BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION


In the Matter of the Request of

PUGET SOUND ENERGY

For Authorization to Operate the Inlet Piping to the Proposed North Everett 
Gate Station and the Proposed North Everett Supply Main at pressures Exceeding 
500 psig (WAC 480-93-020).	)
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		DOCKET NO.  UG-000072
		
		ORDER GRANTING REQUESTED AUTHORIZATION

BACKGROUND 

  1. By request filed November 5, 1999, in Docket UG-000072, Puget Sound 
Energy, Inc., seeks authorization to operate the inlet piping to the proposed 
North Everett Gate Station and the proposed North Everett supply main at 
pressures exceeding 500 pounds per square inch pressure gauge (psig), pursuant 
to WAC 480-93-020, Proximity considerations.  The request was brought before 
the Commission at its regularly scheduled open public meeting of  May 10, 2000.

FINDINGS OF FACT

  2. Puget Sound Energy requests to install a natural gas supply main in
Snohomish County from the Williams Pipeline West gas transmission lines near 
Lake Stevens to North Everett.  The purpose of the proposed natural gas supply 
main is to serve anticipated new load growth and to provide system 
reinforcement to existing customers by backfeeding Puget Sound Energy’s 
existing Marysville and North Everett supply systems.  This project is a 
critical component of a looped distribution system that would improve service 
reliability for all residential, commercial, and industrial users of natural 
gas in this service area.  A proposed cogeneration plant just west of State 
Route 529 on the south side of the Snohomish River is planned in conjunction 
with the pipeline. According to the Company, construction of the pipeline is 
contingent upon the construction of the cogeneration facility.  If the pipeline 
and cogeneration facility are not constructed the projected firm load demand 
for gas in the next 5-years of growth would result in a deficiency in gas 
supply north and south of Marysville and north of Lake Stevens.

  3. The proposed 16-inch diameter pipeline will be buried and bore underground 
for a length of approximately 9 miles.  The proposed route includes State Route 
92, Puget Sound Energy’s electrical transmission line right-of-way, crossing 
Olympic Pipeline, directionally drilled beneath Ebey Slough, Steamboat Slough, 
Union Slough, Interstate-5, Snohomish River and parallel to the Burlington 
Northern/Santa Fe railroad tracks.


  
  4. Commission staff has evaluated the proposed facility to determine public 
safety will be compromised by the operation of the proposed 16-inch diameter 
high pressure natural gas supply main.  At this time, staff does not consider 
the installation of the proposed facility to significantly impact public 
safety.  The hoop stress on the high-pressure supply main will be approximately 
19.98% and the Gate Station inlet piping will be approximately 34.1% of the 
specified minimum yield strength of the pipe.  The most restrictive requirement 
by federal natural gas pipeline safety standards requires that natural gas 
pipelines in a highly populated area be operated at a pressure that produces a 
hoop stress of no greater than 40% of the specified minimum yield strength of 
the pipe.

CONCLUSION OF LAW
      5.       The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
      (Commission) has authority to enforce safety regulations concerning the 
construction, maintenance, and operation of pipelines transporting natural gas 
in the state of Washington (RCW 80.28.210).  The Commission has adopted the 
Code of Federal Regulations Title 49, Part 192 and Chapter 480-93 of the 
Washington Administrative Code as the minimum standard.
 
  6. Puget Sound Energy is a person or corporation having one or more of its 
principal purposes the construction, maintenance, or operation of a pipeline 
for transporting natural gas in this state.

       7.       The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter and all 
parties to this proceeding.

  8   The laws and regulations of the state of Washington and the Commission 
orders shall govern the construction and interpretation of the request.  The 
request shall also be subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission and the 
Washington courts.

       9.       The request is consistent with the public interest.

ORDER

       THE COMMISSION ORDERS:

       10.                 Effective on the date of this Order and subject to 
conditions imposed,
the Commission approves the request of Puget Sound Energy to operate the inlet 
piping to
the proposed North Everett Gate Station and the proposed North Everett supply 
main at pressures
exceeding 500 pounds per square inch gauge. 

         

  11.  Puget Sound Energy shall be granted authorization to operate the Inlet 
Piping to the proposed North Everett Gate Station and the proposed North 
Everett Supply main at pressures exceeding 500 psig within 500 feet of a 
building intended for human occupancy in Snohomish County, pursuant to the 
requirements of WAC 480-93-020, Proximity Considerations.

  12.  If the pipeline is not constructed within five years from the date of 
this Order, then the authorization granted herein will expire and Puget Sound 
Energy will need to file for new authorization pursuant to WAC 480-93-020.

  13.  Puget Sound Energy must comply, as specified, with the
proximity considerations and safeguards contained in Appendix A.

  14.  The Commission retains jurisdiction over this matter to effectuatethe 
provisions of this order.

DATED at Olympia, Washington and effective this 10th day of May 2000.

     WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION 



MARILYN SHOWALTER, Chairwoman 



WILLIAM R. GILLIS, Commissioner