Expansion Projects / West Leg 2023

Background

Northern Natural Gas held an open season from October 28, 2021, to December 2, 2021, and a supplemental open season from February 16, 2022, to February 28, 2022, to affirm and quantify market growth opportunities, to solicit interest for firm transportation service, and to identify the need to construct facilities necessary to provide firm transportation service on Northern’s West Leg system for service commencing on or after November 1, 2023. The open season resulted in customer requests for 18,250 dekatherms per day of incremental firm capacity. The proposed facilities will serve markets for industrial, commercial, and residential use that cannot be met by Northern’s existing infrastructure or by any alternatives.

As part of its West Leg 2023 Expansion Project, Northern is planning to construct and operate (1) an approximately 4.1-mile extension of its 16-inch-diameter C-line in Martin County, Minnesota; (2) an approximately 0.9-mile-long 8-inch-diameter Whittemore branch line loop in Dickenson County, Iowa; (3) a new town border station (TBS) in Buena Vista County, Iowa, that will be named the Platinum Crush TBS; (4) modifications at its Fremont TBS in Dodge County, Nebraska, and (5) associated aboveground appurtenant facilities.

On December 22, 2022, Northern submitted a filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requesting approval to construct and operate these facilities. The filing has been issued Docket No. CP23-34-000. The project was approved for construction March 1, 2023, and construction is currently ongoing.

Public Outreach Plan

As part of its outreach plan, Northern held four open houses in the project area. Two open houses were held in Estherville, Iowa, September 20, 2022, and two open houses were held in Storm Lake, Iowa, September 21, 2022. At each of the two locations, the open houses were held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Subject-matter experts were available to provide information and answer questions about the proposed project.

To report a problem or to raise an issue or concern, you may call our Operations Communications Center at 888-367-6671. The OCC is continuously staffed. Please indicate that you are calling about the West Leg 2023 project, and a subject-matter expert will return your call.