[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 19412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-805]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. RP04-155-000 and RP03-398-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Technical Conference

April 6, 2004.
    Take notice that a technical conference will be held on Tuesday, 
April 20, 2004, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in a room to be designated at 
the offices of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    The purpose of the conference is to address Northern Natural Gas 
Company's (Northern) proposal to lower the acceptable levels of oxygen 
and carbon dioxide in gas received on its system. The technical 
conference was ordered in a February 27, 2004, order \1\ accepting and 
suspending a filing by Northern to increase its rates and make various 
changes to its tariff.
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    \1\ Northern Natural Gas Co., 106 FERC ] 61,195 (2004).
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    All interested persons are permitted to attend. To assist Staff, 
attendees are requested to e-mail [email protected] stating 
your name, the name of the entity you represent, the names of the 
persons who will be accompanying you, and a telephone number where you 
can be reached. Northern should be prepared to discuss its proposal, 
including the rationale for its proposal and any possible 
ramifications. Persons protesting aspects of Northern's proposal should 
be prepared to answer questions and discuss alternatives.
    The issues to be discussed will include, but are not limited to:
    A. Why does Northern need the more stringent gas quality standards 
it has proposed in this case?
    1. What is the current status of Northern with regard to problems 
caused by the quality of gas, e.g. have there been ruptures due to 
corrosion? If so, when did they occur? Has Northern had to issue any 
OFOs due to corrosive conditions on the pipeline? Are there other 
Federal regulations affecting its decision to seek more stringent 
standards?
    2. What are the corresponding carbon dioxide and oxygen standards 
on interconnecting pipelines?
    3. Why is Northern proposing the changes at this specific time?
    B. How did Northern decide upon the specifics of its gas quality 
proposal?
    1. Why change the currently effective carbon dioxide level from 2 
percent to less than or equal to 1 percent, as opposed to some other 
level? Why change the oxygen tolerance level from .2 percent to less 
than or equal to .02 percent, as opposed to some other level?
    2. What reports or studies were used in making these 
determinations? (Please provide any such reports.)
    3. What alternatives to these levels did Northern consider?
    C. What effects will Northern's proposal have on entities upstream 
or downstream of Northern, including interconnecting pipelines or local 
distribution companies (financial, operational, or otherwise)?
    D. What alternatives are there to Northern's proposal (operational 
or otherwise)?

Linda Mitry,
Acting Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E4-805 Filed 4-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P