Natural Gas Pipelines; Project Cost and Annual Limits

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2018)

Federal Register Volume 83, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2018)

Rules and Regulations

Pages 9697-9698

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2018-04413

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 157

Docket No. RM81-19-000

Natural Gas Pipelines; Project Cost and Annual Limits

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Energy.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authority delegated by the Commission's regulations, 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 March 7, 2018 and establishes cost limits applicable from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 2018, as published in Table I of Sec. 157.208(d) and Table II of 157.215(a), are hereby issued.

Effective Date

This final rule is effective March 7, 2018. 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.

Issued: February 27, 2018.

Terry L. Turpin,

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 to Part 157

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    Limit

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    Year Auto. proj. Prior notice

    cost limit proj. cost

    (Col. 1) limit (Col. 2)

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  3. $4,200,000 $12,000,000

  4. 4,500,000 12,800,000

  5. 4,700,000 13,300,000

  6. 4,900,000 13,800,000

  7. 5,100,000 14,300,000

  8. 5,200,000 14,700,000

  9. 5,400,000 15,100,000

  10. 5,600,000 15,600,000

  11. 5,800,000 16,000,000

  12. 6,000,000 16,700,000

  13. 6,200,000 17,300,000

  14. 6,400,000 17,700,000

  15. 6,600,000 18,100,000

  16. 6,700,000 18,400,000

  17. 6,900,000 18,800,000

  18. 7,000,000 19,200,000

  19. 7,100,000 19,600,000

  20. 7,200,000 19,800,000

  21. 7,300,000 20,200,000

  22. 7,400,000 20,600,000

  23. 7,500,000 21,000,000

  24. 7,600,000 21,200,000

  25. 7,800,000 21,600,000

  26. 8,000,000 22,000,000

  27. 9,600,000 27,400,000

  28. 9,900,000 28,200,000

  29. 10,200,000 29,000,000

  30. 10,400,000 29,600,000

  31. 10,500,000 29,900,000

  32. 10,600,000 30,200,000

  33. 10,800,000 30,800,000

  34. 11,000,000 31,400,000

  35. 11,200,000 31,900,000

  36. 11,400,000 32,400,000

  37. 11,600,000 32,800,000

  38. 11,800,000 33,200,000

  39. 12,000,000 33,800,000

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    * * * * *

    0

  40. 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 to Part 157

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    Year Limit

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  41. $2,700,000

  42. 2,900,000

  43. 3,000,000

  44. 3,100,000

  45. 3,200,000

  46. 3,300,000

  47. 3,400,000

  48. 3,500,000

  49. 3,600,000

  50. 3,800,000

  51. 3,900,000

  52. 4,000,000

  53. 4,100,000

  54. 4,200,000

  55. 4,300,000

    Page 9698

  56. 4,400,000

  57. 4,500,000

  58. 4,550,000

  59. 4,650,000

  60. 4,750,000

  61. 4,850,000

  62. 4,900,000

  63. 5,000,000

  64. 5,100,000

  65. 5,250,000

  66. 5,400,000

  67. 5,550,000

  68. 5,600,000

  69. 5,700,000

  70. 5,750,000

  71. 5,850,000

  72. 6,000,000

  73. 6,100,000

  74. 6,200,000

  75. 6,300,000

  76. 6,400,000

  77. 6,500,000

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    FR Doc. 2018-04413 Filed 3-6-18; 8:45 am

    BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

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