[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 18876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9283]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-142-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Application

April 11, 2002.
    Take notice that on April 5, 2002, Columbia Gas Transmission 
Corporation (Columbia), 12801 Fair Lakes Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia 
22030-0146, filed in Docket No. CP02-142-000, an application, pursuant 
to sections 7(b) and (c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and part 157 of 
the Commission's Regulations for abandonment authorization and a 
certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing the 
construction and operation of certain natural gas transmission 
facilities in Pennsylvania to provide firm transportation service (FTS) 
under part 284 of the Commission's Regulations for Rock Springs 
Generation, LLC (Rock Springs) and CED Rock Springs, Inc. (CEDRS) 
(together, ``Customer''), all as more fully set forth in the 
application which is on file with the Commission and open to public 
inspection.
    Columbia proposes to abandon 8.6 miles of 14-inch pipeline and 
replace it with 8.6 miles of 24-inch pipeline in Chester County, 
Pennsylvania, between its Eagle and Downingtown Compressor Stations. It 
is stated that Columbia will use this pipeline to transport up to 
270,000 Dekatherms (dt) per day of natural gas to the Customer's power 
plant to be located in Rock Springs, Cecil County, Maryland, in order 
to serve the fuel requirements of the power plant and to serve future 
electric demand requirements. Columbia states that it has signed 
contracts with Rock Springs and CEDRS to transport gas for a term of 20 
years, delivering 135,000 dt of gas per day to each. It is asserted 
that the replacement of the line will enhance reliability and 
flexibility for Columbia's existing customers through the creation of 
additional capacity during off-peak periods. Columbia will make 
deliveries to the Customer using the existing Rock Springs Meter 
Station which was constructed by Columbia under the automatic 
provisions of its blanket certificate and paid for by the Customer.
    Columbia estimates the cost of the project at $15,059,400 and 
requests rolled-in rate treatment for the cost, asserting that the 
project satisfies the requirements of the Commission's Pricing Policy 
Statement for new construction. Columbia requests that a certificate be 
issued by October 1, 2002, in order to begin service by April 1, 2003.
    Any questions regarding this application should be directed to 
Fredric J. George, Certificates, at (304)357-2359, Columbia Gas 
Transmission Company, P.O. Box 1273, Charleston, West Virginia 25325-
1273.
    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 May 2, 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 385.211 and 385.214) 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. Comments and 
protests may be filed electronically via the internet in lieu of paper. 
See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the Commission's website at http://www.ferc.fed.us/efi/doorbell.htm.
    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 environmental documents, and will be able to participate in 
meetings associated with the Commission's environmental review process. 
Commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on 
all other parties. However, Commenters will not receive copies of all 
documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission, and will 
not have the right to seek rehearing or appeal the Commission's final 
order to a Federal court.
    The Commission will consider all comments and concerns equally, 
whether filed by commenters or those requesting intervenor status.
    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 ion 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 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.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-9283 Filed 4-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P