Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) for Northern Natural Gas Co.‘s proposed Cedar Station Upgrade Project in Dakota County, MN. A scoping process has been opened and FERC will accept comments through March 24, according to a notice of intent [PF15-32]. Staff will host a public scoping meeting March 15 in Eagan, MN. Northern Natural plans to construct and operate 7.8 miles of 20-inch diameter pipeline from its Rosemont Junction in Rosemont, MN, to the Cedar Station Meter Station in Eagan, which would allow it to increase pressure at the Cedar Station to 650 psig from 400 psig. The project would accommodate a contractual obligation to meet a delivery pressure for Northern States Power Co.‘s Black Dog Generating Station, according to Northern Natural.

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) reported Tuesday that effective for trading beginning on Tuesday, March 1, ICE’s definition for the TETCO-M3 physical gas market on ICE will change from “Texas Eastern Transmission Corp. – M3 Zone (delivered)” to “Texas Eastern Transmission Corp. – M3 Zone (delivered, excluding points on the Philadelphia lateral).” This definition change will apply to both bilateral trades and NGX cleared trades.