Downeast LNG, Inc.; Notice of Applications for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity and Section 3 Authorization, 766-767 [E6-22691]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 4 (Monday, January 8, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 766-767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22691]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP07-52-000; Downeast Pipeline, LLC, Docket Nos. CP07-53-
000, CP07-54-000, CP07-55-000]


Downeast LNG, Inc.; Notice of Applications for Certificates of 
Public Convenience and Necessity and Section 3 Authorization

December 29, 2006.
    Take notice that on December 22, 2006, Downeast LNG, Inc. (Downeast 
LNG), 748 U.S. Route 1, Robbinston, Maine 04671, filed an application 
in Docket No. CP07-52-000 pursuant to section 3(a) of the Natural Gas 
Act (NGA), and Parts 153 and 380 of the regulations of the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission), 18 CFR Parts 153 and 380, 
for authorization to site, construct and operate a liquefied natural 
gas (LNG) receiving terminal and associated facilities to be located in 
Washington County, Maine as a place of entry for the importation of 
LNG.
    Also take notice that on December 22, 2006, Downeast Pipeline, LLC 
(Downeast Pipeline), 748 U.S. Route 1, Robbinston, Maine 04671, filed 
pursuant to Section 7(c) of the NGA and the Commission's regulations; 
(1) an application in Docket No. CP07-53-000 for a certificate of 
public convenience and necessity; (i) authorizing Downeast Pipeline to 
construct, own and operate the Downeast Pipeline under Part 157, 
Subpart A of the Commission's regulations, (ii) approving the pro forma 
Tariff submitted as Exhibit P of the application, and (iii) approving 
the proposed initial rates for pipeline transportation services; (2) an 
application in Docket No. CP07-54-000, for a blanket certificate 
authorizing Downeast Pipeline to engage in certain self-implementing 
routine activities under Part 157, Subpart F, of the Commission's 
regulations; and (3) an application in Docket No. CP07-55-000, for a 
blanket certificate authorizing Downeast Pipeline to transport natural 
gas, on an open access and self-implementing basis, under Part 284, 
Subpart G of the Commission's regulations.
    Any questions regarding these applications should be directed to 
Dean Girdis, Downeast LNG, Inc., 748 U.S. Route 1, Robbinston, ME 04671 
or Lisa M. Tonery, King & Spalding LLP, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 
New York, NY 10036.
    These filings are available for review at the Commission's 
Washington, DC offices or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site at 
https://www.ferc.gov/ using the ``e-Library'' link. Enter the docket 
number, excluding the last three digits, in the docket number field to 
access the document. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support 
at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov or Telephone: 202-502-6652; Toll-free: 1-
866-208-3676; or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.
    On January 25, 2006, the Commission Staff granted Downeast LNG's 
request to utilize the Pre-Filing process and assigned Docket No. PF06-
13-000 to Staff activities involving the Downeast LNG import terminal 
project and Downeast Pipeline's proposed pipeline. Now, as of the 
filing of this application on December 22, 2006, the Pre-Filing Process 
for this project has ended. From this time forward, these proceedings 
will be conducted in Dockets No. CP07-52-000, CP07-52-000, CP07-54-000, 
and CP07-55-000 as noted in the caption of this Notice.
    Downeast LNG is seeking authorization pursuant to Section 3(a) of 
the NGA to site, construct and operate: (1) An LNG receiving facility 
(including docking facilities and associated piping appurtenances); and 
(2) an LNG storage and vaporization facility (including two LNG storage 
tanks, each with a storage capacity of 160,000 cubic meters, 
vaporization units with an average capacity of 500,000 Mcf/d and peak 
capacity 625,000 Mcf/d, and associated piping and control equipment).
    Downeast Pipeline proposes to construct about 31 miles of single 
30-inch diameter pipeline. The proposed Pipeline will originate at the 
Import Terminal site boundary and terminate in the vicinity of the 
Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline at the existing Baileyville Compressor 
Station in Baileyville, Maine. The proposed Pipeline facilities will 
include pig launcher and receiver traps, mainline valves and 
interconnection and metering facilities, and will be designed for 
maximum allowable operating pressure of 1,580 psig and capacity of up 
to 625,000 Mcf/d, as more fully described in the filing.
    Pursuant to Section 157.9 of the Commission's rules, 18 CFR 157.9 
and to ensure compliance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the 
Commission Staff will issue a Notice of Schedule for Environmental 
Review within 90 days of the date of this Notice. The Notice of 
Schedule for Environmental Review will indicate, among other 
milestones, the anticipated date for the Commission Staff's issuance of 
the final environmental impact statement (FEIS)

[[Page 767]]

for the Downeast LNG's and Downeast Pipeline's proposals. The Notice of 
Schedule for Environmental Review will also alert other agencies of the 
requirement to complete necessary reviews and authorizations within 90 
days of the date of issuance of the Commission Staff's FEIS.
    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 proceeding for this project should 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 Sec. Sec.  385.214 or 385.211) and the Regulations under the NGA 
(18 CFR 157.10) by the comment date, below. 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 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 and/
or associated pipeline. 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.
    Protests and interventions may be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper; see 18 CFR 285.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the 
instructions on the Commission's Web site under the ``e-filing'' link. 
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings.
    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 and associated pipeline. 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 pipeline and balances that against the non-
environmental benefits to be provided by the project.
    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.
    Comment Date: January 22, 2007.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-22691 Filed 1-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P