Report 

Submitted to the 

United States Congress 

by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Fifteenth Report to Congress on Progress Made in Licensing 

and Constructing the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline

February 2013
Fifteenth Report to Congress on the Alaska Pipeline

I. Executive Summary

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) submits this report

pursuant to section 1810 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005).1

 Section 1810 

of EPAct 2005 requires that the Commission submit to Congress semi-annual reports 

describing the progress made in licensing and constructing an Alaska natural gas pipeline 

and any impediments thereto. 

This report provides an update from the Commission’s Fourteenth Report, 

submitted on August 29, 2012. That report highlighted TransCanada Alaska Company, 

LLC’s (TC Alaska) suspension of the development of the North Slope to Alberta option

of its planned Alaska Pipeline Project (APP) while it assesses other alternatives to 

commercialize Alaska North Slope gas. One such alternative is a potential new pipeline 

system to transport North Slope gas to a liquefaction terminal at a tidewater location in 

south-central Alaska.

2

II. Status Report 

A. TC Alaska’s Proposal

On May 11, 2012, TC Alaska notified the Commission that it was curtailing

interim work on the Alberta option while requesting to maintain the record in Docket No. 

PF09-11 for potential future use.

3 TC Alaska’s October 2012 and January 2013

Quarterly Reports to the Commission state that its limited public outreach has continued 

and that the pipeline right-of-way and engineering data has been archived for potential 

future use. Additionally, TC Alaska opened a non-binding Solicitation of Interest of 

potential shippers for capacity commitments on a pipeline from the North Slope to 

 1

 P.L. 109-58, 119 Stat. 594 (2005), 42 U.S.C § 15801 et seq.

2 ConocoPhillips Corporation and BP p.l.c. would join TC Alaska and affiliates of 

Exxon Mobil Corporation in the approximately 800-mile-long pipeline – LNG export 

terminal project, estimated to cost approximately $65 billion. 

3 The open docket will preserve project-specific filings and allow for the 

submission of quarterly status reports by TC Alaska. 
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Alberta or to a natural gas liquefaction terminal at a tidewater location in south-central 

Alaska.

4

 

B. The Commission’s Activities

The Commission remains ready to resume its responsibilities as the lead federal 

agency for conducting the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the TC 

Alaska proposal. The Commission continues to monitor activities regarding any natural 

gas pipeline or LNG project in Alaska for which the Commission would have 

jurisdiction. 

The federal permitting agencies are prepared to resume working under the 

Commission’s pre-filing process and to continue the preparation of an environmental 

impact statement once either TC Alaska re-engages its pre-filing activities or another 

entity files an application with the Commission.

III. Related Activities 

Operations of the Federal Coordinator

The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation 

Projects (OFC) continues to coordinate the actions of federal agencies regarding Alaska 

natural gas transportation projects and to provide a liaison function to ensure 

communication with Congress, the State of Alaska, and federal U.S. and Canadian 

agencies. The OFC provides updates on its website (www.arcticgas.gov) regarding 

national and world-wide natural gas issues that may affect the ultimate disposition of 

Alaskan North Slope natural gas.

IV. Conclusion

No progress has occurred since the last report on a project bringing Alaskan 

natural gas from the Alaskan North Slope to lower 48 state markets. However, the 

Commission is ready to move forward to the next step in its NEPA process when TC 

Alaska or another entity decides to proceed with a pipeline to serve North American 

markets or embarks on a project to liquefy and export natural gas to foreign markets. 

Until such time or TC Alaska requests otherwise, the Commission will keep TC Alaska’s 

Docket No. PF09-11 open to maintain the existing record and accept filings of quarterly 

status reports and related items.

 4 TC Alaska notes that the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (“AGIA”) requires the 

AGIA Licensee to assess the market demand for additional pipeline capacity at least 

every 2 years after its first binding open season.