Natural gas companies (Natural Gas Act): Project cost limits under blanket certificates,

[Federal Register: February 19, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 33)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 8239]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr19fe99-9]

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 157

[Docket No. RM81-19-000]

Project Cost and Annual Limits

Issued February 11, 1999. AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authority delegated by 18 CFR 375.307(e)(1), the Director of the Office of Pipeline Regulation computes and publishes the project cost and annual limits specified in Table I of Sec. 157.208(d) and Table II of Sec. 157.215(a) for each calendar year.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Michael J. McGehee, Division of Pipeline Certificates, OPR, (202) 208-2257.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

United States of America

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Publication of Project Cost Limits Under Blanket Certificates Docket No. RM81-19-000

Order of the Director, OPR

Issued February 11, 1999.

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 para. 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 `GNP implicit price deflator' published by the Department of Commerce for the previous calendar year.''

Pursuant to Sec. 375.307(e)(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 Pipeline Regulation. The cost limits for calendar year 1998, as published in Table I of Sec. 157.208(d) and Table II of Sec. 157.215(a), are hereby issued.

Note that these inflation adjustments are based on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Implicit Price Deflator, rather than the Gross National Product (GNP) Implicit Price Deflator which is not yet available for 1998. The Commerce Department advises that in recent years the annual change has been virtually the same for both indices. Further adjustments will be made, if necessary.

List of subjects in 18 CFR Part 157

Natural Gas. Marilyn L. Rand, Director, Division of Pipeline Certificates, Office of Pipeline Regulation.

Accordingly, 18 CFR Part 157 is amended as follows:

PART 157--[AMENDED]

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.

Sec. 157.208 [Amended]

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

Table I

Limit

Year

Auto. proj. Prior notice cost limit proj. cost (col. 1) limit (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

Sec. 157.215 [Amended]

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

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

[FR Doc. 99-4202Filed2-18-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P