FERC has granted Columbia Gas Transmission LLC authorization to place into service the third phase of its Line MB Extension Project, which is intended to improve reliability of natural gas service to utilities serving central Maryland.

Columbia had told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission it would be ready to place third phase facilities in service on Wednesday (Sept. 28). This phase included about eight miles of 26-inch diameter pipeline.

Tie-ins on Phase II(C) have not been completed yet but are anticipated to be done soon and placed in service in October, a spokesman said. Phase II(C) includes 1.5 miles of 26-inch diameter pipeline. Once that is complete, the entire project will be finished.

FERC approved the project in November 2013 (see Daily GPI, Nov. 25, 2013). At the time the company told the Commission it would improve service reliability for local utilities that serve central Maryland and surrounding regions. It also will reduce system vulnerability to pipeline outages and better facilitate pipeline safety inspections without disrupting service. The Line MB project does not add more capacity to Columbia’s system but rather provides reliability of service in the event Line MA has to be taken down for maintenance or some other reason, according to the company.

The overall expansion entailed the construction of about 21.1 miles of 26-inch diameter pipeline and appurtenant facilities.