[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 4045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00856]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-13-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Request for Extension 
of Time

    Take notice that on January 7, 2021, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC 
(Columbia) requested that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission) grant an extension of time, until January 17, 2023, to 
complete construction of, and place into service, Sections 1 and 2 of 
its Line 8000 Replacement Project (Project) located in Mineral County, 
West Virginia, and Allegany County, Maryland, as authorized in the 
January 17, 2019 Order Issuing Certificate and Granting Abandonment 
(Order).\1\ Ordering Paragraph B(1) of the Order required Columbia to 
complete the construction of the Project facilities and make them 
available for service within two years from issuance, or by January 17, 
2021.\2\
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    \1\ Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC, 166 FERC 61,037 (2019).
    \2\ Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Project were completed and placed 
into service on September 6, August 22, and August 11, 2019, 
respectively.
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    Columbia states that due to unforeseen delays in reaching an 
agreement from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) for 
land rights across state-owned lands, additional time is required in 
order to complete Sections 1 and 2 of the Project.\3\
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    \3\ Section 1 consists of Line 8000, and associated facilities, 
from MP 0.0 to 0.4. Section 2 consists of Line 8000, and associated 
facilities, from MP 0.9 to 7.3.
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    Columbia avers that on November 18, 2020, it filed a letter 
explaining a phased approach to initiating construction for the 
remaining Project facilities and included a request to commence 
construction, including certain project modifications, of Section 2 
excluding facilities crossing state-owned lands. Columbia asserts that 
Phase 2a (Section 2 excluding facilities crossing state-owned lands) 
would be constructed in 2021 and Phase 2b (Section 1 and facilities 
crossing state-owned lands in Section 2) would be constructed in 2022, 
subject to an agreement with the MDNR. Accordingly, Columbia now 
requests an additional two years, or until January 17, 2023, to 
complete the authorized construction of Sections 1 and 2 of its Line 
8000 Replacement Project and make them available for service.
    This notice establishes a 15-calendar day intervention and comment 
period deadline. Any person wishing to comment on Columbia'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.
    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, January 26, 2021.

    Dated: January 11, 2021.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-00856 Filed 1-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P