Revisions to the Blanket Certificate Program

ustrial and manufacturing natural gas consumers. \20\ IECA is a nonpartisan association of manufacturing companies for industries including chemicals, plastics, steel, iron ore, aluminum, paper, food processing, fertilizer, insulation, glass, industrial gases, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, building products, automotive, independent oil refining, and cement. \21\ Although the NOI did not provide for reply comments, we accept the pleadings because they have assisted our development of this notice of proposed rulemaking. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. Discussion A. Increasing the Blanket Certificate Cost Limits 6. Since the blanket certificate program's inception in 1982, the Commission has imposed cost limits on projects constructed pursuant to blanket certificates. Blanket certificate activities are currently limited to a maximum cost of $14,500,000 per project undertaken without prior notice (also referred to as automatic authorization projects) and--absent the currently effective waiver--$41,100,000 per project undertaken subject to prior notice.\22\ Additionally, a certificate holder may undertake certain activities for the testing or development of underground storage reservoirs without prior notice if the total cost during a calendar year does not exceed $7,900,000.\23\ The cost limits are adjusted each year to reflect the