[Federal Register: June 28, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 125)]
[Notices]
[Page 34435-34436]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jn01-40]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP01-387-000]
Algonquin Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Application
June 22, 2001.
Take notice that on June 15, 2001, Algonquin Gas Transmission
Company (Algonquin), P.O. Box 1642, Houston, Texas 77251-1642, filed in
Docket No. CP01-387-000 an application pursuant to the provisions of
Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act for a certificate of public
convenience and necessity to construct and operate facilities and to
authorize the leasing of capacity on Algonquin's system all as more
fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission
and open to public inspection. This filing may be viewed on the web at
http://www.rimsweb1.ferc.fed.us/rims.?rp2~intro (call 202-208-2222 for
assistance).
Specifically, Algonquin proposes to: (1) Retest and upgrade its C-1
and C-1 L pipelines in New Haven County, Connecticut from their current
maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) of 750 psig to an MAOP of
814 psig; (2) expose, inspect and repair, as necessary, two 25-foot
segments of pipe on the C-1 pipeline in New Haven County, Connecticut;
(3) construct a new 10,310 horsepower compressor station in Cheshire,
Connecticut near the beginning of the C-1 and C-1 L pipelines; and (4)
remove two tool launchers from an existing aboveground facility in New
Haven, Connecticut and relocated them to the proposed compressor
station in Cheshire, Connecticut. Algonquin states that the estimated
cost of the facilities is approximately $32.3 million. Algonquin
proposes to place the facilities in service on November 1, 2003.
Algonquin also seeks authorization to lease 285,000 Dth per day of
capacity to Islander East Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (Islander East) from
Cheshire, Connecticut (the intersection of the Algonquin mainline and
its C-system) to a proposed interconnection between Algonquin and
Islander East near North Haven, Connecticut for a primary term of 20
years. The fixed monthly lease payment under the lease agreement is
$334,135. In addition, Islander East will pay a monthly operating and
maintenance charge of $32,307. Algonquin states that the monthly lease
payment is less than what Islander East would pay if it had contracted
for firm service on Algonquin and thus meets Commission standards for
lease payments.
Algonquin states that this project, in conjunction with the
Islander East proposal in Docket No. CP01-384-000, et al., will allow
markets in the Long Island and New York City area as well as future
markets in Connecticut to access eastern Canadian offshore gas
production. Algonquin also indicates that the lease agreement will
eliminate Islander East's need to construct duplicative facilities in
Connecticut, reducing the potential environmental impact of the
Islander East project. Further, Algonquin asserts that this project
will provide its shippers with direct access to the Long Island and New
York City markets and enhance the operating efficiency and reliability
of its system with additional compression and increased system
pressures. Algonquin states that its proposal is consistent with the
Commission's statement of policy on certification of new interstate
natural gas pipeline facilities.
Any questions regarding the application should be directed to
Richard J. Kruse, Senior Vice President, Industry Initiatives, Pricing
& Regulatory Affairs, Algonquin Gas Transmission Company, P.O. Box
1642, Houston, Texas 77251-1642 at 713-627-5368 or by facsimile at 713-
627-4027.
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 July 13, 2001, 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
[[Page 34436]]
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.
Comments, 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 at http://www.ferc.gov/
documents/makeanelectronicfiling/doorbell.htm.
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.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-16224 Filed 6-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M