FERC on Thursday called on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to expedite their review of a $333 million project to replace aging natural gas delivery capacity on Williams’ Northwest Pipeline in western Washington State.

In a letter to the agencies, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission pointed out that the FWS and NOAA were 40 days overdue in issuing their biological opinion on the project. Both agencies had 135 days from the receipt of FERC’s biological assessment and draft environmental impact statement (EIS) to issue their opinion, but 175 days have since elapsed, according to the Commission [CP05-32].

“Our final EIS has been issued and this proceeding is nearing readiness for a determination by the Commission on whether to issue a certificate…We encourage you to submit the [opinion] as soon as possible to enable the project schedule to be maintained,” wrote Richard R. Hoffmann, director of FERC’s Division of Gas-Environment and Engineering.

The so-called Capacity Replacement Project involves the abandonment of 268 miles of 26-inch pipeline between Sumas and Washougal, WA, the construction of 79.5 miles of 36-inch diameter pipeline in four separate loops, and the modification of five existing compressor stations for a total of 10,700 net horsepower of new compression. The company has targeted in-service for November 2006.

Northwest Pipeline proposed the replacement project following ruptures on the Northwest Pipeline system in May and December 2003. There were no explosions or injuries. However, the federal Office of Pipeline Safety and the Pipeline Safety Division of the state Utilities and Transportation Commission ordered the company to test and repair defective segments of the pipeline, which was installed in 1956.

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