Document ID: FERC-2012-0257-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Rule
Title: Natural Gas Pipelines: Project Cost and Annual Limits
Posted Date: 2012-02-15T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8724-8725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3488]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 157

[Docket No. RM81-19-000]

Natural Gas Pipelines; Project Cost and Annual Limits

February 9, 2012.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authority delegated by 18 CFR 375.308(x)(1), 
the Director of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP) computes and 
publishes the project cost and annual limits for natural gas pipelines 
blanket construction certificates for each calendar year.

DATES: This final rule is effective February 15, 2012 and establishes 
cost limits applicable from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Foley, Chief, Certificates 
Branch 1, Division of Pipeline Certificates, (202) 502-8955.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Publication of Project Cost Limits Under Blanket Certificates

Docket No. RM81-19-000

Order of the Director, OEP
    February 9, 2012.
    Section 157.208(d) of the Commission's Regulations provides for 
project cost limits applicable to construction, acquisition, operation 
and miscellaneous rearrangement of facilities (Table I) authorized 
under the blanket certificate procedure (Order No. 234, 19 FERC ] 
61,216). Section 157.215(a) specifies the calendar year dollar limit 
which may be expended on underground storage testing and development 
(Table II) authorized under the blanket certificate. Section 157.208(d) 
requires that the ``limits specified in Tables I and II shall be 
adjusted each calendar year to reflect the `GDP implicit price 
deflator' published by the Department of Commerce for the previous 
calendar year.''
    Pursuant to Sec.  375.308(x)(1) of the Commission's Regulations, 
the authority for the publication of such cost limits, as adjusted for 
inflation, is delegated to the Director of the Office of Energy 
Projects. The cost limits for calendar year 2012, as published in Table 
I of Sec.  157.208(d) and Table II of Sec.  157.215(a), are hereby 
issued.

Effective Date

    This final rule is effective February 15. The provisions of 5 
U.S.C. 804 regarding Congressional review of Final Rules does not apply 
to the Final Rule because the rule concerns agency procedure and 
practice and will not substantially affect the rights or obligations of 
non-agency parties. The Final Rule merely updates amounts published in 
the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the Department of Commerce's 
latest annual determination of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 
implicit price deflator, a mathematical updating required by the 
Commission's existing regulations.

List of Subjects in 18 CFR Part 157

    Administrative practice and procedure, Natural gas, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

Jeff C. Wright,
Director, Office of Energy Projects.

    Accordingly, 18 CFR part 157 is amended as follows:

PART 157--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for Part 157 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 717-717w, 3301-3432; 42 U.S.C. 7101-7352.

0
2. Table I in Sec.  157.208(d) is revised to read as follows:

Sec.  157.208  Construction, acquisition, operation, replacement, and 
miscellaneous rearrangement of facilities.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *

                                 Table I
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Limit
                                     -----------------------------------
                Year                                      Prior notice
                                      Auto. proj. cost  proj. cost limit
                                       limit (Col. 1)       (Col. 2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982................................        $4,200,000       $12,000,000
1983................................         4,500,000        12,800,000
1984................................         4,700,000        13,300,000
1985................................         4,900,000        13,800,000
1986................................         5,100,000        14,300,000
1987................................         5,200,000        14,700,000
1988................................         5,400,000        15,100,000
1989................................         5,600,000        15,600,000
1990................................         5,800,000        16,000,000
1991................................         6,000,000        16,700,000
1992................................         6,200,000        17,300,000
1993................................         6,400,000        17,700,000
1994................................         6,600,000        18,100,000
1995................................         6,700,000        18,400,000
1996................................         6,900,000        18,800,000
1997................................         7,000,000        19,200,000
1998................................         7,100,000        19,600,000
1999................................         7,200,000        19,800,000
2000................................         7,300,000        20,200,000
2001................................         7,400,000        20,600,000
2002................................         7,500,000        21,000,000

[[Page 8725]]

 
2003................................         7,600,000        21,200,000
2004................................         7,800,000        21,600,000
2005................................         8,000,000        22,000,000
2006................................         9,600,000        27,400,000
2007................................         9,900,000        28,200,000
2008................................        10,200,000        29,000,000
2009................................        10,400,000        29,600,000
2010................................        10,500,000        29,900,000
2011................................        10,600,000        30,200,000
2012................................        10,800,000        30,800,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

0
3. Table II in Sec.  157.215(a)(5) is revised to read as follows:

Sec.  157.215  Underground storage testing and development.

    (a) * * *
    (5) * * *

                                Table II
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Year                                 Limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982..................................................        $2,700,000
1983..................................................         2,900,000
1984..................................................         3,000,000
1985..................................................         3,100,000
1986..................................................         3,200,000
1987..................................................         3,300,000
1988..................................................         3,400,000
1989..................................................         3,500,000
1990..................................................         3,600,000
1991..................................................         3,800,000
1992..................................................         3,900,000
1993..................................................         4,000,000
1994..................................................         4,100,000
1995..................................................         4,200,000
1996..................................................         4,300,000
1997..................................................         4,400,000
1998..................................................         4,500,000
1999..................................................         4,550,000
2000..................................................         4,650,000
2001..................................................         4,750,000
2002..................................................         4,850,000
2003..................................................         4,900,000
2004..................................................         5,000,000
2005..................................................         5,100,000
2006..................................................         5,250,000
2007..................................................         5,400,000
2008..................................................         5,550,000
2009..................................................         5,600,000
2010..................................................         5,700,000
2011..................................................         5,750,000
2012..................................................         5,850,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2012-3488 Filed 2-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P