Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp.; Notice of Application

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP94-645-000]

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp.; Notice of Application

July 8, 1994.

Take notice that on July 6, 1994, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line

Corporation (Transco), P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251, filed in

Docket No. CP94-645-000 an application pursuant to Section 7(c) of the

Natural Gas Act for a certificate of public convenience and necessity

authorizing it to construct and operate a Mississippi River Crossing,

whereby two 30-inch pipelines will be replaces with one 36-inch

pipeline. Transco requests a permanent certificate and construction

clearance by August 1, 1994 and, if a permanent certificate is not

issued by August 1, Transco requests that a temporary certificate and

construction clearance be issued by that date, all as more fully set

forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open

to public inspection.

Transco states that on May 20, 1994, it filed a 30-day notice

pursuant to Section 2.55(b)(1)(iii) of the Commission's Regulations

regarding a planned replacement activity exceeding the cost limits

provided in Section 157.208(d) of the Regulations. In such notice,

Transco states that it proposed to replace two shallow 30-inch

Mississippi River crossing pipelines which have been rendered

inoperable by river channel scour. It is stated that the two 30-inch

pipeline's will be replaced with one 36-inch installed by horizontal

drilling under the river.

Transco states that it received a letter dated June 17, 1994, from

the Director of the Office of Pipeline regulation (OPR) which stated:

``On May 12, 1994, the Commission clarified its section 2.55(b)

regulations. In Docket No. CP91-2069-000, Arkla Energy Resources

Company, the said `* * * that section 2.55(b) means that replacement

facilities must be constructed within the existing right-of-way.'

Based on Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation's (Transco)

filing on May 20, 1994 and supplemented on June 2, 1994, 30-day notice

of section 2.55(b) replacement of two 30-inch-diameter pipelines with

one 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana

Parishes, Louisiana is not in the existing right-of-way. Therefore,

this project does not qualify for replacement treatment under section

2.55(b). Transco needs to file a section 7(c) application for this

project.

Accordingly, Transco states that it filed the instant application.

Transco proposes to install approximately 4,100 feet of 36-inch

diameter pipeline by horizontal drilling under the Mississippi River,

at the location of its established pipeline crossing corridor of the

Mississippi River between Point Coupee and West Feliciana Parishes,

Louisiana. It is states that approximately 900 feet of 36-inch tie-in

pipeline on the banks of the river will be required to connect the

drilled crossing to Transco's mainline system. It is stated that the

proposed installation will replace two 30-inch pipeline that have been

exposed and damaged by Mississippi River channel scour and are now

inoperable. Transco states that the proposed replacement will restore

the long-term integrity of Transco's transmission system at the

Mississippi River crossing.\1\ Transco estimates that the cost of the

replacement is approximately $7 million.

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\1\Transco states that directionally drilled pipelines under

rivers are significantly more secure than older pipelines which

installed by way of trenching the river bed. It is stated that the

36-inch pipeline crossing will be 90 feet below the deepest

Mississippi River channel. Transco states that because of the strong

currents in the Mississippi River, over time, the shallow, trenched

crossings have become exposed and failed.

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Transco states that the system capacity across the Mississippi

River after construction of the 36-inch crossing will be 2,346.5 MMcf

per day (MMcfd) compared to a capacity of 2,334 MMcfd in 1982 prior to

the first failure of one of Transco's shallow pipeline crossings.

Accordingly, Transco states that its three directionally drilled

pipelines at the Mississippi River crossing (including the one

installed pursuant to the instant application) will have a

substantially equivalent designed delivery capacity as the five

shallow, conventionally installed pipelines and will therefore result

in only a nominal increase in capacity at the river crossing. It is

stated that all shallow river crossings at this location have been or

will be retired.

Transco states that it needs both the Commission authorization and

construction clearance by August 1, 1994 to commence construction of

this project as soon as possible because, historically, the water level

in the Mississippi River is at its annual low point at this time of the

year. It is stated that this is important because the drilling

equipment will be located on the west bank of the river, inside the

flood control levee. During the months of August and September, Transco

states that it is expected that the west bank will be dryer than at any

time during the year and thus will provide the most secure conditions

for the equipment. Transco states that there is only a 2-3 month

``window'' period for this type of construction before the water level

in the river typically rises to a level which would prevent the

emplacement of the drilling equipment.

Transco states that it is vitally important that it complete the

installation of the new 36-inch pipeline in order to replace the

capacity lost as a result of the two 30-inch lines being rendered

inoperable by river channel scour. It is stated that this crossing must

be completed in time to provide service during the upcoming winter

heating season to ensure that the necessary volumes of gas will be able

to flow from the production areas--across the Mississippi River--to

Transco's markets.

Transco states that issuance of a certificate by August 1 for the

Mississippi River crossing is justified by two reasons: (1) the above-

mentioned need for security of gas service during the upcoming winter

heating season, and (2) the de minimis impact on the environment of the

crossing project (as described below). Furthermore, Transco states that

the Commission staff is already familiar with this project because of

Transco's previous filing of the 30-day notice pursuant to section

2.55(b) of the regulations. Transco states that with respect to the

environment, the following are the significant points:

1. In 1992 Transco installed a 36-inch pipeline by directional

drilling under the Mississippi River at the same general location. On

the west side of the river, the property to be used for temporary work

space is owned by Transco in fee. This temporary work place is

essentially the same area that was used in 1992. Transco states that an

additional 0.4 acre of forested wetlands area is to be cleared on the

west side for the proposed installation.

On the east side of the river, the area to be used for temporary

work space is essentially the same area that was used in 1992. Transco

states that an additional 1.0 acre of forested wetlands areas is to be

cleared on the east dies for the proposed installation. The area is

within the area which Transco has leased for ten years from the

landowner. The ten-year period was to have expired on August 13, 1994,

but Transco has recently negotiated an extention until August 13, 1995.

In summary, Transco states that the temporary work areas are

essentially the same areas which were previously used in 1992, and the

additional areas to be cleared are minor in nature, i.e., a total of

1.4 acres, with 0.4 acre being on Transco-owned land.

2. All clearances have been received with respect to endangered/

threatened species and cultural resources.

3. There are no residential dwellings near this project. The owner

of the land on the east side of the river does not live on such land.

4. Transco does not have the option of in situ replacement because

it is replacing shallow trenched pipelines with a directionally drilled

one deep beneath the river bed. Transco states that it is locating the

planned 36-inch pipeline as close as prudently feasible to the 36-inch

pipeline installed by directional drilling in 1992. The planned

pipeline is within Transco's established Mississippi River crossing

corridor.

Transco points out that, additionally, the details of its proposed

Mississippi River replacement crossing have been presented for public

comment. It is stated that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE)

processing of Transco's application for a permit for this project

involves the issuance of public notice which allows any members of the

public to make comments by July 5, 1994.

Therefore, Transco states that in view of (1) the fast-approaching

``window'' period for installation of a directionally drilled pipeline

at this Mississippi River location, (2) the essential need for the

crossing to be completed in time to provide service during the upcoming

winter heating season, (3) the de minimis environmental impact of

Transco's project and (4) the opportunity for public participation

already present in the COE processing of Transco's application for a

permit, Transco requests that the Commission issue it a permanent

certificate and construction clearance by August 1, 1994.

Transco also requests that if a permanent certificate is not issued

by August 1, 1994, a temporary certificate and construction clearance

be issued by that date so that Transco will be able to complete the

crossing in time to provide service during the upcoming winter heating

season.

Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with

reference to said application should on or before July 18, 1994, file

with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 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 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 with 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 unnecessary for Transco to appear or be represented at the

hearing.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 94-17046 Filed 7-13-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-M