[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 43 (Friday, March 4, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 12439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04553]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP21-20-000]


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

    Take notice that on February 18, 2022, Algonquin Gas Transmission, 
LLC (Algonquin) requested that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission) grant an extension of time, until September 27, 2022, to 
complete the construction of the Stony Point Anomaly MNR Crossing 
Project (Project), as authorized after the 60-day deadline of 
Algonquin's prior notice issued by the Commission on December 28, 2020. 
By that process, Algonquin was initially required to complete and make 
available for service in one year, by February 27, 2022.
    Algonquin states the Project has made substantial progress but 
experienced extenuating circumstances delaying its completion. 
Algonquin avers the delays have been a result of (i) complex dewatering 
conditions at the work site that required enhanced measures, (ii) 
slower than anticipated tunneling progress due to challenging substrate 
conditions, and (iii) rainfall and flash flood conditions from Tropical 
Storm Ida. Algonquin was able to complete the installation of the 26-
inch diameter pipeline by December 2021. However, Algonquin was unable 
to complete the tie-in of these facilities because that would have 
required an outage of the active pipeline during the winter heating 
season.
    This notice establishes a 15-calendar day intervention and comment 
period deadline. Any person wishing to comment on Algonquin'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).
    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,\1\ the 
Commission will aim to issue an order acting on the request within 45 
days.\2\ The Commission will address all arguments relating to whether 
the applicant has demonstrated there is good cause to grant the 
extension.\3\ 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.\4\ 
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.\5\ The OEP Director, or 
his or her designee, will act on all of those extension requests that 
are uncontested.
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    \1\ Contested proceedings are those where an intervenor disputes 
any material issue of the filing. 18 CFR 385.2201(c)(1) (2019).
    \2\ Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 170 FERC ] 61,144, at P 40 
(2020).
    \3\ Id. at P 40.
    \4\ 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.
    \5\ 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 March 11, 2022.

    Dated: February 24, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-04553 Filed 3-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P