2019-05336. Natural Gas Pipelines; Project Cost and Annual Limits  

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    AGENCY:

    Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of 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 March 21, 2019 and establishes cost limits applicable from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Richard W. Foley, Chief, Certificates Branch 1, Division of Pipeline Certificates, (202) 502-8955.

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    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 § 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 2019, as published in Table I of § 157.208(d) and Table II of 157.215(a), are hereby issued.

    Effective Date

    This final rule is effective March 21, 2019. 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.

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    List of Subjects in 18 CFR Part 157

    • Administrative practice and procedure
    • Natural gas
    • Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
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    Issued: March 14, 2019

    Terry L. Turpin,

    Director, Office of Energy Projects.

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    Accordingly, 18 CFR part 157 is amended as follows:

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    PART 157—[AMENDED]

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

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

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

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    Construction, acquisition, operation, replacement, and miscellaneous rearrangement of facilities.
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    (d) * * *

    Table I to Part 157

    YearLimit
    Auto. proj. cost limit (Col. 1)Prior notice proj. cost limit (Col. 2)
    1982$4,200,000$12,000,000
    19834,500,00012,800,000
    19844,700,00013,300,000
    19854,900,00013,800,000
    19865,100,00014,300,000
    19875,200,00014,700,000
    19885,400,00015,100,000
    19895,600,00015,600,000
    19905,800,00016,000,000
    19916,000,00016,700,000
    19926,200,00017,300,000
    19936,400,00017,700,000
    19946,600,00018,100,000
    19956,700,00018,400,000
    19966,900,00018,800,000
    19977,000,00019,200,000
    19987,100,00019,600,000
    19997,200,00019,800,000
    20007,300,00020,200,000
    20017,400,00020,600,000
    20027,500,00021,000,000
    20037,600,00021,200,000
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    20047,800,00021,600,000
    20058,000,00022,000,000
    20069,600,00027,400,000
    20079,900,00028,200,000
    200810,200,00029,000,000
    200910,400,00029,600,000
    201010,500,00029,900,000
    201110,600,00030,200,000
    201210,800,00030,800,000
    201311,000,00031,400,000
    201411,200,00031,900,000
    201511,400,00032,400,000
    201611,600,00032,800,000
    201711,800,00033,200,000
    201812,000,00033,800,000
    201912,300,00034,600,000
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    3. Table II in § 157.215(a)(5) is revised to read as follows:

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    Underground storage testing and development.

    (a) * * *

    (5) * * *

    Table II to Part 157

    YearLimit
    1982$2,700,000
    19832,900,000
    19843,000,000
    19853,100,000
    19863,200,000
    19873,300,000
    19883,400,000
    19893,500,000
    19903,600,000
    19913,800,000
    19923,900,000
    19934,000,000
    19944,100,000
    19954,200,000
    19964,300,000
    19974,400,000
    19984,500,000
    19994,550,000
    20004,650,000
    20014,750,000
    20024,850,000
    20034,900,000
    20045,000,000
    20055,100,000
    20065,250,000
    20075,400,000
    20085,550,000
    20095,600,000
    20105,700,000
    20115,750,000
    20125,850,000
    20136,000,000
    20146,100,000
    20156,200,000
    20166,300,000
    20176,400,000
    20186,500,000
    20196,600,000
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    End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. 2019-05336 Filed 3-20-19; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

Document Information

Effective Date:
3/21/2019
Published:
03/21/2019
Department:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
2019-05336
Dates:
This final rule is effective March 21, 2019 and establishes cost limits applicable from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019.
Pages:
10409-10410 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. RM81-19-000
Topics:
Administrative practice and procedure, Natural gas, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
PDF File:
2019-05336.Pdf
CFR: (2)
18 CFR 157.208
18 CFR 157.215