[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 126 (Friday, July 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16066]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 1, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP94-604-000, et al.]
Colorado Interstate Gas Company, et al.; Natural Gas Certificate
Filings
June 24, 1994.
Take notice that the following filings have been made with the
Commission:
1. Colorado Interstate Gas Company
[Docket No. CP94-604-000]
Take notice that on June 15, 1994, Colorado Gas Interstate Gas
Company (CIG), Post Office Box 1087, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80944,
filed in Docket No. CP94-604-000 a request pursuant to
Sec. Sec. 157.205 and 157.211 of the Commission's Regulations under the
Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205 and 157.211) for authorization to
construct a new delivery facility pursuant to CIG's blanket certificate
issued in Docket No. CP83-21-000 to implement an interruptible
transportation service for Meridan Oil, Inc. (Meridan), pursuant to
Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, all as more fully set forth in the
request which is on file with the Commission and open to public
inspection.
CIG proposes a new delivery facility to be located in Las Animas
County, Colorado. CIG states the facility will consist of a two-inch
meter run and facilities appurtenant thereto for the delivery of fuel
gas to Meridan for the start up of a compressor station. CIG indicates
it will transport approximately 200 Mcf per day on an interruptible
basis for Meridian under its Part 284 blanket certificate.
CIG indicates its tariff does not prohibit the addition of new
delivery points. Further, CIG states the proposed facility will not
have an impact on its peak day or annual deliveries.
Comment date: August 8, 1994, in accordance with Standard Paragraph
G at the end of this notice.
2. NorAm Gas Transmission Company
[Docket No. CP94-612-000]
Take notice that on June 17, 1994, NorAm Gas Transmission Company
(NGT), 1600 Smith Street, Houston, Texas 77002, filed in Docket No.
CP94-612-000 an abbreviated application pursuant to Section 7(b) of the
Natural Gas Act, as amended, and Sec. Sec. 157.7 and 157.18 of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) regulations
thereunder, for permission to abandon a firm transportation service for
Arkansas Western Gas Company, (Arkansas Western), all as more fully set
forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open
to public inspection.
NGT states that it proposes to abandon a transportation service
originally authorized by Commission order issued October 23, 1956, in
Docket No. G-10591. NGT indicates that under the arrangement with
Arkansas Western, NGT would provide for transportation for Arkansas
Western from a point on Texas Gas Transmission Corporation (Texas Gas)
lines near Lynchburg, Mississippi, to a point near Turrell, Arkansas,
and exchange of gas during temporary periods of emergency. By letter
dated March 30, 1994, both parties have agreed to the termination of
the agreement. NGT indicates that no facilities are to be abandoned.
Comment date: July 15, 1994, in accordance with Standard Paragraph
F at the end of this notice.
3. Northwest Pipeline Corporation
[Docket Nos. CP93-613-001]
Take notice that on June 14, 1994, Northwest Pipeline Corporation
(Northwest), 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158, filed in
Docket No. CP93-613-001, pursuant to Sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the
Natural Gas Act, an amendment to its August 2, 1993 application in
Docket No. CP93-613-000. This amendment revises facilities proposed to
be constructed and operated to provide 102,000 Dth equivalent per day
of new long-term, firm transportation service to Northwest Natural Gas
Company (Northwest Natural) from Stanfield, Oregon to various delivery
points on Northwest's Grants Pass Lateral, all as more fully set forth
in the amendment which is on file with the Commission and open for
public inspection.
Northwest says the facilities originally proposed to provide this
new service now have been redesigned to reflect:
(1) elimination of 11.3 miles of 30-inch mainline loop and
associated cross-over taps because of the availability of additional
existing capacity for this project resulting from the upcoming
termination of a firm transportation agreement with Columbia Power
Associates, LP (Columbia Power).
(2) addition of a new pipeline loop on the Grants Pass Lateral as a
result of correcting an error in the existing pipeline specifications
used in the original flow studies; and
(3) various refinements to the scope of work originally proposed
for the remaining segments of the project which were identified during
the on-going detailed design process.
Northwest now amends its application to request certificate
authority to construct and operate the following facilities:
5,700 horsepower of additional compression, with
appurtenances, at one existing compressor station;
13.2 miles of 20-inch pipeline loop, on new right-of-way
(deviating from the existing Grants Pass Lateral), near Gresham,
Oregon;
1.3 miles of 20-inch pipeline loop on the Grants Pass
Lateral near Salem, Oregon;
one new meter station and one cross-over tap to an
existing meter station on the new Gresham Loop; and
upgrades of six existing meter stations on the Grants Pass
Lateral.
Northwest also requests abandonment approval for certain existing
facilities proposed to be replaced by upgraded facilities at the
aforementioned six meter stations on the Grants Pass Lateral.
Northwest says the estimated cost of the Northwest Natural
Expansion Project has been revised and reduced from the original $45.0
million estimate to $42.7 million. Northwest further says that the
revised estimate includes an $8.6 million cost increase for the Gresham
Loop attributable to a reassessment of the extensive right-of-way,
environmental and construction complications associated with installing
this loop.
Northwest estimates that it will cost approximately $152,000 to
remove the metering facilities proposed to be abandoned. Northwest
further estimates that the total cost of the facilities proposed to be
abandoned is $59,204 with an estimated salvage value of $2,400.
Northwest requests any waivers of the ``Right-of-First-Refusal;
Posting of Pipeline Capacity'' procedures set forth in Section 25 of
the General Terms and Conditions of its FERC Gas Tariff, Third Revised
Volume No. 1, which may be necessary to allow the capacity made
available by the expiration of the Columbia Power agreement to be
reserved and used for the Northwest Natural Expansion Project.
Northwest proposes to finance the construction cost of this
expansion with short-term bank borrowings. Northwest proposes to
convert the short-term bank borrowings to an appropriate mix of long-
term debt and equity which will provide an overall corporate capital
structure of approximately 45% long-term debt and 55% equity.
Northwest submits that, in recognition of the benefits of the
proposed Northwest Natural Expansion Project to its existing system and
to facilitate prompt resolution of the rate issues pertinent to this
proceeding, it no longer requests either conditional approval of
alternative initial rates or preapproval of specific future rate case
treatment for this project.
Northwest says the Northwest Natural Expansion Agreement is subject
to Northwest's open-access Rate Schedule TF-1 and will be implemented
under Northwest's blanket transportation certificate and Subpart G of
Part 284. Northwest requests approval for initial rates under the
Northwest Natural Expansion Agreement to be its maximum Rate Schedule
TF-1 rates, including applicable surcharges and fuel reimbursement in-
kind percentages, which are in effect at the time service commences
under the agreement.
Northwest avers that any issues which may be raised concerning the
potential rate impact of this project and the appropriate future rate
design for service under the Northwest Natural Expansion Agreement
should be deferred for consideration in the first rate proceeding where
Northwest files to include its expansion project costs in rates.
Northwest further states that in the first general rate proceeding in
which Northwest seeks to include the costs of the Northwest Natural
Expansion Project in rates, Northwest intends to revise its rolled-in
system rate to reflect the additional costs and billing determinants
resulting from this project.
Comment date: July 15, 1994, in accordance with with the first
paragraph of Standard Paragraph F at the end of this notice.
4. NorAm Gas Transmission Company
[Docket No. CP94-617-000]
Take notice that on June 20, 1994, NorAm Gas Transmission Company
(NGT), 1600 Smith St., Houston, Texas 77002, filed in Docket No. CP94-
617-000 a request pursuant to Secs. 157.205, 157.211, and 157.212 of
the Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205,
157.211, and 157.212) for authorization to construct and operate
certain facilities in Louisiana under NGT's blanket certificate issued
in Docket No. CP82-384-000, et al., pursuant to Section 7 of the
Natural Gas Act, all as more fully set forth in the request that is on
file with the Commission and open to public inspection.
NGT proposes to construct and operate a new 2-inch commercial tap
for deliveries to Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company's (ALG) new customer,
Winford Company, Inc., in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. The volume of
gas to be delivered through this tap is approximately 27,900 Mcf
annually and 900 Mcf on a peak day. The construction cost is estimated
at $2,000 and will be reimbursed by ALG.
Comment date: August 8, 1994, in accordance with Standard Paragraph
G at the end of this notice.
5. Columbia Gulf Transmission Co.
[Docket No. CP94-620-000]
Take notice that on June 21, 1994, Columbia Gulf Transmission
Company (Columbia Gulf), 1700 MacCorkle Avenue, S. E., Charleston, West
Virginia 25314-1599, filed in Docket No. CP94-620-000 a request
pursuant to Sec. 157.205 of the Commission's Regulations to abandon by
sale to Stingray Pipeline Company (Stingray) certain offshore
facilities in West Cameron Block 146, offshore Louisiana (Block 146)
under Columbia Gulf's blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP83-
496-000, pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act, all as more
fully set forth in the request on file with the Commission and open to
public inspection.
Columbia Gulf proposes to abandon 950 feet (0.18 mile) of 6-inch
pipeline extending from Block 146 ``A'' platform to a subsea valve on
National Gas Pipeline Company of America's pipeline, which Stingray
currently leases, in Block 146; a 6-inch riser; and a dual 4-inch meter
station and appurtenant facilities on the Block 146 ``A'' platform.
Columbia Gulf states that Stingray would acquire the facilities under
its blanket certificate in Docket No. CP91-1505-000 at a purchase cost
of $126,500. Columbia Gulf states that Elf Exploration, Inc. and
Phillips Petroleum Company, the sole producers/shippers on these
facilities have consented to the abandonment by sale to Stingray.
Comment date: August 8, 1994, in accordance with Standard Paragraph
G at the end of this notice.
6. Northwest Pipeline Corporation
[Docket No. CP93-673-001]
Take notice that on June 15, 1994, Northwest Pipeline Corporation
(Northwest), 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158, filed in
Docket No. CP93-673-001, pursuant to Sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the
Natural Gas Act, an amendment to its August 18, 1993 application in
Docket No. CP93-673-000. This amendment reflects the downsizing of
Northwest's originally proposed $228.6 million, 258,488 Dth per day
equivalent system Expansion II Project to a $67.7 million, 62,175 Dth
per day equivalent project, all as more fully set forth in the
amendment which is on file with the Commission and open for public
inspection.
Northwest amends its application to request certificate authority
to construct and operate, as its primary design case, the following
facilities in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to implement
its downsized project for an additional 62,175 Dth per day of new firm
mainline expansion:
19.2 miles of 24-inch loop pipeline in three segments on
Northwest's mainline in Idaho and Wyoming;
12.9 miles of new 20-inch loop pipeline in three segments;
13.2 miles of new 30-inch pipeline loop in place of the
20-inch loop (Gresham Loop) previously proposed in the Northwest
Natural Expansion Project, Docket No. CP93-613-000;
two new customer-specific delivery laterals: 8.1 miles of
12-inch and 16-inch pipeline for the Weyerhaeuser Lateral and 0.2 mile
of 12-inch pipeline for the Springfield Lateral;
a total of 9,120 standard sea-level horsepower of
additional compression at three existing compressor stations;
modifications or upgrades of appurtenant facilities at 11
existing compressor stations;
three new meter stations; and
crossover taps to new loop lines for three existing meter
stations.
Northwest also requests abandonment approval for certain existing
facilities proposed to be replaced by upgraded facilities at six
existing compressor stations and one meter station.
Northwest says the certificate authority requested in this
Northwest Expansion II Project assumes Northwest has received
Commission approval to construct and operate the prerequisite
facilities proposed in the Northwest Natural Expansion Project, in
Docket No. CP93-613. If Northwest does not receive approval to
construct the Northwest Natural Expansion Project in conjunction with
or before the expansion project herein, Northwest alternatively
requests that the proposed certificate authorization reflect the
following changes from the primary design case facilities:
eliminate 5,700 standard sea-level horsepower of
additional compression proposed at one existing compressor station;
add a crossover tap from an existing meter station to the
Gresham Loop;
install 13.2 mile 24-inch pipeline segment, instead of
upgrading a loop (Gresham Loop) from 20-inch to 30-inch; and
an additional 1.3 miles of 20-inch pipeline loop on the
Grants Pass Lateral.
Northwest estimates the revised total cost for this primary design
Northwest System Expansion II Project to be $67.7 million. Northwest
further estimates that it will cost approximately $105,300 to remove
the facilities proposed to be abandoned. Northwest estimates that the
total original cost of the facilities proposed to be abandoned is
$604,641 with an estimated salvage value of $6,000. Northwest says
about $10.9 million of costs for the Weyerhaeuser and Springfield
Utility Board Laterals will be paid for incrementally by specific
shippers.
Northwest says it has requested, as part of its proposal in the
Northwest Expansion II Project in Docket No. CP93-673, to upgrade the
20-inch Gresham loop, requested in the Northwest Natural Expansion
Project (Docket No. CP93-613), to a 30-inch pipeline loop. Northwest
further says, if the Commission approves the upgrade from 20-inch to
30-inch and approves the construction of all facilities in both
projects concurrently, it will allocate to the Northwest Natural
Expansion Project those costs attributable to constructing a 20-inch
loop, and the Northwest Expansion II Project will be allocated costs
attributable to increasing the pipe diameter from 20-inch to 30-inch.
Northwest indicates that the net estimated cost of the alternative
facility case (no prerequisite Northwest Natural Expansion Project and
excluding the Weyerhaeuser and Springfield Utility Board Laterals) is
$70.2 million.
Northwest proposes to finance the construction cost of this
expansion with short-term bank borrowings. Northwest further proposes
to convert the short-term bank borrowings to an appropriate mix of
long-term debt and equity which will provide an overall corporate
capital structure of approximately 45% long-term debt and 55% equity.
Northwest says it originally requested authorization in Docket No.
CP93-673-000 to construct facilities necessary to expand its mainline
and various laterals to accommodate 258,488 Dth per day of new firm
service under 31 long-term agreements with 26 shippers. Northwest
further says, as a result of a one-time contract termination/reduction
option provided to the expansion shippers, coupled with an open season
to solicit replacement shippers, 19 contracts for a total of 134,063
Dth per day were terminated, 8 contracts were amended to reduce
contract demands by a total of 62,500 Dth per day, 4 contracts did not
change, and one new contract was executed for 250 Dth per day.
Northwest says it now has 13 long-term firm contracts (primary term
of 15 years from the in-service date and year to year thereafter) under
Northwest's TF-1 Rate Schedule with 12 expansion shippers for a total
of 62,175 Dth per day in mainline contract demand.
Northwest submits that, in recognition of the benefits of this
proposed Northwest Expansion II Project to its existing system and to
facilitate prompt resolution of the rate issues pertinent to this
proceeding, it no longer requests pre-approval of specific future rate
case treatment for this project.
Northwest says its Expansion II Agreements with the shippers are
subject to Northwest's open-access Rate Schedule TF-1 and will be
implemented under Northwest's blanket transportation certificate and
Subpart G of Part 284. Northwest requests approval for initial rates
for mainline service under the expansion agreements to be its maximum
Rate Schedule TF-1 rates, including applicable surcharges and fuel
reimbursement in-kind percentages, which are in effect at the time
service commences under the agreements.
Northwest avers that any issues which may be raised concerning the
potential rate impact of this project and the appropriate future rate
design for service under the Expansion II Agreements should be deferred
for consideration in the first rate proceeding where Northwest files to
include its expansion project costs in rates. Northwest says it intends
to revise its rolled-in system rate to reflect the additional costs and
billing determinants resulting from this project in the first general
rate proceeding in which Northwest seeks to include the costs of this
expansion in rate base.
In addition to using existing Rate Schedule TF-1 rolled-in rates as
its initial rates for the Expansion II mainline services, Northwest
requests approval to incrementally recover the costs of the two
proposed, customer-specific delivery laterals by assessing Facilities
Cost-of-Service charges to the applicable shippers in accordance with
the Facilities Reimbursement provisions of its tariff. Northwest
proposes to initially charge Weyerhaeuser Company and Longview
Cogeneration Company, affiliate and assignee of Mission Energy,
$115,936 per month each for service on the proposed Weyerhaeuser
Lateral and to initially charge Springfield Utility Board $5,140 per
month for service on the Springfield Utility Board Lateral.
Comment date: July 15, 1994, in accordance with the first paragraph
of Standard Paragraph F at the end of this notice.
Standard Paragraphs
F. Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with
reference to said application should on or before the comment date,
file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.
20426, a motion to intervene or a protest 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 Natural Gas Act
(18 CFR 157.10). All protests filed with the Commission will be
considered by it in determining the appropriate action to 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 Federal Energy
Regulatory 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 application if no motion 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 certificate and/or permission and approval
for the proposed abandonment are required by the public convenience and
necessity. If a motion 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 procedure herein provided for, unless otherwise advised,
it will be unnecessary for applicant to appear or be represented at the
hearing.
G. Any person or the Commission's staff may, within 45 days after
issuance of the instant notice by the Commission, file pursuant to Rule
214 of the Commission's Procedural Rules (18 CFR 385.214) a motion to
intervene or notice of intervention and pursuant to Section 157.205 of
the Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205) a protest to
the request. If no protest is filed within the time allowed therefor,
the proposed activity shall be deemed to be authorized effective the
day after the time allowed for filing a protest. If a protest is filed
and not withdrawn within 30 days after the time allowed for filing a
protest, the instant request shall be treated as an application for
authorization pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-16066 Filed 6-30-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
