[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 4, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68600-68601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21917]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP23-548-000]


Portland Natural Gas Transmission System; Notice of Request Under 
Blanket Authorization and Establishing Intervention and Protest 
Deadline

    Take notice that on September 25, 2023, Portland Natural Gas 
Transmission System (PNGTS), 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 1300, Houston, 
Texas 77002-2700, filed in the above referenced docket, a prior notice 
request pursuant to sections 157.205 and 157.210 of the Commission's 
regulations under the Natural Gas Act (NGA), and PNGTS' blanket 
certificate issued in Docket No. CP96-249-000, for authorization to 
increase its certificated capacity on its wholly-owned north system 
from Pittsburg, New Hampshire to Westbrook, Maine (Northern Facilities) 
by 62,749 thousand cubic feet per day (Mcf/d), and to increase its 
certificated capacity on the system it jointly owns with Maritimes & 
Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. from Westbrook, Maine to Dracut, 
Massachusetts (Joint Facilities) by 58,382 Mcf/d (Capacity Increase 
Project). The project will allow PNGTS to provide a total of 59,000 
dekatherms per day (Dth/d) \1\ of long-haul, firm transportation 
service to three unaffiliated shippers. This increase in mainline 
certificated capacity does not require the construction of new 
facilities, therefore there is no cost associated with the project, all 
as more fully set forth in the request which is on file with the 
Commission and open to public inspection.
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    \1\ 59,000 Dth/d is equivalent to 58,356 Mcf/d using the PNGTS' 
conversion factor of 1.011 Dth per Mcf.
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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 (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 the Commission's Public 
Reference Room. For assistance, contact the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission at [email protected] or call toll-free, (886) 208-
3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659.
    Any questions concerning this request should be directed to David 
A. Alonzo, Manager, Project Authorizations, Portland Natural Gas 
Transmission System, 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 1300, Houston, Texas 
77002-2700, at (832) 320-5477 or [email protected].

Public Participation

    There are three ways to become involved in the Commission's review 
of this project: you can file a protest to the project, you can file a 
motion to intervene in the proceeding, and you can file comments on the 
project. There is no fee or cost for filing protests, motions to 
intervene, or comments. The deadline for filing protests, motions to 
intervene, and comments is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 27, 2023. 
How to file protests, motions to intervene, and comments is explained 
below.
    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].

Protests

    Pursuant to section 157.205 of the Commission's regulations under 
the NGA,\2\ any person \3\ or the Commission's staff may file a protest 
to the request. If no protest is filed within the time allowed or if a 
protest is filed and then withdrawn within 30 days after the allowed 
time for filing a protest, the proposed activity shall be deemed to be 
authorized effective the day after the time allowed for protest. If a 
protest is filed and not withdrawn within 30 days after the time 
allowed for filing a protest, the instant request for

[[Page 68601]]

authorization will be considered by the Commission.
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    \2\ 18 CFR 157.205.
    \3\ Persons include individuals, organizations, businesses, 
municipalities, and other entities. 18 CFR 385.102(d).
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    Protests must comply with the requirements specified in section 
157.205(e) of the Commission's regulations,\4\ and must be submitted by 
the protest deadline, which is November 27, 2023. A protest may also 
serve as a motion to intervene so long as the protestor states it also 
seeks to be an intervenor.
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    \4\ 18 CFR 157.205(e).
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Interventions

    Any person has the option to file a motion to intervene in this 
proceeding. Only intervenors have the right to request rehearing of 
Commission orders issued in this proceeding and to subsequently 
challenge the Commission's orders in the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal.
    To intervene, you must submit a motion to intervene to the 
Commission in accordance with Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure \5\ and the regulations under the NGA \6\ by the 
intervention deadline for the project, which is November 27, 2023. As 
described further in Rule 214, your motion to intervene must state, to 
the extent known, your position regarding the proceeding, as well as 
your interest in the proceeding. For an individual, this could include 
your status as a landowner, ratepayer, resident of an impacted 
community, or recreationist. You do not need to have property directly 
impacted by the project in order to intervene. For more information 
about motions to intervene, refer to the FERC website at https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.
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    \5\ 18 CFR 385.214.
    \6\ 18 CFR 157.10.
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    All timely, unopposed motions to intervene are automatically 
granted by operation of Rule 214(c)(1). Motions to intervene that are 
filed after the intervention deadline are untimely and may be denied. 
Any late-filed motion to intervene must show good cause for being late 
and must explain why the time limitation should be waived and provide 
justification by reference to factors set forth in Rule 214(d) of the 
Commission's Rules and Regulations. A person obtaining party status 
will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary of the 
Commission and will receive copies (paper or electronic) of all 
documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties.

Comments

    Any person wishing to comment on the project may do so. The 
Commission considers all comments received about the project in 
determining the appropriate action to be taken. To ensure that your 
comments are timely and properly recorded, please submit your comments 
on or before November 27, 2023. The filing of a comment alone will not 
serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. To become a party, 
you must intervene in the proceeding.

How To File Protests, Interventions, and Comments

    There are two ways to submit protests, motions to intervene, and 
comments. In both instances, please reference the Project docket number 
CP23-548-000 in your submission.
    (1) You may file your protest, motion to intervene, and comments by 
using the Commission's eFiling feature, which is located on the 
Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and 
Filings. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on 
``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you are 
making; first select ``General'' and then select ``Protest'', 
``Intervention'', or ``Comment on a Filing''; or \7\
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    \7\ Additionally, you may file your comments electronically by 
using the eComment feature, which is located on the Commission's 
website at www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. 
Using eComment is an easy method for interested persons to submit 
brief, text-only comments on a project.
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    (2) You can file a paper copy of your submission by mailing it to 
the address below. Your submission must reference the Project docket 
number CP23-548-000.
    To file via USPS: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    To file via any other method: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 
20852.
    The Commission encourages electronic filing of submissions (option 
1 above) and has eFiling staff available to assist you at (202) 502-
8258 or [email protected].
    Protests and motions to intervene must be served on the applicant 
either by mail or email (with a link to the document) at: David A. 
Alonzo, Manager, Project Authorizations, Portland Natural Gas 
Transmission System, 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 1300, Houston, Texas 
77002-2700, or at [email protected]. Any subsequent submissions 
by an intervenor must be served on the applicant and all other parties 
to the proceeding. Contact information for parties can be downloaded 
from the service list at the eService link on FERC Online.

Tracking the Proceeding

    Throughout the proceeding, additional information about the project 
will be available from the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 
(866) 208-FERC, or on the FERC website at www.ferc.gov using the 
``eLibrary'' link as described above. The eLibrary link also provides 
access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, 
such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission offers a free service called 
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances 
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time 
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with 
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to 
the documents. For more information and to register, go to 
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.

    Dated: September 27, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-21917 Filed 10-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P