[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 50339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19455]


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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 22, 2021, National Fuel Gas Supply 
Corporation (National Fuel) requested that the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (Commission) grant an extension of time, until 
December 31, 2024, 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. By that process, National Fuel was initially required to abandon 
the facilities in one year, 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. The Commission granted this extension 
request on October 21, 2020.\1\ National Fuel now requests an extension 
of this deadline, through December 31, 2024. National Fuel states that 
it needs to re-plug Well WH23 and monitor the well to ensure that well 
has been plugged successfully.
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    \1\ See National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation, Request for 
Extension of Time, filed July 20, 2020 and Commission October 21, 
2020 unpublished letter to National Fuel order granting National 
Fuel's request.
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    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).\2\
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    \2\ 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,\3\ the 
Commission will aim to issue an order acting on the request within 45 
days.\4\ The Commission will address all arguments relating to whether 
the applicant has demonstrated there is good cause to grant the 
extension.\5\ 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.\6\ 
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.\7\ The OEP Director, or 
his or her designee, will act on all of those extension requests that 
are uncontested.
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    \3\ Contested proceedings are those where an intervenor disputes 
any material issue of the filing. 18 CFR 385.2201(c)(1) (2019).
    \4\ Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 170 FERC ] 61,144, at P 40 
(2020).
    \5\ Id. at P 40.
    \6\ 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.
    \7\ 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 ``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 17, 2021.

    Dated: September 2, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-19455 Filed 9-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P