[Federal Register: January 6, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 3)]
[Notices]
[Page 550-551]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06ja03-52]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP03-32-000]
Northwest Pipeline Corporation; Notice of Application
December 30, 2002.
Take notice that on December 23, 2002 Northwest Pipeline
Corporation (Northwest), 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84158
filed in Docket No. CP03-32-000, an abbreviated application pursuant to
sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act for its ``White River
Pipeline Replacement Project'' requesting the Commission to grant:
(i) A certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing
Northwest to construct and operate approximately 4,300 feet each of
relocated replacement 26-inch pipeline and 30-inch pipeline loop in
King County, Washington;
(ii) approval for Northwest to abandon, partially by removal and
partially in place, approximately 3,300 feet each of 26-inch pipeline
and 30-inch pipeline loop being replaced by the relocated facilities;
and
(iii) approval to remove 665 feet of 26-inch pipeline crossing the
White River that was previously retired in place.
All as more fully set forth in its petition 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 last three digits in the docket
number field to access the document. For assistance, please contact
FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at
(866)208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202)502-8659.
Any questions regarding this application should be directed to Gary
Kotter, Manager, Certificates and Tariffs, at (801) 584-7117, Northwest
Pipeline Corporation, P.O. Box 58900, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158.
Northwest states that as a result of high flows and erosion in the
White River over the past several years it has installed temporary
structures and sheet piling to the banks of the river to maintain the
integrity of the 26-inch and 30-inch pipeline crossings. Northwest
asserts that the proposed replacement project is necessary to provide a
more permanent solution for improved pipeline safety and integrity,
while
[[Page 551]]
restoring the natural environment of the river and floodplains at the
pipeline crossing location.
Northwest states that construction of the project is scheduled to
occur over a two-year period to accommodate anticipated permitting
requirements and environmental limitations on construction windows.
Northwest plans to commence construction during the summer of 2003 and
complete the project in the fall of 2004.
The estimated cost of the proposed project is approximately $29.4
million.
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 in the proceeding. with the Commission
and must mail a copy to the applicant and to every other party. 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 commentator 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 commentator will not be required to serve copies of filed
documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commentator 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. 03-126 Filed 1-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P