[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 125 (Thursday, June 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34435-34436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16224]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-387-000]


Algonquin Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Application

June 22, 2001.
    Take notice that on June 15, 2001, Algonquin Gas Transmission 
Company (Algonquin), P.O. Box 1642, Houston, Texas 77251-1642, filed in 
Docket No. CP01-387-000 an application pursuant to the provisions of 
Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act for a certificate of public 
convenience and necessity to construct and operate facilities and to 
authorize the leasing of capacity on Algonquin's system all as more 
fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission 
and open to public inspection. This filing may be viewed on the web at 
http://www.rimsweb1.ferc.fed.us/rims.?rp2~intro (call 202-208-2222 for 
assistance).
    Specifically, Algonquin proposes to: (1) Retest and upgrade its C-1 
and C-1 L pipelines in New Haven County, Connecticut from their current 
maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) of 750 psig to an MAOP of 
814 psig; (2) expose, inspect and repair, as necessary, two 25-foot 
segments of pipe on the C-1 pipeline in New Haven County, Connecticut; 
(3) construct a new 10,310 horsepower compressor station in Cheshire, 
Connecticut near the beginning of the C-1 and C-1 L pipelines; and (4) 
remove two tool launchers from an existing aboveground facility in New 
Haven, Connecticut and relocated them to the proposed compressor 
station in Cheshire, Connecticut. Algonquin states that the estimated 
cost of the facilities is approximately $32.3 million. Algonquin 
proposes to place the facilities in service on November 1, 2003.
    Algonquin also seeks authorization to lease 285,000 Dth per day of 
capacity to Islander East Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (Islander East) from 
Cheshire, Connecticut (the intersection of the Algonquin mainline and 
its C-system) to a proposed interconnection between Algonquin and 
Islander East near North Haven, Connecticut for a primary term of 20 
years. The fixed monthly lease payment under the lease agreement is 
$334,135. In addition, Islander East will pay a monthly operating and 
maintenance charge of $32,307. Algonquin states that the monthly lease 
payment is less than what Islander East would pay if it had contracted 
for firm service on Algonquin and thus meets Commission standards for 
lease payments.
    Algonquin states that this project, in conjunction with the 
Islander East proposal in Docket No. CP01-384-000, et al., will allow 
markets in the Long Island and New York City area as well as future 
markets in Connecticut to access eastern Canadian offshore gas 
production. Algonquin also indicates that the lease agreement will 
eliminate Islander East's need to construct duplicative facilities in 
Connecticut, reducing the potential environmental impact of the 
Islander East project. Further, Algonquin asserts that this project 
will provide its shippers with direct access to the Long Island and New 
York City markets and enhance the operating efficiency and reliability 
of its system with additional compression and increased system 
pressures. Algonquin states that its proposal is consistent with the 
Commission's statement of policy on certification of new interstate 
natural gas pipeline facilities.
    Any questions regarding the application should be directed to 
Richard J. Kruse, Senior Vice President, Industry Initiatives, Pricing 
& Regulatory Affairs, Algonquin Gas Transmission Company, P.O. Box 
1642, Houston, Texas 77251-1642 at 713-627-5368 or by facsimile at 713-
627-4027.
    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 July 13, 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 385.214 or 385.211) and the 
Regulations under the NGA (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.
    However, a person does not have to intervene in order to have 
comments considered. The second way to participate is by filing with 
the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as possible, an original and 
two copies of comments in support of or in opposition to this project. 
The Commission will consider these comments in determining the 
appropriate action to be taken, but the filing of a comment alone will 
not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. The Commission's 
rules require that persons filing comments in opposition to the project 
provide copies of their protests only to the party or parties directly 
involved in the protest.
    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 the environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings 
associated with the Commission's environmental review process. 
Environmental commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed 
documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commenters will 
not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by 
the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents 
issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court 
review of the Commission's final order.
    The Commission may issue a preliminary determination on non-
environmental issues prior to the completion of its review of the

[[Page 34436]]

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 
either to file comments or to intervene as early in the process as 
possible.
    Comments, protests, and interventions may be filed electronically 
via the internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and 
the instructions on the Commission's web site at http://www.ferc.gov/documents/makeanelectronicfiling/doorbell.htm.
    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.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-16224 Filed 6-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M