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Notice2025-23711

Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Pulaski Project

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Published
December 23, 2025

Issuing agencies

Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 244 (Tuesday, December 23, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 23, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60090-60093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23711]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP26-11-000]


Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period 
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Pulaski 
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 Pulaski Project involving construction 
and operation of facilities

[[Page 60091]]

by Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC (Columbia) in Lincoln County and 
Pulaski County, Kentucky. The Commission will use this environmental 
document in its decision-making process to determine whether the 
project is in the public convenience and necessity.
    On November 24, 2025, FERC staff issued a Notice of Scoping Period 
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Pulaski Project and 
Notice of Public Scoping Session. It was brought to FERC staff 
attention that the notice may not have been mailed properly to the 
environmental mailing list. This notice is being sent to an updated 
environmental mailing list and extends the scoping period for the 
project.
    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 January 20, 2025. Comments may be 
submitted in written. 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 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 15, 2025, you will need to file 
those comments in Docket No. CP26-11-000 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 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.
    Columbia 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

    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#80c6e5f2e3cfeeece9eee5d3f5f0f0eff2f4c0e6e5f2e3aee7eff6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="04426176674b6a686d6a61577174746b767044626176672a636b72">[email&#160;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-
11-000) 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.
    It is important to note that the Commission provides equal 
consideration to all comments received.
    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 making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office 
of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cc839c9c8caaa9beafe2aba3ba"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="08475858486e6d7a6b266f677e">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Columbia proposes to install and operate 41.3 miles of new 30-inch-
diameter greenfield natural gas pipeline from Lincoln County Kentucky 
to the new South Somerset Delivery Meter Station located in Pulaski 
County, Kentucky, with additional aboveground facilities. The Pulaski 
Project would provide about 253 million standard cubic feet of natural 
gas per day to the John S. Cooper Power Station in Pulaski County, 
Kentucky. According to Columbia, its project would service its new and 
existing generation resources.

[[Page 60092]]

    The Pulaski Project would consist of the following facilities:
    <bullet> 41.3 miles of new 30-inch-diameter greenfield natural gas 
pipeline;
    <bullet> a proposed tie-in to the Columbia Mainline in Lincoln 
County, Kentucky, including a new launcher/receiver and bidirectional 
pig \1\ trap;
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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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    <bullet> a new meter and regulator station designated as the South 
Somerset Delivery Meter Station in Pulaski County, Kentucky, including 
a tie-in to East Kentucky Power Cooperative's (EKPC's) John S. Cooper 
Power Station, a new launcher/receiver, and a bidirectional pig trap; 
and
    <bullet> four new mainline valves.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 657.2 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. 
Following construction, Columbia would maintain about 254.0 acres for 
permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage 
would be restored and revert to former uses. About 27 percent of the 
proposed pipeline route parallels existing EKPC and/or Kentucky 
Utilities Company rights-of-way.

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> land use;
    <bullet> socioeconomics;
    <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 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 \2\ 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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    \2\ 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.\3\ 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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    \3\ 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.\4\ 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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    \4\ 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#1354726043617c7976706752777761766060507b727d747653757661703d747c65"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4106203211332e2b242235002525332432320229202f262401272433226f262e37">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> stating your 
request. You must include the docket number CP26-11-000 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#adebc8dfcee2c3c1c4c3c8fed8ddddc2dfd9edcbc8dfce83cac2db"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3a7c5f485975545653545f694f4a4a55484e7a5c5f4859145d554c">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> or (866)

[[Page 60093]]

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.
    Authority: 18 CFR 2.1.

    Dated: December 18, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-23711 Filed 12-22-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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