The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission cleared National Fuel Gas Supply Corp.'s request to begin construction on upgrading part of its natural gas line system for safety improvements.

FERC staff in a July 2 letter allowed the National Fuel Gas Co. subsidiary to proceed with construction activities on its Line YM28 and Line FM120 modernization project. The company planned to begin building the project in the spring and place the facilities into service in November.

The project, estimated to cost about $39.5 million, would include installing 14.4 miles of new 12-inch-diameter pipeline, which would replace Line YM28. It would also replace 5.8 miles of Line FM120, idle about 12.5 miles of Line FM120 and abandon in place about 7.7 miles of Line YM28. The project will take place in Cameron, Elk and McKean counties in Pennsylvania. (FERC docket CP17-74)