[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 245 (Monday, December 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83072-83073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28089]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP16-121-000]
National Grid LNG LLC; Notice of Request for Extension of Time
Take notice that on December 8, 2020, National Grid LNG LLC
(National Grid) requested that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission) grant an extension of time, until October 17, 2022, to
complete construction of, and place into service, its Fields Point
Liquefaction Project located in Providence, RI as authorized in the
October 17, 2018 Order Issuing Certificate (Certificate Order).\1\
Ordering Paragraph B(1) of the Certificate Order required National Grid
to complete the construction of the proposed Fields Point Liquefaction
Project facilities \2\ and make them available for service within three
years from issuance, or by October 17, 2021.\3\
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\1\ National Grid LNG LLC, 165 FERC 61,031 (2018) (Certificate
Order).
\2\ The Fields Point Liquefaction Project consists of the
construction of one (1) new 20 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d)
gas pretreatment and liquefaction system to convert natural gas
delivered by pipeline into liquefied natural gas (LNG). The
liquefaction facility is designed to enable National Gas to provide
up to 20,600 dekatherms per day (Dth/day) liquefaction service at
its existing LNG storage facility located in Providence, RI.
\3\ Id. at ordering para. (B)(1).
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National Grid states that it has experienced equipment delays, and
delays resulting from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. As a result,
National Grid now requests an additional one year, or until October 17,
2022, to complete the authorized construction at the LNG storage
facility at Fields Point and make them available for service.
This notice establishes a 15-calendar day intervention and comment
period deadline. Any person wishing to comment on National Grid'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 FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (886)
208-3676 or TYY, (202) 502-8659.
[[Page 83073]]
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 December 30, 2020.
Dated: December 15, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-28089 Filed 12-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P