquois requests 
authorization to construct and operate a new compressor unit, with 
10,000 (nominal) horsepower, at a proposed compressor station to be 
located in Brookfield, Connecticut. Iroquois has conducted non-binding 
open seasons for additional firm transportation capacity on its system. 
In addition, from September 5, 2001 through September 19, 2001, 
Iroquois solicited its existing customers for permanently released 
capacity that could be used by the expansion shippers. Because no 
shipper released capacity, Iroquois has executed Precedent Agreements 
with Astoria Energy Company, L.P. (Astoria Energy) and PPL EnergyPlus, 
LLC (PPL Energy) for firm transportation service commencing September 
1, 2003. The proposed facilities are designed to provide up to 60,000 
dekatherms per day of firm transportation capacity to Astoria Energy 
and up to 25,000 dekatherms per day of firm transportation capacity to 
PPL Energy. SCS Energy, LLC (SCS), an affiliate of Astoria Energy, is 
developing a 1,000 MW electric generation facility in Astoria, Queens, 
New York with a proposed in-service date of November 1, 2003. PPL 
Energy is a marketing company seeking firm natural gas service to South 
Commack, New York.
    Iroquois states that the construction and operation of the 
Brookfield Project will have minimal impact on landowners and the 
environment. Iroquois indicates that minimal tree clearing will take 
place at the compressor station site, which will provide an additional 
barrier to minimize potential visual and/or noise impacts of the new 
compressor unit.
    The total cost of the Brookfield Project is estimated to be 
approximately $24,637,000. Iroquois proposes to charge its Part 284 
open-access RTS rates for the new service and to roll the costs of the 
project into its first Section 4 rate proceeding which becomes 
effective after the in-service date of the proposed facilities.
    Any questions regarding the application be directed to Jeffrey A. 
Bruner, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for Iroquois, One 
Corporate Drive, Suite 600, Shelton, Connecticut 06484, at (203) 925-
7200, or Donald F. Sanata, Jr., attorney for Iroquois, Troutman 
Saunders, LLP, 401 Ninth Street, NW., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004, 
at (202) 274-2815.
    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 December 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. 01-30114 Filed 12-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P