FERC revealed dates that could have the commission issuing a decision on the application for a Dominion Transmission Inc. natural gas storage project ahead of the company's proposed schedule.

In an environmental review schedule issued May 10 for the approximately $112 million Allegheny Storage Project, Lauren O'Donnell, director of the FERC Division of Gas for Environment and Engineering, told DTI that the commission staff plans to issue an environmental assessment by June 15. That would require a final decision on federal authorization for the project within 90 days, which would give FERC and its cooperating agencies until Sept. 15.

In prefiling documents, the Dominion Resources Inc. subsidiary had planned on FERC issuing an approval by December. DTI wanted to start construction in early 2013 and put its proposed facilities in service in November 2014.

In its application, DTI told FERC the Allegheny Storage Project would provide additional gas storage and transportation services to help meet demand in mid-Atlantic and Northeast markets. The company said the project would provide general storage service with a maximum daily withdrawal of 125,000 Dth/d and provide 125,000 Dth/d of transportation service. The company has proposed to build new compressor stations and related facilities and upgrade two metering and regulating stations in Maryland and Ohio; install additional glycol dehydration at its Wolf Run Compressor Station in West Virginia; construct and replace piping and ancillary facilities at its Sabinsville Storage Facility in Pennsylvania; and increase the capacities of its Fink Kennedy/Lost Creek Storage Facility and Sabinsville facility.

Maryland residents and a U.S. congressman have opposed the proposed location of the Myersville Compressor Station in Frederick County, Md. An attorney representing the Myersville residents has criticized pipeline companies' "piecemeal" approach to system expansions. (PF11-9, CP12-72)

Copyright 2012 SNL Financial LC. All Rights Reserved.

(Originally published May 16, 2012, in SNL Daily Gas Report.)