[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 7702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02201]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP20-527-000]


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

    Take notice that on January 19, 2024, Columbia Gulf Transmission, 
LLC (Columbia Gulf) requested that the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission) grant an extension of time (2024 Extension of 
Time Request), until September 25, 2025, to construct and make 
available for service the facilities that were authorized in the 
original certificate authorization issued on March 25, 2022 
(Certificate Order).\1\ The Certificate Order authorized the East 
Lateral XPress Project (Project) in St. Mary, Lafourche, Jefferson, and 
Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana and required Columbia Gulf to complete 
construction of the Project facilities and make them available for 
service by March 25, 2024.
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    \1\ Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC, 172 FERC ] 61,260 (2020).
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    In its 2024 Extension of Time Request, Columbia Gulf states that 
due to delays in obtaining all Federal authorizations required for the 
Project, it requires additional time to complete construction of the 
authorized Project facilities. Specifically, Columbia Gulf explains 
that all required Federal permits were recently obtained and on 
December 5, 2023, as supplemented, Columbia Gulf filed a request with 
the Commission for Notice to Proceed with construction of the Project. 
On December 14, 2023, the Commission granted Columbia Gulf's request. 
Columbia Gulf states that it subsequently mobilized crews and commenced 
bona fide construction activities on December 21, 2023. Columbia Gulf 
states that construction is anticipated to be complete during the last 
quarter of 2024, with a Project in-service anticipated by February 1, 
2025.
    This notice establishes a 15-calendar day intervention and comment 
period deadline. Any person wishing to comment on Columbia Gulf'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 (NGA) (18 CFR 157.10).
    As a matter of practice, the Commission itself generally acts on 
requests for extensions of time to complete construction for NGA 
facilities when such requests are contested before order issuance. For 
those extension requests that are contested,\2\ the Commission will aim 
to issue an order acting on the request within 45 days.\3\ The 
Commission will address all arguments relating to whether the applicant 
has demonstrated there is good cause to grant the extension.\4\ 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 (NEPA).\5\ 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.\6\ The Director of the Office of Energy 
Projects, or his or her designee, will act on all of those extension 
requests that are uncontested.
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    \2\ Contested proceedings are those where an intervenor disputes 
any material issue of the filing. 18 CFR 385.2201(c)(1).
    \3\ Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 170 FERC ] 61,144, at P 40 
(2020).
    \4\ Id. at P 40.
    \5\ 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.
    \6\ 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. Public access 
to records formerly available in the Commission's physical Public 
Reference Room, which was located at the Commission's headquarters, 888 
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, are now available via the 
Commission's website. For assistance, contact FERC at 
[email protected] or call toll free, (866) 208-3676 or TTY 
(202) 502-8659.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments 
in lieu of paper using the ``eFile'' link at http://www.ferc.gov. In 
lieu of electronic filing, you may submit a paper copy which must 
reference the Project docket number.

To file via USPS: Debbie-Anne Reese, Acting Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426
To file via any other courier: Debbie-Anne Reese, Acting Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852

    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].
    Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on February 14, 2024.

    Dated: January 30, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-02201 Filed 2-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P