[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 109 (Friday, June 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34613-34614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12235]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP17-40-000]


Spire STL Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Request for Extension of Time

    Take notice that on May 27, 2020, Spire STL Pipeline, LLC (Spire) 
requested that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) 
grant an extension of time, until August 3, 2021, to construct and 
place into service a section of 24-inch diameter pipeline to the Enable 
Mississippi Transmission, LLC (MRT) interconnect which is part of the 
original certificate authorization issued on August 3, 2018 
(Certificate Order). The Certificate Order required Spire to construct 
and place the facilities in service by August 3, 2020.
    In November 2019, Spire requested and the Commission authorized 
Spire to place most of the project facilities into service including 
the Mainline, North County Extension, Rex Receipt Station and the 
Laclede/Lange and Chain of Rocks Delivery Stations. At that time, Spire 
explained that with respect to the section of 24-inch-diameter pipeline 
to the MRT interconnect, that it would construct this remaining section 
of pipeline in the spring of 2020. Spire states that it does not 
anticipate completing construction of the MRT interconnect due to 
COVID-19 pandemic related construction delays. In order to allow enough 
time for the safe completion of construction and to account for 
uncertainty regarding future COVID related restrictions, Spire requests 
an extension of time until August 3, 2021 to complete construction of 
this final section of pipeline.
    This notice establishes a 15-calendar day intervention and comment 
period deadline. Any person wishing to comment on Spire's request for 
an extension of time may do so. No reply comments or answers will be 
considered. If you wish to obtain legal status by becoming a party to 
the proceedings for this request, you should, on or before the comment 
date stated below, file a motion to intervene in accordance with the 
requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and

[[Page 34614]]

Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) and the Regulations under the 
Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.10).\1\
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    \1\ Only motions to intervene from entities that were party to 
the underlying proceeding will be accepted. Algonquin Gas 
Transmission, LLC, 170 FERC 61,144, at P 39 (2020).
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    As a matter of practice, the Commission itself generally acts on 
requests for extensions of time to complete construction for Natural 
Gas Act facilities when such requests are contested before order 
issuance. For those extension requests that are contested,\2\ the 
Commission will aim to issue an order acting on the request within 45 
days.\3\ The Commission will address all arguments relating to whether 
the applicant has demonstrated there is good cause to grant the 
extension.\4\ The Commission will not consider arguments that re-
litigate the issuance of the certificate order, including whether the 
Commission properly found the project to be in the public convenience 
and necessity and whether the Commission's environmental analysis for 
the certificate complied with the National Environmental Policy Act.\5\ 
At the time a pipeline requests an extension of time, orders on 
certificates of public convenience and necessity are final and the 
Commission will not re-litigate their issuance.\6\ The OEP Director, or 
his or her designee, will act on all of those extension requests that 
are uncontested.
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    \2\ Contested proceedings are those where an intervenor disputes 
any material issue of the filing. 18 CFR 385.2201(c)(1) (2019).
    \3\ Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 170 FERC 61,144, at P 40 
(2020).
    \4\ Id. at P 40.
    \5\ Similarly, the Commission will not re-litigate the issuance 
of an NGA section 3 authorization, including whether a proposed 
project is not inconsistent with the public interest and whether the 
Commission's environmental analysis for the permit order complied 
with NEPA.
    \6\ Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 170 FERC 61,144, at P 40 
(2020).
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    In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the 
Federal Register, The Commission provides all interested persons an 
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the 
internet through the Commission's Home Page (http://www.ferc.gov) using 
the eLibrary link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three 
digits in the docket number field to access the document. At this time, 
the Commission has suspended access to Commission's Public Reference 
Room, due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning 
the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), issued by the President on 
March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact FERC at 
[email protected] or call toll-free, (886) 208-3676 or TYY, 
(202) 502-8659.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, 
protests and interventions in lieu of paper using the eFiling link at 
http://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically should 
submit an original and three copies of the protest or intervention to 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 16, 2020.

    Dated: June 1, 2020.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-12235 Filed 6-4-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P