[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 61 (Monday, March 31, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15168-15169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8070]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP96-178-003]
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Amendment
March 25, 1997.
Take notice that on February 24, 1997, Maritimes & Northeast
Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes), c/o M&N Management Company, 1284 Soldiers
Field Road, Boston, MA 02135, a Delaware limited liability company,
filed in Docket No. CP96-178-003 an amendment to its Application for
Phase I of its project (Phase I Amendment) pursuant to Section 7(c) of
the Natural Gas Act. The Phase I amendment reflects the effect of the
Joint Facilities Application of Maritimes and Portland Natural Gas
Transmission System (PNGTS), initially filed with the Commission on
February 10, 1997, and completed on March 18, 1997 in Docket No. CP97-
238-000 (Joint Facilities Application) \1\, on Maritimes' February 8,
1996, Phase I Application, in Docket No. CP96-178-000.
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\1\ See Notice of Application for Docket No. CP97-238-000 issued
on March 21, 1997.
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The completion of the Joint Facilities Application, originally
filed February 10, 1997, was preceded by two public conferences at the
Commission and four letters from the Office of Pipeline Regulation
(OPR) requesting the information required to complete the filing.
However, certain information which is needed to complete the processing
of the Joint Facilities Application remains to be filed.\2\ Complete
and accurate filing of that information on the schedule stated in the
joint applicants' March 18, 1997, filing is essential for the
expeditious processing of the Phase I applications.
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\2\ See the March 21, 1997, OPR Director's letter to the Joint
applicants.
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The Joint Facilities Application requests authorization to
construct and operate approximately 99.8 miles of jointly-owned 30-inch
pipeline and appurtenant facilities to accommodate natural gas volumes
that would otherwise be transported through the same area by separate
pipeline facilities. The Joint Facilities Application
[[Page 15169]]
proposes joint facilities from Dracut, Massachusetts to Westbrook,
Maine.
The Phase I Amendment addresses the effects of the Joint Facilities
Application on the cost of facilities and rates, the tariff, and the
pipeline route set forth in the Phase I Application. The Phase I
Amendment adopts the 64.8-mile Dracut to Wells, Maine segment of the
Joint Facilities, including one lateral (the Newington Lateral) and
three meter stations as the proposed Phase I Facilities.\3\ The Phase I
Amendment also postpones the proposed in-service date of Phase I from
November 1, 1997, to November 1, 1998.
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\3\ The Joint Facilities Application lists certain above ground
appurtenant facilities to be built by the joint applicants, while
the Phase I Amendment lists similar above ground appurtenant
facilities to be built by Maritimes.
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Maritimes states that its revised cost, based on an allocation of
its share of the Joint Facilities, is about $79.5 million. Originally,
Maritimes had proposed a 24-inch pipeline from Dracut to Wells at a
cost of $82 million and its own 30-inch pipeline from Dracut to Wells
at a cost of $103.7 million (see Docket No. CP96-178-002).
The rates proposed by Maritimes have been revised to reflect
Maritimes' estimate of the allocated cost of the Joint Facilities.
Maritimes says that the rates are about the same level as proposed in
the Phase I Application and approved in the July 31, 1996 Preliminary
Determination (PD) in this docket. The methodology used to design the
rates has been revised to reflect a levelization period of 9 years
rather than 7 years and to eliminate the allocation of costs to
interruptible transportation. In the PD Maritimes' 365-day firm rate
was approved as a recourse rate equal to $18.25 per MMBtu, with $1
million allocated to interruptible transportation.
Now the proposed 365-day firm transportation rate is $18.2873 per
MMBtu.\4\ Maritimes also says that in compliance with the PD it will
record the various elements of its negotiated rates in the format
prescribed by the Commission. Maritimes also states that minor tariff
changes may be needed to coordinate matters such as measurement or
quality specifications with PNGTS. To the extent necessary, such
changes would be filed with the Commission. On September 30, 1996,
Maritimes filed revised tariff sheets in compliance with the various
directives of the July 31, 1996, PD. That filing was not noticed at
that time, but parties to this proceeding may comment on it in
conjunction with their comments on the amendment in Docket No. CP96-
178-003.
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\4\ Rates based on the capital costs of $103.7 million were
never filed.
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Maritimes requests that the Commission issue a PD on the Phase I
Amendment by May 31, 1997, and a certificate for Phase I at the same
time the Joint Facilities are approved.\5\
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\5\ A data response filed by Maritimes on March 20, 1997, asks
for final action by August 1, 1997, but this contradicts the request
in the Joint Facilities Application that the Commission issue a
final certificate for the Joint Facilities by August 31, 1997.
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Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with
reference to said Amendment, or the September 30, 1996, tariff
compliance filing, should, on or before April 15, 1997, file with the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, a motion to intervene or a protest/comment in
accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice
and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 or 385.214) and the regulations under the
Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.10). All protests filed with the Commission
will be considered by it in determining the appropriate action be taken
but will not serve to make the protestants parties to the proceeding.
Any person wishing to become a party to a proceeding or to
participate as a party in any hearing therein must file a motion to
intervene in accordance with the Commission's rules. Take further
notice that pursuant to the authority contained in and subject to the
jurisdiction conferred upon the Commission by Sections 7 and 15 of the
Natural Gas Act and the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, a
hearing will be held without further notice before the Commission or
its designee on this Amendment if no petition to intervene is filed
within the time required herein, if the Commission on its own review of
the matter finds that a grant of the Amendment is required by the
public convenience and necessity. If a petition for leave to intervene
is timely filed, or if the Commission, on its own motion, believes that
a formal hearing is required, further notice of such hearing will be
duly given.
Under the procedures herein provided for, unless otherwise advised,
it will be unnecessary for Maritimes to appear or be represented at the
hearing. Anyone who has already filed a motion to intervene in Docket
Nos. CP96-178-000 or CP96-178-002 need not file a motion to intervene
again with the Commission.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-8070 Filed 3-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
