On May 16, 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted Arlington Storage Company, LLC (Arlington) a two-year extension of time to construct a previously authorized underground natural gas storage expansion project. Arlington Storage Co., LLC, 155 FERC ¶ 61,165. This seemingly routine action is significant because it signals that the Commission is not inclined to entertain opposition to the construction of natural gas infrastructure which continues to be expressed long after FERC has made its environmental determinations and issued an order authorizing project construction. FERC granted Arlington’s extension request over often strident objections advanced in more than 250 comments in opposition filed by various individuals and organizations.

On May 15, 2014, FERC authorized Arlington to expand its Seneca Lake Storage Project, located in the Finger Lakes region in Schuyler County, New York, by constructing the Gallery 2 Expansion Project. Arlington Storage Co., LLC, 147 FERC ¶ 61,120 (2014) (Certificate Order). The Gallery 2 Expansion Project involves the conversion of two existing salt caverns once used for liquefied petroleum gas storage to natural gas storage service. The Gallery 2 Project will increase the Seneca Lake Storage Project’s working gas capacity by a small amount – from 1.45 Bcf to 2.00 Bcf. The Certificate Order required that the authorized facilities be constructed and made available for service on or before May 15, 2016.