The 330-mile U.S. portion of the Vector Pipeline, proposed tocarry natural gas from the Chicago Hub to eastern connections,moved a step closer to construction with the issuance yesterday ofa draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) by the Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission.

Sponsors, IPL Energy of Calgary and Detroit-based MCN EnergyGroup claimed the action put them in the lead among projectsdesigned to pick up western Canadian gas brought into the Midwestby Northern Border and the planned Alliance Pipeline. Vector isdesigned to carry up to 1 Bcf/d from Chicago to the hub at Dawn,Ontario.

To mitigate the environmental impact Vector has leased 59 milesof 36-inch pipe from MCN subsidiary Michigan Consolidated Gas. Inaddition for much of its route the pipeline will be positionedwithin or along existing permanent easements held by IPL’s LakeheadPipe Line Partners L.P. It also follows other existing transmissionand utility rights-of-way for most of the remaining pipelinesegments. The project still needs a final impact statement andcertificate approval in the U.S. as well as authorization from theNational Energy Board for the Canadian portion. It has targetedlate 1999 for an in-service date.

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