[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6511-6512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3326]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-4-001]


Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Amendment

February 6, 2002.
    Take notice that on January 23, 2002, Maritimes & Northeast 
Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes), 1284 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, 
Massachusetts 02135, filed in Docket No. CP01-4-001, an application 
pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to amend the 
certificate of public convenience and necessity issued to Maritimes on 
December 21, 2001, in Docket Nos. CP01-4-000 (the Phase III Project), 
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).
    Specifically, Maritimes proposes to increase the diameter of a one-
mile segment of pipeline at the Beverly, Massachusetts terminus of its 
Phase III Project from a 24-inch diameter pipe to a 30-inch diameter 
pipe. Maritimes will also perform minor modifications at its Salem 
Metering Station to reflect a single 30-inch diameter pipeline for the 
entire Phase III Project, including the elimination of a 24-inch pig 
launcher and a 30-inch receiver that will no longer be necessary. 
Maritimes estimates that the cost of modifying the one mile of Phase 
III Project pipeline will increase the cost of the project by 
approximately $3.5 million. Maritimes acknowledges that it will have 
the burden of proof in any future rate case if it seeks to roll these 
additional costs into its system-wide rates. Maritimes asserts that the 
need for the amended authorization is dependent upon Algonquin Gas 
Transmission Company's related filing in Docket No. CP01-5-002 to 
increase its HubLine Project pipeline to 30-inch diameter line.
    Any questions regarding the application should be directed to 
Joseph F. McHugh, Director, Regulatory Affairs, M&N Management Company, 
1284 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, Massachusetts 02135 at 617-560-1518.
    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

[[Page 6512]]

to the proceedings for this project should, on or before February 27, 
2002, 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. The 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.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-3326 Filed 2-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P