Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 61 / Monday, March 31, 1997 / Notices 15169

3The 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.

4Rates based on the capital costs of $103.7

million were never filed.

5A 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.

1A supplemental filing which contained a

revised Maritimes pro forma tariff for 1998 service

and 1999 service was filed on November 1, 1996,

and docketed as Docket No. CP96–809–001. This

supplement reflects the requirements of Order No.

587 (Gas Industry Standards Board), and conforms

the Phase II tariff to tariff changes required by the

July 31, 1996. Preliminary Deterination for Phase I.

It 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.

CP96–809–002.

2See Notice of Application for Docket No. CP97–

238–000 issued on March 21, 1997.

3See the March 21, 1997, OPR Director’s letter to

the joint applicants.

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.

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.

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

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

[Docket No. CP96–809–002]

Maritime & 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.

CP96–809–002,1 an Amendment to its

Application for Phase II of its project

(Phase II Amendment) pursuant to

Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act. This

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),2 on Maritimes’ September

23, 1996, Phase II Application, in

Docket No. CP96–809–000.

The completion of the Joint Facilities

Application, originally filed February

10, 1997, was preceded by two public

conference 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.3

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 II applications.

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

proposes joint facilities from Dracut,

Massachusetts to Westbrook, Maine.

The Phase II Amendment addresses

the effects of the Joint Facilities
15170 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 61 / Monday, March 31, 1997 / Notices

4Maritimes proposes that the 1998 interim Phase

II service will be at negotiated rates.

5The data response filed by Maritimes on March

20, 1997, citing the December 17, 1997, date is

taken to be a further amendment of Maritimes’

February 24, 1997, filing wherein August 31, 1997,

was cited as the date that a final certificate was

required.

1See Notice of Application for Docket No. CP97–

238–000 issued on March 21, 1997.

Application on the cost of facilities and

rates, the tariff, and the pipeline route

set forth in the Phase II Application.

The Phase II Amendment adopts the 35-

mile Wells to Westbrook, Maine

segment of the Joint Facilities, including

two laterals (the Westbrook Lateral and

the Haverhill Lateral) and two meter

stations as the proposed Phase II

Facilities. The 24-inch pipeline

previously proposed in the Phase II

Application from Westbrook, Maine to

the U.S.-Canada border for service

starting in 1999 is unchanged by the

Phase II Amendment. Also unchanged is

Maritimes’ proposal for a 1998 Phase II

interim service which will include

service to the Westbrook Lateral and the

Cousins Island Lateral.

Maritimes states that its revised

estimated cost is about $387 million.

Originally, its Phase II cost estimate was

$404 million. The cost estimate

revisions are based on an allocation of

its share of the Joint Facilities costs, and

the revised estimated cost of its own

facilities from Westbrook to the U.S.-

Canada border. The revised estimate for

the Westbrook to Canada segment is

based on updated facilities cost

information (primarily lower estimates

of labor expenses), more environmental

information and analysis, and pipeline

route changes. The cost for the 1998

facilities decreased from $63 million to

$61.8 million, while the cost for the

1999 facilities decreased from $340.9

million to $325.5 million.

The rates proposed by Maritimes have

been revised to reflect Maritimes’ new

cost estimates. The initial rate for

Maritimes’ 365-day firm transportation

for Phase II service from Canada starting

in 1999 is now $15.0858 per MMBtu;

previously it was $15.7551 per MMBtu.4

The calculation of the revised rates and

charges is included in Exhibit P to the

Phase II Amendment.

Maritimes 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. Other

than the changes to the proposed rates,

the proposed tariff, including rate

schedules, and general terms and

conditions remains unchanged from the

supplemental tariff filing in Docket No.

CP96–809–001.

Maritimes requests that the

Commission issue a Preliminary

Determination on Phase II by May 31,

1997, and a final certificate for Phase II

by December 17, 1997.5

Any person desiring to be heard or to

make any protest with reference to said

Amendment, or the supplemental tariff

filing in Docket No. CP96–809–001,

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 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 No. CP96–809–000

need not file a motion to intervene again

with the Commission.

Lois D. Cashell,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–8072 Filed 3–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M

[Docket No. RP96–290–000]

Michigan Gas Storage Company;

Notice of Informal Settlement

Conference

March 25, 1997.

Take notice that an informal

settlement conference will be convened

in this proceeding on April 3, 1997. The

conference will begin at 10:00 a.m. at

the offices of the Federal Energy

Regulatory Commission, 888 First

Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20426, in

a conference room to be designated. The

purpose of the conference is to explore

the possibility of settlement of the

above-referenced docket.

Any party, as defined by 18 CFR

385.102(c), or any participant as defined

in 18 CFR 385.102(b) is invited to

attend. Persons wishing to become a

party must move to intervene and

receive intervenor status pursuant to the

Commission’s regulations (18 CFR

385.214).

For additional information, contact

Russell Mamone at (202) 208–0744 or

Anja Clark at (202) 208–2034.

Lois D. Cashell,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–8010 Filed 3–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M

[Docket No. CP96–249–004]

Portland Natural Gas Transmission

System; Notice of Amendment

March 25, 1997.

Take notice that on March 18, 1997,

Portland Natural Gas Transmission

System (PNGTS), 300 Friberg Parkway,

Westborough, Massachusetts 01581–

5039, filed in Docket No. CP96–249–004

an amendment pursuant to Section 7(c)

of the Natural Gas Act. This amendment

reflects the effect of the Joint Facilities

Application of Maritimes & Northeast

Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes) and 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 PNGTS’s March 14, 1996,

Application for a Certificate of Public

Convenience and Necessity in Docket

No. CP96–249–000, as amended in

Docket No. CP96–249–003.

Prior to the March 18, 1997

submission in the Joint Facilities

Application, two public conferences at

the Commission were held and four

letters from the Office of Pipeline

Regulation (OPR) were issued

requesting the information required to