Overview
Title
Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application and Establishing Intervention Deadline
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ELI5 AI
Northern Natural Gas wants permission to set up a safety zone—kind of like a big invisible fence—around a gas storage area in Iowa, and they're asking people to share their thoughts or join the discussion by February 16, 2021.
Summary AI
Northern Natural Gas Company has submitted an application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking authorization under the Natural Gas Act. This application includes establishing a buffer zone approximately one-half mile around a gas storage facility in Dallas County, Iowa, and designating five geological formations as vertical buffer zones. The application is open for public comment and intervention until February 16, 2021. People can submit their comments electronically or by mail, and those wishing to intervene must file a motion by the deadline if they wish to become an official party to the proceedings.
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Sources
AnalysisAI
Summary of the Document
The document is a notice from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding an application by the Northern Natural Gas Company. This application, submitted on January 13, 2021, seeks permission to make several modifications to a gas storage facility in Dallas County, Iowa. The proposed changes include creating a buffer zone around the facility and designating specific geological formations as vertical buffer zones.
Public participation is invited, allowing individuals to comment or file motions to intervene in the proceedings by February 16, 2021. Participating in the intervention process confers certain rights, such as the ability to request a rehearing or challenge FERC's orders in court.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One prominent issue is the technical language throughout the document. It references specific regulatory citations like sections from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and geological terms that might be obscure for the general public. The complexity may hinder understanding for those without specialized knowledge in natural gas regulation or geology.
The process delineated for submitting comments or motions to intervene involves numerous steps that may seem daunting, especially for those unfamiliar with FERC procedures. The references to project docket numbers and the need for specific methods of submission might also be confusing.
There may be apprehensions about the implications of establishing these buffer zones and geological formations without altering the storage field's certificated physical parameters. Stakeholders might question the necessity and impact of these changes, especially if they seem to make substantial alterations for their purpose.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, this document opens a window for active participation in federal regulatory processes. It allows individuals and organizations to voice their opinions on potentially impactful decisions regarding local infrastructure. However, the detailed procedural requirements and technical jargon can obscure this opportunity, potentially limiting effective participation to those with better resources or familiarity with regulatory processes.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Specific stakeholders, such as local residents near the gas storage facility, environmental groups, and businesses in the energy sector, might have varied responses to this application. Local residents might be concerned about safety, environmental, and economic consequences of changing the facility, while businesses in the field may view these modifications as routine operational adjustments.
Entities looking to weigh in as official parties in the proceedings need to file motions to intervene by the deadline. Doing so allows them to more directly affect the proceedings and subsequent decision-making. Conversely, the procedural hurdles and the complexity of the filing process might deter those less familiar with bureaucratic filings or without reliable electronic communication means.
Overall, while the document underscores avenues for involvement and oversight in energy infrastructure regulation, the practical challenges and technical nature could limit access and engagement for many potential stakeholders.
Issues
• The document uses a significant amount of technical language and regulatory references (e.g., sections of the CFR, geological terms) which may be difficult for the general public to understand without specialized knowledge.
• The process for submitting comments or motions to intervene includes multiple steps that may be confusing for those unfamiliar with FERC procedures, especially the need to reference specific project docket numbers.
• There might be concerns about the establishment of buffer zones and geological formations without changing certificated physical parameters, which might lead to questions about the necessity and impact of these changes.
• The document provides various methods to submit comments and motions to intervene, but the distinction between eComment and eFiling and when to use each might not be clear to all readers.
• The instruction to create an eFiling account and the navigation through eRegister might be seen as administratively burdensome and discouraging for some stakeholders.
• Contact information for intervention and comments includes phone and email support, which might lead to concerns about accessibility for persons without reliable access to electronic communication.