[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19171-19172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9471]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-139-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application

April 12, 2002.
    Take notice that on April 3, 2002, Northern Natural Gas Company 
(Northern), 1111 South 103rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1000, filed 
in Docket No. CP02-139-000 an application pursuant to Section 7 of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA) and the Commission's Rules and Regulations for a 
certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing Northern to 
install and operate certain natural gas facilities at its Beatrice 
Compressor Station located in Gage County, Nebraska, to provide 
incremental capacity on the downstream pipeline system, all as more 
fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission 
and open to 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, Northern proposes to install a new 6-inch control 
valve (which will be tied into and controlled from the existing station 
program logic computer) in the existing 24-inch header at the discharge 
of the Beatrice Compressor Station. A ball valve will be installed 
upstream of the proposed control valve for isolation during 
maintenance. Two anubars will be installed in the 24-inch header to 
measure flows to the C- and B-Lines. Northern states that additional 
over-pressure protection will also be required in the station yard.
    Northern states that there are currently eight compressor units at 
the Beatrice Compressor Station for a total of 32,500 horsepower (hp). 
Northern states that it conducted an Open Season from April 30, 2001 
through June 22, 2001 soliciting interest for an expansion project in 
its Market Area (Project MAX). According to Northern, the Open Season 
was intended to identify and quantify market growth opportunities and 
the need to construct facilities necessary to serve the incremental 
capacity requirements that will commence during the five year period 
from 2003 to 2007. Upon evaluation of the requests received and a 
facility analysis, Northern determined that 90,000 Mcf/d of incremental 
capacity could be made available with minor modifications at its 
Beatrice Compressor Station. The proposed modifications will allow 
Northern to better utilize its existing pipeline capacity and 
compression at the station by allowing gas from the D-Line to flow into 
the C-Line. Northern contends that the 90,000 Mcf/d of incremental 
volume will be able to flow downstream of the Beatrice Compressor 
Station by alleviating a throughput constraint at the station and 
thereby improving the operational efficiency, reliability, and 
flexibility on this portion of its system.
    Northern proposes to install minor modifications at its Beatrice 
station to make this incremental capacity available to its customers as 
soon as practicable. Northern states that the capacity will be 
dedicated to the firm market requirements related to Project MAX 
beginning November 2003. The incremental capacity will be posted on 
Northern's internet website and will be made available to all of 
Northern's shippers on a non-discriminatory basis beginning with the 
2002/2003 heating season. Northern states that starting in November 
2003, the Project MAX shippers will then utilize the incremental 
capacity until it is fully subscribed in November 2007. Northern notes 
that any contracts that are entered into during the interim period will 
not

[[Page 19172]]

have the Right of First Refusal to the extent that the capacity is 
dedicated to shippers pursuant to Firm Agreements as part of Project 
MAX.
    Northern asserts that all construction activity will be conducted 
within the existing fenced area of its compressor station. Northern 
estimates that the capital cost for this project is $290,000 that will 
be funded with internally generated funds. Northern notes that it will 
be at risk for the recovery of the costs associated with the proposed 
modifications and is not requesting a determination of rolled-in 
pricing at this time, however, Northern states that it may, at the time 
it files with the Commission for the Project MAX facilities, request 
rolled-in treatment of the total project costs. Northern asks that the 
Commission issue an order granting approval of the proposed project no 
later than August 1, 2002.
    Any questions regarding the application should be directed to Mary 
Kay Miller, Vice President, Rates & Certificates, Northern Natural Gas 
Company, P.O. Box 3330, Omaha, Nebraska 68103-0330, telephone (402) 
398-7060 or Michael W. McGowan, Vice President, Certificates and 
Community Relations, Northern Natural Gas Company 1111 South 103rd 
Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124, telephone (402) 398-7110.
    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 3, 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.
    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. 02-9471 Filed 4-17-02; 8:45 am]
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