2024-04726. Natural Gas Pipelines; Project Cost and Annual Limits  

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    AGENCY:

    Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 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 8, 2024, and establishes cost limits applicable from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Daniel Green; Chief, Certificates Branch 2; Division of Pipeline Certificates; (202) 502–8755.

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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 1 to paragraph (d)) authorized under the blanket certificate procedure (Order No. 234, 19 FERC ¶ 61,216, 47 FR 24266). Section 157.215(a) specifies the calendar year dollar limit which may be expended on underground storage testing and development (table 1 to paragraph (a)(5)) authorized under the blanket certificate. Section 157.208(d) requires that the “limits specified in table 1 to this paragraph (d) and table 1 to § 157.215(a)(5) 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 2024, as published in table 1 to paragraph (d) of § 157.208 and table 1 to paragraph (a)(5) of § 157.215, are hereby issued.

    Effective Date

    This final rule is effective March 8, 2024. 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.

    Start List of Subjects

    List of Subjects in 18 CFR Part 157

    • Administrative practice and procedure
    • Natural Gas
    • Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
    End List of Subjects Start Signature

    Issued: February 28, 2024.

    Terry L. Turpin,

    Director, Office of Energy Projects.

    End Signature

    Accordingly, 18 CFR part 157 is amended as follows:

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    PART 157—APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY AND FOR ORDERS PERMITTING AND APPROVING ABANDONMENT UNDER SECTION 7 OF THE NATURAL GAS ACT

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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. In § 157.208:

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    a. Amend paragraph (a) by removing “Table I, under” and “Table I” and add in their places “table 1 to” and “table 1 to paragraph (d)”, respectively.

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    b. Amend paragraph (b) by removing “Table I, but” and “Table I” adding “table 1 to paragraph (d) of this section, but” and “table 1 to paragraph (d)” in their places, respectively.

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    c. Amend paragraph (d) by:

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    i. In the introductory text, removing “Tables I and II” and adding “table 1 to this paragraph (d) and table 1 to § 157.215(a)(5)” in its place.

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    ii. Revising the table.

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    d. Amend paragraphs (f)(1) and (g) by removing “Table I” and adding “table 1 to paragraph (d)” in its place.

    End Amendment Part

    The revision reads as follows:

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

    (d) * * *

    Table 1 to Paragraph ( d )

    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
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    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
    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
    202012,500,00035,200,000
    202112,600,00035,600,000
    202213,100,00037,100,000
    202314,000,00039,700,000
    202414,500,00041,100,000
    * * * * *
    [Amended]
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    3. In § 157.209, amend paragraph (a) by removing “Table I, under § 157.208(d) of this chapter” and adding “table 1 to § 157.208(d)” in its place.

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    [Amended]
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    4. In § 157.210, remove “Table I of” and add “table 1 to” in its place.

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    [Amended]
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    5. In § 157.212, remove “Table I in” and add “table 1 to” in its place.

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    [Amended]
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    6. In § 157.213, amend paragraphs (a) and (b) by removing “Table I in” and add “table 1 to” in its place.

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    7. In § 157.215, amend paragraph (a)(5) by:

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    a. Removing “Table II” from the introductory text and adding “table 1 to this paragraph (a)(5)” in its place.

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    b. Revising table 1.

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    The revision reads as follows:

    Underground storage testing and development.

    (a) * * *

    (5) * * *

    Table 1 to Paragraph ( a )(5)

    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
    20206,700,000
    20216,800,000
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    20227,100,000
    20237,600,000
    20247,900,000
    * * * * *
    End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. 2024–04726 Filed 3–7–24; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 6717–01–P

Document Information

Effective Date:
3/8/2024
Published:
03/08/2024
Department:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
2024-04726
Dates:
This final rule is effective March 8, 2024, and establishes cost limits applicable from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.
Pages:
16683-16685 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. RM81-19-000
Topics:
Administrative practice and procedure, Natural gas, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
PDF File:
2024-04726.pdf
CFR: (6)
18 CFR 157.208
18 CFR 157.209
18 CFR 157.210
18 CFR 157.212
18 CFR 157.213
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