Notice2026-00406

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the North Padre Island Lateral Abandonment Project

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Published
January 13, 2026

Issuing agencies

Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1305-1306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00406]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP26-4-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule 
for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the North Padre 
Island Lateral Abandonment Project

    On October 8, 2025, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC 
(Transco) filed an application in Docket No. CP26-4-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(b) of the Natural Gas Act to abandon certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities. The proposed project is known as the North Padre Island 
Lateral Abandonment Project (Project) and would abandon approximately 
50 miles of 24-inch-diameter interstate natural gas transmission 
pipeline and associated facilities in Brooks, Jim Wells, Kenedy, and 
Kleberg Counties, Texas.
    On October 23, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. 
Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's 
environmental document for the Project.
    This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) for the Project and the planned schedule 
for the completion of the environmental review.\1\ The EA will be 
issued for a 30-day comment period.
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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 EAXX-019-20-000-1765189170.
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Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA April 22, 2026
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\ July 21, 2026
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    \2\ 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, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
Project's progress.

Project Description

    As described above, Transco proposes to abandon approximately 50 
miles of 24-inch-diameter, interstate natural gas transmission pipeline 
and associated facilities in Brooks, Jim Wells, Kenedy, and Kleberg 
Counties, Texas. Beginning in Brooks County, Texas, Transco's existing 
pipeline extends across the Padre Island National Seashore into the 
Gulf of America and would mostly be abandoned in-place (45 miles). With 
exceptions, small segments of the pipeline would be abandoned by 
removal per landowner easement agreements, under state and federal 
highways, railroad crossings, and land managed by the Texas General 
Land Office (5 miles). Transco would also abandon a non-jurisdictional 
dehydration and storage facility (Station 14) in Brooks County, Texas. 
According to Transco, its Project would eliminate costs and risks 
associated with maintenance of these facilities.

Background

    On November 19, 2025, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping 
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed 
North Padre Island Lateral Abandonment Project (Notice of Scoping). The 
Notice of Scoping was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and 
local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public 
interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested parties; and 
local libraries and newspapers. In response to the Notice of Scoping, 
the Commission received comments from the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) and the National Park Service (NPS). In its comments, EPA 
recommends that Project effects on air and water quality be addressed. 
The NPS would like to participate in the development of the EA as it 
pertains to the abandonment of facilities on NPS lands. All substantive 
comments will be addressed in the EA.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 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.
    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#e2adb2b2a284879081cc858d94"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bcf3ececfcdad9cedf92dbd3ca">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    Additional information about the Project is available from the FERC 
website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>). Using the ``eLibrary'' link, select ``General 
Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and 
``Docket Number'' excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP26-4), and 
follow the instructions. For assistance with access to eLibrary, the 
helpline can be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#387e7d6a7b77565451565d6b4d4848574a4c785e5d4a5b165f574e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b4f2f1e6f7fbdad8dddad1e7c1c4c4dbc6c0f4d2d1c6d79ad3dbc2">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. The eLibrary link on the FERC website also 
provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the 
Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)


[[Page 1306]]


    Dated: January 7, 2026.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-00406 Filed 1-12-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on January 13, 2026.

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