Notice2026-03788
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the NKY Gate Enhancement Project
Primary source
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Published
February 25, 2026
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9248-9249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03788]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP26-19-000]
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Schedule for the
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the NKY Gate Enhancement
Project
On November 10, 2025, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia)
filed an application in Docket No. CP26-19-000 requesting a Certificate
of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) and
Authorization pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act to
construct, operate, and abandon certain natural gas pipeline
facilities. The proposed project is known as the NKY Gate Enhancement
Project (Project) and would replace vintage pipeline infrastructure
originally installed in the 1950s with modern pipeline facilities. The
Project facilities are located in Mason, Nicholas, Bracken, Pendleton
and Campbell Counties, Kentucky, and Hamilton County, Ohio. Columbia
states the Project purpose is to proactively address aging
infrastructure, reduce potential safety and reliability risks, and
ensure continued compliance with federal and state regulations,
including those administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration.
On November 24, 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-019-20-000-1770220686.
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Schedule for Environmental Review
Issuance of EA--July 31, 2026
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\--October 29, 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
Columbia proposes to abandon four existing natural gas transmission
pipelines (totaling 48.54 miles) and construct and operate two new
natural gas transmission pipelines and three new natural gas lateral
pipelines (totaling 30.16 miles) and associated auxiliary and
appurtenant facilities.
Background
On January 5, 2026, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed NKY
Gate Enhancement 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, the Commission received comments from the
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and 15 landowners.
The primary environmental issues raised by the commenters are
vegetation and wildlife, geologic hazards (i.e., karst and slope
stability), land use and value, easement locations, construction
effects (i.e., noise, dust,
[[Page 9249]]
traffic, etc.), long-term safety, purpose and need, loss of residential
taps, and route alternatives. All substantive comments will be
addressed in the EA. Additionally, the Commission received comments in
support of the Project from county and state government officials,
unions, businesses, organizations, political groups, and private
citizens.
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#fbb4ababbb9d9e8998d59c948d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5f100f0f1f393a2d3c71383029">[email 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., CP26-19), 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#96d0d3c4d5d9f8fafff8f3c5e3e6e6f9e4e2d6f0f3e4f5b8f1f9e0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f8bebdaabbb7969491969dab8d8888978a8cb89e9d8a9bd69f978e">[email 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)
Dated: February 20, 2026.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-03788 Filed 2-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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