Notice2025-20781
Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed MVP Boost Project
Primary source
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Published
November 24, 2025
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 224 (Monday, November 24, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 224 (Monday, November 24, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52932-52934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20781]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP26-14-000]
Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed MVP Boost
Project
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental document that will discuss
the environmental impacts of the MVP Boost Project (Project) involving
construction and operation of facilities by Mountain Valley Pipeline,
LLC (Mountain Valley) in Wetzel, Braxton, and Fayette Counties, West
Virginia and Montgomery County, Virginia. The Commission will use this
environmental document in its decision-making process to determine
whether the project is in the public convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies regarding the project. 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 from its action whenever it considers the
issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. This
gathering of public input is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal
of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the environmental
document on the important environmental issues. Additional information
about the Commission's NEPA process is described below in the NEPA
Process and Environmental Document section of this notice.
By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the
scope of issues to address in the environmental document. 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 December 19, 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.
Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects,
reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental
impacts. Your input will help the Commission staff determine what
issues they need to evaluate in the environmental document. Commission
staff will consider all written comments during the preparation of the
environmental document.
If you submitted comments on this project to the Commission before
the opening of this docket on October 23, 2025, you will need to file
those comments in Docket No. CP26-14-000 to ensure they are considered
as part of this proceeding.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
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
[[Page 52933]]
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 project, the Natural
Gas Act 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 subsequently grant, exercise,
or oversee the exercise of that eminent domain authority. The courts
have exclusive authority to handle eminent domain cases; the Commission
has no jurisdiction over these matters.
Mountain Valley 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. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your
comments are properly recorded. 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#72341700113d1c1e1b1c17210702021d000632141700115c151d04"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c385a6b1a08cadafaaada690b6b3b3acb1b783a5a6b1a0eda4acb5">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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 project docket number (CP26-
14-000) 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, MD 20852.
Additionally, the Commission offers a free service called
eSubscription which makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances and
submittals regarding the dockets/projects to which you subscribe. These
instant email notifications are the fastest way to receive notification
and provide a link to the document files which can reduce the amount of
time you spend researching proceedings. Go to <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview">https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview</a> to register for eSubscription.
For public inquiries and assistance with intervening and
participating, contact the Office of Public Participation at (202) 502-
6595 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f9b6a9a9b99f9c8b9ad79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="125d424252747760713c757d64">[email protected]</span></a>.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Mountain Valley proposes to make modifications to the existing
Bradshaw, Harris, and Stallworth Compressor Stations (CS) and construct
and operate the Swann CS. The MVP Boost Project would provide about
600,000 dekatherms of natural gas per day from interconnection points
with Equitrans, L.P. and EQM Gathering Opco, LLC to delivery points on
the Mountain Valley Pipeline Mainline system and Mountain Valley
Pipeline Southgate system. According to Mountain Valley, its project
would expand existing Mountain Valley Pipeline infrastructure to
increase system capacity and delivery capabilities, and transport
additional volumes of natural gas from interconnection points.
The MVP Boost Project would consist of the following facilities:
<bullet> installation of one additional natural gas turbine and
auxiliary facilities to add an additional 23,470 horsepower (hp) to the
Bradshaw CS;
<bullet> relocation of existing blowdown silencers and installation
of one additional natural gas turbine and auxiliary facilities to add
an additional 52,500 hp to the Harris CS;
<bullet> relocation of existing blowdown silencers and installation
of two additional natural gas turbines and auxiliary facilities and
upgrades to two existing natural gas turbines to add an additional
52,880 hp to the Stallworth CS;
<bullet> installation of a new compressor station with three
natural gas turbines, for a total of 136,900 hp at the Swann CS; and
<bullet> installation of a new pig launcher and receiver,\1\
mainline valve, and auxiliary facilities at the Swann CS.
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\1\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into
and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline,
conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.
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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="82c4c7d0c1cdeceeebece7d1f7f2f2edf0f6c2e4e7f0e1ace5edf4">[email protected]</a> or call toll
free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 43.3
acres of land within Mountain Valley's existing right-of-way. Following
construction, Mountain Valley would maintain about 21.3 acres for
permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage
would be restored.
NEPA Process and the Environmental Document
Any environmental document 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> socioeconomics;
<bullet> land use;
<bullet> air quality and noise; and
<bullet> reliability and safety.
Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the
proposed project or portions of the project and make recommendations on
how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Your
comments will help Commission staff identify and focus on the issues
that might have an effect on the human environment and potentially
eliminate others from further study and discussion in the environmental
document.
Following this scoping period, Commission staff will determine
whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS). The EA or the EIS will present Commission
staff's
[[Page 52934]]
independent analysis of the issues. If Commission staff prepares an EA,
a Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment
will be issued. The EA may be issued for an allotted public comment
period. The Commission would consider timely comments on the EA before
making its decision regarding the proposed project. If Commission staff
prepares an EIS, a Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS/Notice of
Schedule will be issued, which will open up an additional comment
period. Staff will then 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 EA or draft and
final EIS will be available in electronic format in the public record
through eLibrary \3\ 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\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
last page of this notice.
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With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the
environmental issues of this project to formally cooperate in the
preparation of the environmental document.\4\ 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.
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\4\ Cooperating agency responsibilities are addressed in Section
107(a)(3) of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4336(a)(3)).
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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 is using this notice to initiate
consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s),
and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies,
interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential
effects on historic properties.\5\ The environmental document for this
project 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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Environmental Mailing List
The environmental mailing list 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 project purposes, or who own homes within
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the project 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 project.
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#1552746645677a7f70766154717167706666567d747b727055737067763b727a63"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f4b39587a4869b9e919780b5909086918787b79c959a9391b492918697da939b82">[email protected]</span></a> stating your
request. You must include the docket number CP26-14-000 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 project is available from 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. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date
range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7f391a0d1c30111316111a2c0a0f0f100d0b3f191a0d1c51181009"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="70361502133f1e1c191e15230500001f020430161502135e171f06">[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: November 19, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-20781 Filed 11-21-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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