Greenbrier Pipeline Is First To Use FERC’s
Pre-Filing Process
RICHMOND, Va. [CHARLOTTE, N.C.] -- Greenbrier Pipeline Company,
LLC, has filed the first in a series of environmental reports with the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under its pre-filing docket, even though
its formal certificate application is not scheduled for filing until later this
year. Greenbrier is the first company to use the FERC’s new pre-filing process
for environmental review of a planned pipeline construction.
At the FERC's March 27, 2002 Open Meeting, Chairman Patrick
H. Wood III endorsed the same pre-filing mechanism that Dominion is pioneering
with the Greenbrier Project. Describing the public benefits of the "PF docket"
concept, the Chairman concluded: "I strongly encourage the pipeline industry
to use this process that allows landowner issues to be identified, alternatives
examined and problems resolved before the application is filed."
Thos. E. Capps, Dominion's chairman, president and chief
executive officer, said: "As a growing energy service provider, Dominion is
pleased to participate at the forefront of the FERC's initiative – improving
the process of siting natural gas infrastructure by involving all affected parties
at early stages. We look forward to working with the FERC to refine and improve
this innovative pre-filing mechanism, using the Greenbrier Project experience
as a model."
The Greenbrier Pipeline is a proposed 271-mile interstate
pipeline from West Virginia to North Carolina. The FERC’s environmental staff
has been reviewing the Greenbrier project since November 2001 through the pre-filing
mechanism – by conducting site visits, attending public and agency meetings,
and meeting with landowner groups.
Working through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
process in this pre-filing forum should help Greenbrier improve the involvement
of all interested parties in the planning process. The pre-filing approach includes
establishing a new docket prefix (PF) for reference of documents filed by interested
parties, and the appointment of ENTRIX, Inc. as a third-party contractor to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement under the direct supervision and control
of the FERC staff.
The Greenbrier Pipeline is a partnership of a Dominion (NYSE:D)
subsidiary and a Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: PNY) subsidiary. The Greenbrier
Pipeline originates in Kanawha County, West Virginia, with gas supplies from
connections with Dominion Transmission and Tennessee Gas Pipeline accessing
multiple gas basins such as Appalachia, Canada, Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent
as well as Dominion’s vast gas storage network. The Greenbrier Pipeline extends
through southwest Virginia and north central North Carolina to meet the growing
natural gas demand of local distribution companies and new power generation.
The $497 million pipeline will be designed, constructed and operated by Dominion
Transmission.
The initial capacity of the Greenbrier pipeline will be 600,000
dekatherms of natural gas per day. A segment of the Greenbrier Pipeline is expected
to be ready for service by the second quarter of 2005 to meet power generation
market requirements, with the remainder completed by the fourth quarter of 2005
to satisfy the market requirements of local natural gas utilities.
For information regarding this project, contact Joe Kienle
at (804) 819-2114. Dominion’s electronic bulletin board and its Web site at
www.dom.com (keyword: Greenbrier) also will
contain general information about this project as it becomes available.
Dominion, headquartered in Richmond, Va., is one of the nation’s
largest producers of energy, with a production capability of more than 3 trillion
British thermal units of energy per day. Dominion owns and operates 7,600 miles
of natural gas transmission pipeline with a delivery capacity of 6.3 billion
cubic feet per day. Dominion serves nearly 4 million retail natural gas and
electric customers in five states. For more information about Dominion, visit
the company’s Web site at www.dom.com.
Piedmont Natural Gas is an energy and services company primarily
engaged in the distribution of natural gas to 710,000 residential, commercial
and industrial customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The
Charlotte-based company is the second-largest natural gas utility in the Southeast.
Piedmont is also invested in a number of non-utility, energy-related businesses
including companies involved in unregulated retail natural gas and propane marketing,
and interstate and intrastate natural gas storage and transportation. More information
about Piedmont Natural Gas is available on the Internet at
www.piedmontng.com.
