[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18769-18770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9894]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP96-758-001]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation; Notice of Application

April 11, 1997.
    Take notice that on April 9, 1997, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line 
Corporation (Transco), P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251, filed in 
Docket No. CP96-758-001 an application, pursuant to Section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act, requesting authority to amend its certificate issued 
March 26, 1997, in Docket No. CP96-758-000 so as to reduce the project 
scale and pipe diameter and to revise its initial rates, all as more 
fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission 
and open to public inspection.
    Transco states that it seeks to modify its Southeast Louisiana 
Gathering System, as approved in the March 26, 1997, order. Transco 
explains that the order authorized it to construct and operate the 
following facilities in two phases:

Phase I

    <bullet> A platform in Ship Shoal Block 14, including associated 
piping modifications in Ship Shoal Blocks 14 and 28, offshore 
Louisiana, to connect the platform facilities to the west leg of the 
SELGS in Ship Shoal Block 28.
    <bullet> Approximately 50.71 miles of 30-inch pipeline extending 
from the new platform in Ship Shoal Block 14 to a tie-in with the 
east leg of the SELGS in Ship Shoal Block 214.

Phase II

    <bullet> A junction platform in South Timbalier Block 301.
    <bullet> Approximately 26.87 miles of 30-inch pipeline extending 
from an interconnection with the Phase I facilities and Transco's 
Ship Shoal Block 214 junction platform to the new South Timbalier 
Block 301 junction platform.

    Transco proposed in-service dates for the Phase I and Phase II 
facilities of November 1, 1997 and November 1, 1998, respectively. 
Transco estimated that the cost of the overall project would be 
$129,054,498. Transco states that the Phase I facilities were designed 
to create firm transportation capacity of 380,113 Mcf per day and 659, 
732 Mcf per day after Phase II. The order also authorized Transco 
proposals to charge incremental rates for service through the proposed 
expansion.
    Transco states that it proposes to amend the March 26, 1996, 
authorization to reduce the size of the proposed 30-inch pipeline to 
24-inch diameter pipeline and also to delete Phase II of the expansion. 
Transco states that these are the only revisions proposed to the 
certificated facilities.
    Transco states that the revised cost of the project is $76,360,516 
and that the changes in the project scope will reduce the firm capacity 
of the project to 331,819 dekatherms per day. Transco states that the 
proposed in-service date for the project will remain November 1, 1997. 
The locations and routes of the proposed facilities will also remain 
unchanged.
    Transco states that based on the revised cost of the facilities, 
the rate design and cost of service factors approved by the Commission 
in the March 26, 1997, order and revised billing determinants under the 
project of 331,819 dekatherms per day times a 70 percent load factor, 
it requests approval of a revised initial monthly reservation rate of 
$5.6223 per dekatherm. Transco states that a 70 percent load factor 
assumption complies with the Commission's policy with regard to minimum 
volumes to be used for designing rates for facilities located offshore 
Louisiana.
    Transco states that in addition to the incremental monthly 
reservation charge for firm transportation service, it requests 
approval of a usage rate of $0.1848 per dekatherm for interruptible 
transportation service to be rendered through the proposed facilities. 
This rate is based on the 100 percent load factor equivalent of the 
revised monthly reservation rate and will be charged only to those 
shippers specifically requesting interruptible transportation through 
the proposed facilities. Interruptible service will be provided under 
Rate Schedule IT and be subject to its terms and conditions. Transco 
states that approval of the incremental usage rate is critical to the 
economic viability of the project and whether or not Transco decides to 
go forward with the project.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with 
reference to said application should on or before April 18, 1997, file 
with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 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 385.214 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 is 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

[[Page 18770]]

unnecessary for Transco to appear or be represented at the hearing.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-9894 Filed 4-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M