Favorable rulings on the MarketLink and Independence Pipelineprojects at the Dec. 15 FERC meeting are “absolutely critical topreserve any realistic opportunity” for the proposed facilities tobe built and operating by the targeted November 2000 deadline, saysa senior official at Williams Gas Pipelines – Transco.

“Any slippage in this schedule will seriously jeopardizeTransco’s ability to satisfy the requirements” of the finalenvironmental impact statement (FEIS), wrote Cuba Wadlington Jr.,senior vice president and general manager, in a letter to ChairmanJames Hoecker and the other Commissioners. The FEIS was favorableto the MarketLink expansion and greenfield Independence projects,as well as to the SupplyLink expansion. Transco is sole sponsor ofMarketLink and co-sponsor of Independence.

“Transco has been willing to undertake significant financialrisks by ordering equipment and purchasing right-of-way to keep theproject on schedule for Nov. 1, 2000. However, [it] is now in aposition where it must make binding financial commitments topurchase the remaining pipe and compressors for the MarketLinkproject in order to maintain the project schedule,” he said.

Transco will find out whether the projects are docketed for theCommission’s last meeting of the year when the agenda is announcedlater today.

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