FERC on Tuesday issued a temporary certificate of public convenience and necessity to Spire STL Pipeline LLC, keeping the 65-mile, 400,000 Dth/d Midwest natural gas conduit in service for now following a court order vacating the project’s federal authorization.

Three of the four sitting members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission opted to support the certificate to “ensure continuity of service for a limited period while the Commission considers appropriate next steps.” Commissioner James Danly dissented.

The move follows the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit’s June order vacating Spire STL’s Natural Gas Act (NGA) certificate. Earlier this month, the court denied a petition for panel rehearing filed by Spire and its affiliate Spire...