[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9393-9394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02996]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authority delegated by the Commission's 
regulations, 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 14, 2023 and establishes 
cost limits applicable from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Green, Chief, Certificates 
Branch 2, Division of Pipeline Certificates, (202) 502-8755.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Sec.  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 2023, as published in Table 
I of Sec.  157.208(d) and Table II of Sec.  157.215(a), are hereby 
issued.

Effective Date

    This final rule is effective February 14, 2023. 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 7, 2023.
Terry L. Turpin,
Director, Office of Energy Projects.

    Accordingly, 18 CFR part 157 is amended as follows:

PART 157--APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND 
NECESSITY AND FOR ORDERS PERMITTING AND APPROVING ABANDONMENT UNDER 
SECTION 7 OF THE NATURAL GAS ACT

0
1. The authority citation for part 157 is revised to read as follows:

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


0
2. In Sec.  157.208, in paragraph (d), remove table I to part 157 and 
add table 1 to paragraph (d) in its place to read as follows:


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

* * * * *
    (d) * * *

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

[[Page 9394]]

 
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      32,400,000
2016....................................      11,600,000      32,800,000
2017....................................      11,800,000      33,200,000
2018....................................      12,000,000      33,800,000
2019....................................      12,300,000      34,600,000
2020....................................      12,500,000      35,200,000
2021....................................      12,600,000      35,600,000
2022....................................      13,100,000      37,100,000
2023....................................      14,000,000      39,700,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  157.215, in paragraph (a)(5), remove table II to part 157 
and add table 1 to paragraph (a)(5) in its place to read as follows:


Sec.  157.215  Underground storage testing and development.

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

                       Table 1 to Paragraph (a)(5)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          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
2017....................................................       6,400,000
2018....................................................       6,500,000
2019....................................................       6,600,000
2020....................................................       6,700,000
2021....................................................       6,800,000
2022....................................................       7,100,000
2023....................................................       7,600,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 2023-02996 Filed 2-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P