[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 173 (Friday, September 4, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55277-55278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19601]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-443-000]


National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation; Notice of Request for 
Extension of Time

    Take notice that on July 20, 2020, National Fuel Gas Supply 
Corporation (National Fuel) requested that the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (Commission) grant an extension of time, until 
July 24, 2021, to complete the Wharton WH23 Storage Well Abandonment 
Project (Project), as authorized after the 60-day deadline of National 
Fuel's prior notice issued by the Commission on May 25, 2017.
    National Fuel was initially required to abandon the facilities by 
July 24, 2018. On July 27, 2018, the Office of Energy Projects, by 
delegated order, extended the deadline through July 24, 2019. On July 
12, 2019, the Office of Energy Projects, by delegated order, extended 
the deadline through July 24, 2020. National Fuel now requests a one-
year extension of this deadline, through July 24, 2021. National Fuel 
states that it requires more time to continue and complete pressure 
evaluations of Well WH23, and to undertake the plugging, and final 
restoration of the Well WH23 site.
    This notice establishes a 15-calendar day intervention and comment 
period deadline. Any person wishing to comment on National Fuel'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 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

[[Page 55278]]

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 ``eFile'' link at 
http://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically may mail 
similar pleadings to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. Hand delivered submissions in 
docketed proceedings should be delivered to Health and Human Services, 
12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
    Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 14, 2020.

    Dated: August 28, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-19601 Filed 9-3-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P