[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 34 (Monday, February 22, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8644-8645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03507]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 157

[Docket No. RM81-19-000]


Natural Gas Pipelines; Project Cost and Annual Limits

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Energy.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authority delegated by 18 CFR 375.308(x)(1), 
the Director of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP) computes and 
publishes the project cost and annual limits for natural gas pipelines 
blanket construction certificates for each calendar year.

DATES: This final rule is effective February 22, 2016 and establishes 
cost limits applicable from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marsha K. Palazzi, Chief, Certificates 
Branch 2, Division of Pipeline Certificates, (202) 502-6785.
    Section 157.208(d) of the Commission's Regulations provides for 
project cost limits applicable to construction, acquisition, operation 
and miscellaneous rearrangement of facilities (Table I) authorized 
under the blanket certificate procedure (Order No. 234, 19 FERC ] 
61,216). Section 157.215(a) specifies the calendar year dollar limit 
which may be expended on underground storage testing and development 
(Table II) authorized under the blanket certificate. Section 157.208(d) 
requires that the ``limits specified in Tables I and II shall be 
adjusted each calendar year to reflect the `GDP implicit price 
deflator' published by the Department of Commerce for the previous 
calendar year.''
    Pursuant to 375.308(x)(1) of the Commission's Regulations, the 
authority for the publication of such cost limits, as adjusted for 
inflation, is delegated to the Director of the Office of Energy 
Projects. The cost limits for calendar year 2014, as published in Table 
I of 157.208(d) and Table II of Sec.  157.215(a), are hereby issued.

Effective Date

    This final rule is effective February 22, 2016. The provisions of 5 
U.S.C. 804 regarding Congressional review of Final Rules does not apply 
to the Final Rule because the rule concerns agency procedure and 
practice and will not substantially affect the rights or obligations of 
non-agency parties. The Final Rule merely updates amounts published in 
the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the Department of Commerce's 
latest annual determination of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 
implicit price deflator, a mathematical updating required by the 
Commission's existing regulations.

List of Subjects in 18 CFR Part 157

    Administrative practice and procedure, Natural gas, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Issued: February 11, 2016.
Ann Miles,
Director, Office of Energy Projects.
    Accordingly, 18 CFR part 157 is amended as follows:

PART 157--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for Part 157 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 717-717w, 3301-3432; 42 U.S.C. 7101-7352.


0
2. Table I in Sec.  157.208(d) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  157.208  Construction, acquisition, operation, replacement, and 
miscellaneous rearrangement of facilities.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *

                                 Table I
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Limit
                                         -------------------------------
                  Year                      Auto. proj.    Prior notice
                                            cost limit      proj. cost
                                              (Col.1)      limit (Col.2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982                                          $4,200,000     $12,000,000

[[Page 8645]]

 
1983                                           4,500,000      12,800,000
1984                                           4,700,000      13,300,000
1985                                           4,900,000      13,800,000
1986                                           5,100,000      14,300,000
1987                                           5,200,000      14,700,000
1988                                           5,400,000      15,100,000
1989                                           5,600,000      15,600,000
1990                                           5,800,000      16,000,000
1991                                           6,000,000      16,700,000
1992                                           6,200,000      17,300,000
1993                                           6,400,000      17,700,000
1994                                           6,600,000      18,100,000
1995                                           6,700,000      18,400,000
1996                                           6,900,000      18,800,000
1997                                           7,000,000      19,200,000
1998                                           7,100,000      19,600,000
1999                                           7,200,000      19,800,000
2000                                           7,300,000      20,200,000
2001                                           7,400,000      20,600,000
2002                                           7,500,000      21,000,000
2003                                           7,600,000      21,200,000
2004                                           7,800,000      21,600,000
2005                                           8,000,000      22,000,000
2006                                           9,600,000      27,400,000
2007                                           9,900,000      28,200,000
2008                                          10,200,000      29,000,000
2009                                          10,400,000      29,600,000
2010                                          10,500,000      29,900,000
2011                                          10,600,000      30,200,000
2012                                          10,800,000      30,800,000
2013                                          11,000,000      31,400,000
2014                                          11,200,000      31,900,000
2015                                          11,400,000      32,300,000
2016                                          11,600,000      32,800,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

0
3. Table II in Sec.  157.215(a)(5) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  157.215  Underground storage testing and development.

    (a) * * *
    (5) * * *

                                Table II
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Year                                 Limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982....................................................      $2,700,000
1983....................................................       2,900,000
1984....................................................       3,000,000
1985....................................................       3,100,000
1986....................................................       3,200,000
1987....................................................       3,300,000
1988....................................................       3,400,000
1989....................................................       3,500,000
1990....................................................       3,600,000
1991....................................................       3,800,000
1992....................................................       3,900,000
1993....................................................       4,000,000
1994....................................................       4,100,000
1995....................................................       4,200,000
1996....................................................       4,300,000
1997....................................................       4,400,000
1998....................................................       4,500,000
1999....................................................       4,550,000
2000....................................................       4,650,000
2001....................................................       4,750,000
2002....................................................       4,850,000
2003....................................................       4,900,000
2004....................................................       5,000,000
2005....................................................       5,100,000
2006....................................................       5,250,000
2007....................................................       5,400,000
2008....................................................       5,550,000
2009....................................................       5,600,000
2010....................................................       5,700,000
2011....................................................       5,750,000
2012....................................................       5,850,000
2013....................................................       6,000,000
2014....................................................       6,100,000
2015....................................................       6,200,000
2016....................................................       6,300,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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[FR Doc. 2016-03507 Filed 2-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P