Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., a partner in MillenniumPipeline, has joined the growing ranks of pipeline sponsors thatare asking FERC to issue preliminary determinations (PDs) posthaste so that they can finalize shipper commitments and meet theirprojected in-service dates.

Millennium’s application, which has been pending before theCommission for more than a year, “is now complete and ready for apreliminary determination in every respect,” said Columbia GasPresident and CEO Catherine G. Abbott in a Jan. 20th letter to FERCChairman James Hoecker and the four commissioners [CP98-150].

“Because the Millennium project is fully subscribed underexclusive and binding precedent agreements with ten shippers, thereare comparatively few non-environmental issues for Commissionresolution,” she said.

There is some question about the definition of bindingagreements, however, since Millennium attorney Frederic Berner Jr.described only five of those in a Jan. 19th letter to Kevin P.Madden, FERC’s director of Office of Pipeline Regulation. Bernersaid the binding agreements were with CoEnergy Trading, ColumbiaEnergy Services, Engage Energy (US) L.P., International BusinessMachines Corp. and Stand Energy Corp.

The project’s agreements with TransCanada Gas Services Inc.,Duke Energy Trading and Marketing L.L.P., North East Heat &Light, PanCanadian Energy Services and Renaissance Energy (US) Inc.contain “contract-out” provisions that were extended until March 1,he noted. Madden cited concern over certain contract-outprovisions, which would permit Millennium shippers to terminatetheir agreements if they didn’t obtain approval from their boardsof directors by a certain date. He noted these were affecting theCommission’s efforts to complete the processing of the Millennium’sapplication.

“To permit us to accomplish those objectives in a competitivemarketplace, I respectfully request you to promptly issue apreliminary determination on the non-environmental issues, Abbottsaid.

The 422-mile Millennium project would extend from Lake Erie intoNew York City with a capacity of 700,000 Dth/d,

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