El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC; Notice of Request for Extension of Time

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP24-520-001] El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC; Notice of Request for Extension of Time Take notice that on June 17, 2026, El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC (EPNG) requested that the Commission grant an extension of time, until October 1, 2026, to complete construction and place into service the Maricopa Lateral Expansion (Project) located in Yavapai County, Arizona. On October 1, 2024, the Commission issued a Notice of Request Under Blanket Authorization, which established a 60-day comment period, ending on December 2, 2024, to file protests. On October 24, 2024, the Haystack Ranch Community and other individuals filed protests regarding the proposed Haystack compressor station's proximity to residences. The protests were not resolved within the 30-day resolution period. The Commission issued an Order Denying Protest and Authorizing Construction on July 24, 2025, denying the protest and authorizing the Project under the blanket certificate regulations. 1 By Rule, the Project should have been constructed and placed into service within one year of the Order date, or by July 24, 2026. 1   El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC, 192 FERC ¶ 61,078 (2025). EPNG's current construction activities including ongoing pipe fabrication/x-ray/painting and station yard tie-ins, installation of conduit and cable trays with wire pulling, trench backfilling, pouring concrete for supports, welding, hydrostatic testing, and rip-rap placement on the new access road. EPNG states that it encountered delays associated with securing the necessary easement agreements for the compressor station site and this delay resulted in EPNG not being able to start construction on the Project until December 1, 2025. Therefore, EPNG is requesting extension of time until October 1, 2026, in which to place its Project facilities into service. This notice establishes a 15-calendar day intervention and comment period deadline. Any person wishing to comment on EPNG'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. 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). 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 ). From the Commission's Home Page on the internet, this information is available on eLibrary. The full text of this document is available on eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft Word format for viewing, printing, and/or downloading. To access this document in eLibrary, type the docket number excluding the last three digits of this document in the docket number field. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the Commission's website during normal business hours from FERC Online Support at (202) 502-6652 (toll free at 1-866-208-3676) or email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502-8371, TTY (202) 502-8659. Email the Public Reference Room at public.referenceroom@ferc.gov. 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 A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. To file via any other courier: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or OPP@ferc.gov. Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 10, 2026. (Authority: 18 CFR 2.1) Dated: June 25, 2026. Carlos D. Clay, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2026-13156 Filed 6-29-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P