[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 3 (Monday, January 6, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 551-552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-125]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP03-31-000]


Paiute Pipeline Company; Notice of Application

December 30, 2002.
    Take notice that on December 19, 2002, Paiute Pipeline Company 
(Paiute), PO Box 94197, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-4197, filed in Docket 
No. CP03-31-000, an application pursuant to sections 7(b) and 7(c) of 
the Natural Gas Act (NGA), as amended, and part 157 of the regulations 
of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission), for an order 
granting a certificate of public convenience and necessity and 
permission and approval to abandon facilities, so as to enable Paiute 
to replace two segments of deteriorating pipeline on its Carson Lateral 
mainline system and at the same time enhance the capacity on its Carson 
Lateral to meet the growth requirements of an existing shipper served 
by that portion of its transmission system, Southwest Gas Corporation-
Northern Nevada (Southwest), all as more fully set forth in the 
application which is on file with the Commission and open to public 
inspection. This filing is available for review at the Commission in 
the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site 
at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``FERRIS'' link. Enter the docket 
number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to 
access the document. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support 
at [email protected] or toll-free at (866) 208-3676, or for 
TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.
    Paiute states that it will be replacing two deteriorated segments 
of the original 10-inch transmission line on its Carson Lateral. At the 
same time, however, as a result of a request by Southwest for 
additional firm transportation service on the Carson Lateral, Paiute 
states that it is also proposing to enhance the capacity of its Carson 
Lateral facilities by replacing the deteriorated segments with 20-inch 
diameter pipeline, rather than in kind, and by installing additional 
new and replacement 20-inch loop pipeline segments.
    Specifically, Paiute states that it proposes to (1) Replace 
approximately 8.0 miles of 10-inch pipeline on the Carson Lateral 
between mileposts 37.34 and 45.34 with approximately 8.1 miles of 20-
inch pipeline; (2) install approximately 6.4 miles of 20-inch loop

[[Page 552]]

pipeline on the Carson Lateral between mileposts 9.45 and 15.85; and 
(3) replace and/or install pressure regulating facilities at four 
locations.
    Paiute states that it has entered into a long-term transportation 
service agreement with Southwest under which Paiute will provide 
Southwest with additional firm transportation service of up to 5,868 
Dth per day from the Wadsworth receipt point, where Paiute 
interconnects with Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company, to various 
delivery points served by the Carson Lateral. Paiute also states that 
the proposed facilities will add the necessary capacity to provide the 
increase in firm transportation service and will preserve the existing 
flexibility of delivery capability afforded to its shippers.
    Paiute states that the estimated cost of the proposed facilities is 
$10,742,000. The cost to abandon in place the existing 10-inch pipeline 
and to remove certain pressure regulating facilities is estimated to be 
$18,000. Paiute requests that the Commission, in accordance with its 
1999 Policy Statement for the construction of new pipeline facilities, 
make a determination that a portion of the costs of the proposed 
facilities be recovered through an incremental rate charged to 
Southwest, and a portion of the costs be rolled into Paiute's 
systemwide rates in Paiute's next general rate case under section 4 of 
the Natural Gas Act. Paiute states that if it were to construct new 10-
inch pipeline to replace the two deteriorated 10-inch segments, it 
would install 6.42 miles of 10-inch replacement pipe at a cost of 
$3,487,000. Paiute states that it has requested that the Commission 
determine that $3,487,000 of the costs of the proposed facilities can 
be rolled into Paiute's systemwide rates in its next rate case, and 
that the remainder if the project cost be recovered through an 
incremental surcharge assessed to Southwest.
    Paiute requests the issuance of a final certificate order no later 
than June 1, 2003 so that the proposed facilities can be constructed 
and placed into service by November 1, 2003.
    Any questions concerning this application may be directed to Edward 
C. McMurtrie, Vice President, General Manager, Paiute Pipeline Company, 
PO Box 94197, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-4197, at (702) 876-7178 or fax 
(702) 873-3820.
    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 the comment date stated below 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 an 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.
    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. 
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings.
    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.
    Comment date: January 21, 2003.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-125 Filed 1-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P