Notice2025-17407
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC, Southern Natural Gas Company, LLC, Elba Express Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Mississippi Crossing Project and South System Expansion 4 Project Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Schedule for Environmental Review
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Published
September 10, 2025
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 173 (Wednesday, September 10, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 10, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43593-43597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17407]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP25-514-000, Docket No. CP25-517-000]
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC, Southern Natural Gas
Company, LLC, Elba Express Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Mississippi Crossing
Project and South System Expansion 4 Project Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues, and Schedule for Environmental Review
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that
will discuss the environmental impacts of the Mississippi Crossing
Project (MSX Project) involving construction and operation of
facilities by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC (TGP) in Washington,
Sunflower, Humphreys, Holmes, Attala, Leake, Neshoba, Newton,
Lauderdale, and Clarke counties, Mississippi; and Choctaw County,
Alabama. The environmental document will also discuss the environmental
impacts of the South System Expansion 4 Project (SSE4 Project)
involving construction and operation of facilities by Southern Natural
Gas Company, LLC (SNG) and Elba Express Company, LLC (EEC),
collectively called SNG/EEC, in Lauderdale and Clarke counties,
Mississippi; Sumter, Marengo, Hale, Perry, Dallas, Autauga, Elmore,
Tallapoosa, Macon, and Lee counties, Alabama; and Harris, Talbot,
Upson, Crawford, Monroe, Bibb, Jones, Baldwin, Glascock, Jefferson,
Richmond, Burke, Screven, Henry, Spalding, Effingham, Lowndes, Clayton
and Chatham counties, Georgia.\1\ The Commission will use this EIS in
its decision-making process to determine whether the Projects are in
the public convenience and necessity. The schedule for preparation of
the EIS is discussed in the Schedule for
[[Page 43594]]
Environmental Review section of this notice.
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\1\ For tracking purposes under the National Environmental
Policy Act, the unique identification number for documents relating
to this environmental review is EISX-019-20-000-1751972052.
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As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review
process, the Commission takes into account concerns the public may have
about proposals and the environmental impacts that could result
whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity. This gathering of public input is referred
to as ``scoping.'' By notice issued on March 3, 2025 in Docket Nos.
PF25-1-000 and PF25-2-000, the Commission opened a scoping period
during the TGP, SNG, and EEC planning process for the Projects and
prior to filing formal applications with the Commission, a process
referred to as ``pre-filing.'' TGP and SNG/EEC have now filed
applications with the Commission, and staff intends to prepare an EIS
that will address the concerns raised during the pre-filing scoping
process and comments received in response to this notice.
By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the
scope of issues to address in the environmental document, including
comments on potential alternatives and impacts, and any relevant
information, studies, or analyses of any kind concerning impacts
affecting the quality of the human environment. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly recorded, please submit your comments
so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC, on or before
5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 6, 2025. Comments may be submitted in
written form. Further details on how to submit comments are provided in
the Public Participation section of this notice.
As mentioned above, during the pre-filing process, the Commission
opened a scoping period which expired on April 7, 2025; however,
Commission staff continued to accept comments during the entire pre-
filing process. Staff also held 11 scoping sessions to take oral
scoping comments, detailed below:
<bullet> 3/24/2025--Decatur, MS;
<bullet> 3/25/2025--Butler, AL;
<bullet> 3/26/2025--Selma, AL;
<bullet> 3/27/2025--Tuskegee, AL;
<bullet> 3/31/2025--Hamilton, GA, Belzoni, MS;
<bullet> 4/1/2025--Macon, GA, Kosciusko, MS;
<bullet> 4/2/2025--Sandersville, GA, Meridian, MS;
<bullet> 4/3/2025--Griffin, GA.
All substantive written and oral comments provided during pre-
filing will be addressed in the EIS. Therefore, if you submitted
comments on these Projects to the Commission during the pre-filing
process in Docket Nos. PF25-1-000 or PF25-2-000 you do not need to file
those comments again.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable easement agreement. You
are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if the Commission
approves the Projects, the Natural Gas Act (NGA) conveys the right of
eminent domain to the company. Therefore, if you and the company do not
reach an easement agreement, the pipeline company could initiate
condemnation proceedings in court. In such instances, compensation
would be determined by a judge in accordance with state law. The
Commission does not grant, exercise, or oversee the exercise of eminent
domain authority. The courts have exclusive authority to handle eminent
domain cases; the Commission has no jurisdiction over these matters.
TGP and SNG/EEC provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by
the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What
Do I Need To Know?'' which addresses typically asked questions,
including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the
Commission's proceedings. This fact sheet along with other landowner
topics of interest are available for viewing on the FERC website
(<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>) under the Natural Gas, Landowner Topics link.
Public Participation
There are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the
Commission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and
has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-3676 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bff9dacddcf0d1d3d6d1daeccacfcfd0cdcbffd9dacddc91d8d0c9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a9efccdbcae6c7c5c0c7ccfadcd9d9c6dbdde9cfccdbca87cec6df">[email protected]</span></a>. Please carefully follow these instructions
so that your comments are properly recorded.
(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>)
under the link to FERC Online. Using eComment is an easy method for
submitting brief, text-only comments on a project;
(2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>)
under the link to FERC Online. With eFiling, you can provide comments
in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your
submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking
on ``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you
are making; a comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment
on a Filing''; or
(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the Commission. Be sure to reference the respective project docket
number (CP25-514-000 or CP25-517-000) on your letter. Submissions sent
via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE,
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier
must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Additionally, the Commission offers a free service called
eSubscription. This service provides automatic notification of filings
made to subscribed dockets, document summaries, and direct links to the
documents. Go to <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview">https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview</a> to register
for eSubscription.
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,
community organizations, 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#09465959496f6c7b6a276e667f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3b746b6b7b5d5e4958155c544d">[email protected]</span></a>.
Summary of the Proposed Projects, the Projects Purpose and Need, and
Expected Impacts
The Projects would consist of the following facilities:
MSX Project
TGP, proposes to: (1) construct approximately 199 miles of 36- and
42-inch-diameter pipeline from an interconnection with TGP's 100 Line
in Washington County, Mississippi to a point in Choctaw County, Alabama
(MSX Pipeline); (2) construct approximately seven miles of 36-inch-
diameter pipeline lateral from Humphreys County, Mississippi to a point
in Sunflower County, Mississippi (CGT Lateral); (3) construct
approximately two miles of 30- and 36-inch-diameter pipeline laterals
located in Attala and Lauderdale Counties, Mississippi and Choctaw
County, Alabama; (4) construct three new gas-
[[Page 43595]]
fired compressor stations located along the MSX Pipeline in Humphreys,
Attala, and Lauderdale Counties, Mississippi and modify one existing
compressor station in Washington County, Mississippi; (5) construct
four new meter stations; and (6) construct three new overpressure
protection facilities at interconnections with the existing TGP system
in Washington, Humphreys, and Lauderdale Counties, Mississippi. The MSX
Project is designed to provide 2.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d)
of incremental firm transportation capacity to the southeast region to
meet the growing demand for supply from multiple, diverse, and liquid
supply basins to markets in the southeast region.
SSE4 Project
SNG/EEC proposes to: (1) construct 14 new continuous natural gas
pipeline loops totaling approximately 291 miles, primarily along its
existing South Main Line in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia; (2)
install new compression and/or perform horsepower expansions at 12
existing compressor stations across Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia;
(3) abandon nine existing compressor units at 4 compressor stations,
replacing them with more efficient units at the same sites; (4) abandon
approximately 2.2 miles of the 16-inch-diameter K Gen Lateral in-place
and by removal in Clarke County, Mississippi; and (5) construct one new
meter station in Clarke County, Mississippi, and one new meter station
in Monroe County, Georgia, and modify nine existing meter stations in
Alabama and Georgia. The SSE4 Project is designed to provide 1.323 Bcf/
d of incremental firm transportation capacity to the southeast region.
According to SNG/EEC, the Project purpose is to meet the increasing
market demand of residential, commercial, and industrial customers and
new electric generation fueled by natural gas in the southeast.
The general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\2\
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\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in
the Federal Register. Copies of the appendices were sent to all
those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at
<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a> using the link called ``eLibrary''. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. For
assistance, contact FERC at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="377172657478595b5e595264424747584543775152455419505841">[email protected]</a> or call toll
free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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Based on the environmental information provided by TGP and SNG/EEC,
construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 2,900 acres
of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline for the MSX
Project, and about 6,865 acres of land for the SSE4 Project. Following
construction, TGP would maintain about 1,460 acres for operation of the
MSX Project facilities and SNG/EEC would maintain about 1,465 acres for
operation of the SSE4 Project facilities; the remaining acreage would
be restored and revert to former uses. About 28 percent and about 92
percent of the proposed pipeline route for MSX Project and SSE4
Project, respectively, parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road
rights-of-way.
Based on an initial review of TGP's and SNG/ECC's proposal and
public comments received during the pre-filing process, Commission
staff have identified several expected impacts that deserve attention
in the EIS. The MSX Project would impact approximately 146.4 acres of
wetland during construction and approximately 73.7 acres during
operation, and traverse approximately 1,000 waterbodies including
perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral segments. The MSX Project also
crosses one river designated by the National Park Service (NPS) as a
National Rivers Inventory (NRI) segment: the Big Black River in
Mississippi. The MSX Project would also cross the NPS managed Natchez
Trace Parkway and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. The SSE4 Project
would impact approximately 223.8 acres of wetlands during construction
and approximately 48.6 acres during operation, and traverse over 1,000
waterbodies. The SSE4 Project also crosses three rivers designated by
the NPS as NRI segments: the Flint and Oconee Rivers in Georgia; and
the Tallapoosa River in Alabama.
The NEPA Process and the EIS
The EIS issued by the Commission will discuss impacts that could
occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed
Project under the relevant general resource areas:
<bullet> geology and soils;
<bullet> water resources and wetlands;
<bullet> vegetation and wildlife;
<bullet> threatened and endangered species;
<bullet> cultural resources;
<bullet> land use;
<bullet> socioeconomics;
<bullet> air quality and noise; and
<bullet> reliability and safety.
Commission staff will also make recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Your comments will help
Commission staff focus its analysis on the issues that may have a
significant effect on the human environment.
The EIS will present Commission staff's independent analysis of the
issues. Alabama Department of Conservation Natural Resources; Georgia
Department of Natural Resources; Mississippi Department of Wildlife,
Fisheries, and Parks; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; NPS; U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers--Mobile, Vicksburg, and Savannah Districts; and
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service--Daphne, Georgia, and Mississippi field
offices are cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS.\3\
Staff will prepare a draft EIS which will be issued for public comment.
Commission staff will consider all timely comments received during the
comment period on the draft EIS and revise the document, as necessary,
before issuing a final EIS. Any draft and final EIS will be available
in electronic format in the public record through eLibrary \4\ and the
Commission's natural gas environmental documents web page (<a href="https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents">https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents</a>). If eSubscribed, you will receive instant email notification
when the environmental document is issued.
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\3\ Cooperating agency responsibilities are addressed in Section
107(a)(3) of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4336(a)(3)).
\4\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
last page of this notice.
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Alternatives Under Consideration
The EIS will evaluate reasonable alternatives that are technically
and economically feasible and meet the purpose and need for the
proposed actions. Alternatives currently under consideration for MSX
Project and SSE4 Project include:
<bullet> the no-action alternative, meaning the Projects are not
implemented;
<bullet> pipeline system alternatives;
<bullet> pipeline route alternatives; and
<bullet> aboveground facility site alternatives.
With this notice, the Commission requests specific comments
regarding any additional potential alternatives to the proposed action
or segments of the proposed action. Please focus your comments on
reasonable alternatives (including alternative facility sites and
pipeline routes) that meet the Projects objectives, are technically and
economically feasible, and avoid or lessen environmental impact.
Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act
In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, the Commission initiated section 106 consultation for
the Projects in the notice issued on March
[[Page 43596]]
3, 2025 with the applicable State Historic Preservation Offices, and
other government agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public to
solicit their views and concerns regarding the Project's potential
effects on historic properties.\5\ This notice is a continuation of
section 106. The EIS will document findings on the impacts on historic
properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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\5\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places.
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Schedule for Environmental Review
On July 15, 2025, the Commission issued its Notice of Application
for the Projects. Among other things, that notice alerted other
agencies issuing federal authorizations of the requirement to complete
all necessary reviews and to reach a final decision on the request for
a federal authorization within 90 days of the date of issuance of the
Commission staff's final EIS for the Projects. This notice identifies
the Commission staff's planned schedule for completion of the final EIS
for the Projects, which is based on an issuance of the draft EIS in
January 2026, opening a 45-day comment period.
Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS--June 26, 2026
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \6\--September 24, 2026
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\6\ The Commission's deadline applies to the decisions of other
federal agencies, and state agencies acting under federally
delegated authority, that are responsible for federal
authorizations, permits, and other approvals necessary for proposed
projects under the Natural Gas Act. Per 18 CFR 157.22(a), the
Commission's deadline for other agency's decisions applies unless a
schedule is otherwise established by federal law.
If a schedule change becomes necessary for the final EIS, an
additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are
kept informed of the Project's progress.
Permits and Authorizations
The table below lists the anticipated permits and authorizations
for the Projects required under federal law. This list may not be all-
inclusive and does not preclude any permit or authorization if it is
not listed here. Agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special
expertise may formally cooperate in the preparation of the Commission's
EIS and may adopt the EIS to satisfy its NEPA responsibilities related
to these Projects. Agencies that would like to request cooperating
agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments
provided under the Public Participation section of this notice.
Federal and Federally Delegated Permits
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Agency Permit
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Mississippi Crossing (MSX) Project
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Federal Energy Regulatory Commission... Section 7(c) of the NGA.
United States Environmental Protection Compliance with Sections 401,
Agency (USEPA) Region 4. 402, and 404 of the Clean
Water Act (CWA).
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)-- Section 404 CWA.
Mobile District.
USACE--Vicksburg District.............. Section 404 CWA, Section 10
Rivers and Harbors Act Permit,
Section 408.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service Consultation under Endangered
(USFWS), Daphne Ecological Services Species Act, Bald and Golden
Field Offices. Eagle Protection Act, and
Migratory Bird Treaty Act
(MBTA).
USFWS, Mississippi Ecological Services Consultation under Endangered
Field Offices. Species Act, Bald and Golden
Eagle Protection Act, and
MBTA.
National Park Service (NPS), Region 2 Consultation under Wild and
South Atlantic Gulf. Scenic River Act for Crossing
of Nationwide Rivers Inventory
(NRI) Segment (Big Black
River).
Consultation for crossing the
Natchez Trace Parkway and the
Natchez Trace National Scenic
Trail.
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South System Expansion 4 (SSE4) Project
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FERC................................... Sections 7(c) and 7(b) of the
NGA.
USEPA Region 4......................... Compliance with Sections 401,
402, and 404 of the CWA.
USACE--Savannah District............... Section 404 CWA/Section 10
Rivers and Harbors Act Permit.
Section 408 Authorization.
USFWS, Athens, Daphne, and Mississippi Consultation under Endangered
Ecological Services Field Offices. Species Act, Bald and Golden
Eagle Protection Act, and
MBTA.
NPS Southeast Region 2................. Consultation under Wild and
Scenic River Act for Crossing
of Nationwide Rivers Inventory
Segment (Flint River, Oconee
River, and Tallapoosa River).
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Environmental Mailing List
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for the Projects which includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property
may be used temporarily for Projects purposes, or who own homes within
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the Projects and includes a mailing address with their
comments. Commission staff will update the environmental mailing list
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that Commission notices related to
this environmental review are sent to all individuals, organizations,
and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by
the proposed Projects. State and local government representatives
should notify their
[[Page 43597]]
constituents of these proposed Projects and encourage them to comment
on their areas of concern.
If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would
like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of
the following steps:
(1) Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0245637152706d6867617643666670677171416a636c656742646770612c656d74"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a5e2c4d6f5d7cacfc0c6d1e4c1c1d7c0d6d6e6cdc4cbc2c0e5c3c0d7c68bc2cad3">[email protected]</span></a> stating your
request. You must include the docket number CP25-514-000 or CP25-517-
000 in your request. If you are requesting a change to your address,
please be sure to include your name and the correct address. If you are
requesting to delete your address from the mailing list, please include
your name and address as it appeared on this notice. This email address
is unable to accept comments.
OR
(2) Return the attached ``Mailing List Update Form'' (appendix 2).
Additional Information
Additional information about the Projects is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the
FERC website at <a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a> using the eLibrary link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number
in the ``Docket Number'' field, excluding the last three digits (i.e.,
CP25-514 or CP25-517). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date
range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1c5a796e7f5372707572794f696c6c736e685c7a796e7f327b736a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="61270413022e0f0d080f04321411110e131521070413024f060e17">[email protected]</span></a> or (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202)
502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all
formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and
rulemakings.
Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events">https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events</a> along with
other related information.
Dated: September 5, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-17407 Filed 9-9-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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