Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Florida Gas Transmission Company (FGT), a Texas-based producer whose interstate natural gas pipeline crosses the southern part of Jefferson County, plans to make improvements and modifications to its underground mainline carrying product to Central Florida.
On Jan. 29, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), FGT filed an abbreviated application with the agency seeking authorization “to construct, modify, install, own, operate and maintain facilities” across Calhoun and Jefferson counties, as well as four other counties.
The four other counties are Gadsden, Gilchrist, Santa Rosa and Taylor, which is why the project is collectively known as the Big Bend Project, according to FERC.
The total cost of the Big Bend Project, per FGT’s best estimate, will be $37,527,398, and it supposedly will generate 29,000 metric million British Thermal Units (BTUs) of natural gas for use by the Tampa Electric Company’s electric generation plant in Hillsborough County.
FERC, by Congressional mandate, is charged with evaluating and approving or rejecting interstate natural gas pipeline projects proposed by private companies. The commission’s job entails the preparation of environmental impact statements or environmental assessments, depending on the scope of the particular project.
In Jefferson County, according to the FGT application, the proposed work calls for a loop extension of 1.5 miles of 36-inch pipeline and the “relocation of associated pig receiver stations.”
A loop is a segment of pipeline that is installed adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to the latter at both ends to allow for more gas to be moved through the system.
And pigs – also known as “smart pigs” – are independent, self-contained devices, tools or vehicles that are inserted into, and moved through, the interior of pipelines for the purposes of inspecting, dimensioning or cleaning the lines.
The devices are commonly referred to as “pigs” because of the occasional squealing noises that they make as they travel through the pipes, according to FERC.
Property Appraiser Angela Gray couldn’t say exactly how many properties the proposed project may impact, at least now without conducting a deep dive into the data. But she estimated that the project would affect 15 or more property owners in the southern part of the county.
Gray also noted that FGT is currently the county’s biggest taxpayer, paying in excess of $700,000 annually in property taxes.
Typically, according to FERC, agricultural uses and practices that existed on the land prior to the pipeline easement are permitted to continue, although buildings and large trees are not usually allowed.
Likewise, special uses and activities that may impact on the pipeline’s design, such as planned logging roads or drain tiles, must be negotiated with the gas company in advance to minimize future conflicts, according to FERC.
Typically, pipelines are buried 30 to 36 inches beneath the ground surface. They may, however, be buried as deep as 48 to 60 inches in cases where agricultural practices or other issues warrant the extra cover.
The FERC is notifying affected property owners that it will work with them relative to the areas needed for the project. The agency will also undertake negotiations with property owners for any additional areas that may be needed for the project but that haven’t already been acquired.
Citizens may view the FGT application by visiting the FERC website at www.ferc.gov, using the “eLIBRARY” link, and entering docket number CP21-45-000, minus the last three digits in the docket number field.
A copy of the application will also be available for public viewing at the Jefferson County R. J. Bailar Public Library at 375 Water Street, (850) 342-0205.
FERC notes that in some cases, a pipeline company may abandon a pipeline for use as a natural gas transportation line but reserve the right to convert the pipeline to another later use, such as the transportation of crude oil or other petroleum products. Easement agreements affected by the conversion transaction may also transfer to the new operator.
For more information about the project, call Beth Porter or Terry Coleman, at FGT, toll free at 1-800-381-1477.