Dominion Transmission Inc. (DTI), a subsidiary of Richmond, VA-based Dominion Resources, is seeking FERC authorization to start up by Nov. 14 new pipeline facilities in Pennsylvania that are associated with the expansion of the Dominion Cove Point liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal on the Maryland eastern shore.

The 88 miles of pipeline facilities extend northward from Dominion’s Perulack Compressor Station in Juniata County, PA, to the Leidy Meter Station and pipeline replacement facilities at the Leidy Hub complex in Clinton County, PA [CP05-131].

The other part of the pipeline expansion — 44 miles of mostly pipeline loop in Maryland — is expected to be completed and in service “soon,” said Dominion spokesman Dan Donovan. He noted that the company hopes to have the expansion of the Cove Point LNG terminal, which will raise sendout capacity to 1.8 Bcf/d from 1 Bcf/d, completed and in service by the end of the year. The project also will almost double storage capacity to 14.6 Bcf.

DTI’s request to start up the Pennsylvania facilities came only a few weeks after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorized the completion of the construction of the terminal and pipeline project (see NGI, Oct. 13). The fate of the expansion project hung in the balance after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit during the summer vacated the original FERC order approving the LNG terminal and pipeline expansion.

The court said the order failed to support the agency’s conclusion that Washington, DC-based Washington Gas Light (WGL) would be able to fix widespread coupling leaks on its distribution system before the Cove Point terminal expansion goes into operation later this year (see NGI, July 21). WGL charged that an influx of unblended LNG from the terminal caused the coupling leaks on its distribution system, which serves parts of Washington, Virginia and Maryland.

In 2006 WGL petitioned the court to review the FERC order approving construction of the Cove Point LNG project after it failed in its efforts to block the expansion at the Commission (see NGI, Jan. 8, 2007).

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