[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 8, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23244-23245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-11476]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-161-000]


Southern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application

April 30, 2001.
    Take notice that on April 20, 2001, Southern Natural Gas Company 
(Southern), Post Office Box 2563, Birmingham, Alabama 35202-2563, filed 
in Docket No. CP01-161-000, an application, pursuant to Sections 7(b) 
and (c) of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission's Regulations for abandonment authorization and a 
certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing the 
construction and operation of certain pipeline, compression and 
appurtenant facilities in Alabama and Mississippi, all as more fully 
set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and 
open to public inspection.
    Southern proposes to construct and operate the facilities in order 
to accommodate deliveries to Calhoun Power Company (Calhoun), Alabama 
Gas Corporation (Alagasco), and the City of Sylacauga, Alabama 
(Sylacauga). It is stated that Calhoun proposes to construct an 
electric power generation plant in Calhoun County, Alabama, and 
Southern proposes to provide firm transportation service for Calhoun, 
delivering 85,000 Mcf of natural gas per day to Calhoun's plant for a 
10-year term in the months June through September. It is stated that 
Alagasco and Sylacauga have contracted with Southern to provide natural 
gas deliveries on a firm basis for a 10-year term in the months October 
through May. Southern proposes to deliver 30,000 Mcf per day to 
Alagasco and 3,000 Mcf per day to Sylacauga.
    Southern proposes to construct and operate pipeline facilities 
consisting of approximately 4.6 miles of pipeline loop on its 24-inch 
mainline in Pickens County, Alabama; approximately 11 miles of 
replacement line of various diameters on various Southern pipelines in 
Alabama and Mississippi. Southern proposes to install one 6,000 
horsepower compressor at its existing Pell City Compression Station in 
St. Clair, County, Alabama. Southern proposes to construct and operate 
dual 18-inch taps on its North Main Line and North Main Line Loop in 
Calhoun County, Alabama, to facilitate deliveries to Calhoun. Southern 
estimates the total cost of the proposed facilities at $24.9 million.
    Southern states that Calhoun intends to construct nonjurisdictional 
facilities consisting of a meter station and 2900 feet of connecting 
pipeline to facilitate the deliveries to its power plant. It is stated 
that Alabama Power Company, which has contracted to purchase the 
electric output produced by Calhoun's plan, will construct a 
nonjurisdictional connecting line to connect its facilities to 
Southern's Pell City Compressor Station.
    Southern explains that, in conjunction with the replacement of 
various segments of the North Main Line and the Bessemer-Calera Line 
and Loop, these lines will be tested hydrostatically in order to 
increase their Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) to 750 psig 
and 600 psig, respectively. It is further explained that, as a result, 
3 segments of 12-inch pipeline, which constitute a river crossing of 
the Tombigbee River, will be abandoned, because they cannot be uprated 
to operate at higher pressures.
    Any questions regarding this application should be directed to R. 
David Hendrickson, Associate General Counsel, at (205) 325-714, 
Southern Natural Gas Company, Post Office Box 2563, Birmingham, Alabama 
35202-2563.
    There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of 
this project. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by 
becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or 
before May 21, 2001, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, a motion to 
intervene in accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules 
of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) and the 
regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.10). A person 
obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by 
the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies of all 
documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties. A party must 
submit 14 copies of filings made with the Commission and must mail a 
copy to the applicant and to every other party in the proceeding. Only 
parties to the proceeding can ask for court review of Commission orders 
in the proceeding. Comments and protests may be filed electronically 
via the internet in lieu of paper. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and 
the Commission's website at http://www.ferc.fed.us/efi/doorbell.htm.
    Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of 
this project should submit an original and two copies of their comments 
to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commenters will be 
placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive 
copies of environmental documents, and will be able to participate in 
meetings associated with the Commission's environmental review process. 
Commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on 
all other parties. However, Commenters will not receive

[[Page 23245]]

copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by the 
Commission, and will not have the right to seek rehearing or appeal the 
Commission's final order to a Federal court.
    The Commission will consider all comments and concerns equally, 
whether filed by commenters or those requesting intervenor status.
    The Commission may issue a preliminary determination on non-
environmental issues prior to the completion of its review of the 
environmental aspects of the project. This preliminary determination 
typically considers such issues as the need for the project and its 
economic effect on existing customers of the applicant, on other 
pipelines in the area, and on landowners and communities. For example, 
the Commission considers the extent to which the applicant may need to 
exercise eminent domain to obtain rights-of-way for the proposed 
project and balances that against the non-environmental benefits to be 
provided by the project. Therefore, if a person has comments on 
community and landowner impacts from this proposal, it is important to 
file comments or to intervene as early in the process as possible.
    If the Commission decides to set the application for a formal 
hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, the Commission will issue 
another notice describing that process. At the end of the Commission's 
review process, a final Commission order approving or denying a 
certificate will be issued.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-11476 Filed 5-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M