[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