[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 245 (Monday, December 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83072-83073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28089]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-121-000]


National Grid LNG LLC; Notice of Request for Extension of Time

    Take notice that on December 8, 2020, National Grid LNG LLC 
(National Grid) requested that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission) grant an extension of time, until October 17, 2022, to 
complete construction of, and place into service, its Fields Point 
Liquefaction Project located in Providence, RI as authorized in the 
October 17, 2018 Order Issuing Certificate (Certificate Order).\1\ 
Ordering Paragraph B(1) of the Certificate Order required National Grid 
to complete the construction of the proposed Fields Point Liquefaction 
Project facilities \2\ and make them available for service within three 
years from issuance, or by October 17, 2021.\3\
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    \1\ National Grid LNG LLC, 165 FERC 61,031 (2018) (Certificate 
Order).
    \2\ The Fields Point Liquefaction Project consists of the 
construction of one (1) new 20 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) 
gas pretreatment and liquefaction system to convert natural gas 
delivered by pipeline into liquefied natural gas (LNG). The 
liquefaction facility is designed to enable National Gas to provide 
up to 20,600 dekatherms per day (Dth/day) liquefaction service at 
its existing LNG storage facility located in Providence, RI.
    \3\ Id. at ordering para. (B)(1).
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    National Grid states that it has experienced equipment delays, and 
delays resulting from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. As a result, 
National Grid now requests an additional one year, or until October 17, 
2022, to complete the authorized construction at the LNG storage 
facility at Fields Point and make them available for service.
    This notice establishes a 15-calendar day intervention and comment 
period deadline. Any person wishing to comment on National Grid'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).\4\
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    \4\ 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,\5\ the 
Commission will aim to issue an order acting on the request within 45 
days.\6\ The Commission will address all arguments relating to whether 
the applicant has demonstrated there is good cause to grant the 
extension.\7\ 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.\8\ 
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.\9\ The OEP Director, or 
his or her designee, will act on those extension requests that are 
uncontested.
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    \5\ Contested proceedings are those where an intervenor disputes 
any material issue of the filing. 18 CFR 385.2201(c)(1) (2020).
    \6\ Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 170 FERC 61,144, at P 40 
(2020).
    \7\ Id. P 40.
    \8\ 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.
    \9\ 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://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 the Commission's Public Reference 
Room, due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning 
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.

[[Page 83073]]

    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 December 30, 2020.

    Dated: December 15, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-28089 Filed 12-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P