FERC staff has given environmental clearance to Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP to construct three new injection/withdrawal wells and 2.37 miles of associated pipeline at its Jackson Gas Storage facility in Rankin County, MS.

“Based on the analysis of this environmental assessment, we have determined that if Gulf South constructs and operates the facilities in accordance with its application for the Jackson Gas Storage Expansion Project and our mitigation measures…, approval of this project would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment,” staff said in its environmental assessment (EA) of the proposed storage expansion [CP04-366].

The new storage wells would allow Gulf South to increase the overall storage capacity of its Jackson Storage Field by approximately 2.4 Bcf to offset the force majeure loss the company has been suffering at the Magnolia Storage Field, which Gulf South leases in southern Louisiana. Magnolia Storage has been subject to a force majeure condition since December 2003.

The storage wells, along with the 16-inch diameter pipeline and other associated facilities, are targeted for in-service on or about Aug. 1 of this year, according to Gulf South.

Last November, FERC granted Gulf South a limited-term certificate to expand the overall capacity of its Jackson Storage Field to provide needed additional deliverability on its system for the winter heating season. The authorization, which went into effect Nov. 15, allowed Gulf South to transfer storage gas from its Bistineau Storage facility in northern Louisiana to its Jackson Gas Storage site [CP04-425].

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