[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 147 (Thursday, July 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44935-44936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19378]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-4-005]


Northwest Pipeline Corporation; Notice of Amendment

July 24, 2003.
    Take notice that on July 14, 2003, Northwest Pipeline Corporation 
(Northwest), 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84158, filed in 
Docket No. CP02-4-005, an application, pursuant to section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission's regulations to amend the certificate of public convenience 
and necessity issued June 27, 2002, in Docket Nos. CP02-4-000 and -001, 
as amended May 7, 2003, in Docket No. CP02-002, for Northwest's 
Evergreen Expansion project. This application 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.
    By this application, Northwest requests the Commission to approve 
the following changes to the previously certificated scope of work for 
the Evergreen Expansion project: (1) The elimination two of the three 
originally certificated sound walls at the Sumas Compressor Station in 
Whatcom County, Washington; (2) the elimination of the originally 
certificated installation of smaller replacement pistons on one of the 
two Clark TCV-12 reciprocating compressor units at the Sumas Compressor 
Station ``B'' plant; (3) the installation of a check valve and control 
system modifications to partially automate the operation of the two 
Clark TCV-12 units at the Sumas Compressor Station ``B'' plant in 
series mode; and (4) the elimination of the originally certificated 
valve assemblies for potential future tie-ins of the new Auburn and 
Covington loop pipelines, located in Pierce and King Counties, 
Washington to the South Seattle and North Tacoma Laterals.
    Northwest states that it has installed one sound wall and has 
determined that noise levels for the Sumas Compressor Station will 
comply with applicable standards without installation of the other two 
certificated sound walls. Northwest also states that it has installed 
smaller pistons in one compressor and has determined that foregoing 
such installation in the other compressor will maximize operational 
flexibility. Additionally, Northwest states that the installation of 
facilities to allow the compressor units to run in series mode will 
also enhance operational flexibility. Further, Northwest states that it 
has determined that, since the South Seattle and North Tacoma laterals 
are already connected to Northwest's mainline facilities, the 
certificated tie-in facilities are not required. Finally, Northwest 
states that the proposed modifications will not alter the certificated 
capacity for the Evergreen Expansion Project, and that elimination of 
the installation of the potential tie-in facilities will eliminate

[[Page 44936]]

approximately $100,000 of costs that otherwise would be rolled-in, 
while, for the Sumas Compressor Station, the costs of proposed new 
control facilities will be offset by the cost reductions for the 
proposed elimination of certificated facilities.
    Northwest requests that the Commission issue the amended 
certificate order by September 15, 2003, so the proposed modifications 
for the Sumas Compressor Station can be completed by October 1, 2003.
    Any questions concerning this application may be directed to Gary 
K. Kotter, Manager, Certificates and Tariffs-3C1, Northwest Pipeline 
Corporation, PO Box 58900, Salt Lake City, Utah 841580900, at (801) 
584-7117 or fax (801) 584-7764.
    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 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.
    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.
    Comment Date: August 8, 2003.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-19378 Filed 7-30-03; 8:45 am]
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