Notice2026-11538
Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned Algonquin Reliable Affordable Resilient Enhancement Project, and Notice of Public Scoping Sessions
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 9, 2026
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34820-34823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11538]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF26-7-000]
Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned Algonquin
Reliable Affordable Resilient Enhancement Project, and Notice of Public
Scoping Sessions
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental document that will discuss
the environmental impacts of the Algonquin Reliable Affordable
Resilient Enhancement Project
[[Page 34821]]
involving construction and operation of facilities by Algonquin Gas
Transmission, LLC (AGT) in: Middlesex County, Connecticut; Worcester
and Norfolk Counties, Massachusetts; and Newport and Providence
Counties, Rhode Island. 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 July 6, 2026. Comments may be
submitted in written or oral 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 and oral 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 February 24, 2026, you will need to file
those comments in Docket No. PF26-7-000 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.
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 four 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#fabc9f8899b5949693949fa98f8a8a95888eba9c9f8899d49d958c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a0e6c5d2c3efceccc9cec5f3d5d0d0cfd2d4e0c6c5d2c38ec7cfd6">[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 (PF26-7-
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.
(4) In lieu of sending written comments, the Commission invites you
to attend one of the public scoping sessions its staff will conduct in
the project area, scheduled as follows:
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Date and time Location
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Tuesday, June 16, 2026 5:30-7:30 p.m... Jesse M. Smith Memorial
Library, 100 Tinkham Lane,
Harrisville, RI 02830, (401)
710-7800.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 5:30-7:30 p.m. The Lodge at Diamond Hill, 4097
Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland,
RI 02864, (401) 799-7372.
Thursday, June 18, 2026 5:30-7:30 p.m.. Little Compton Community
Center, 34 Commons, Little
Compton, RI 02837, (401) 635-
2400.
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The primary goal of these scoping sessions is to have you identify
the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be
considered in the environmental document. Individual oral comments will
be taken
[[Page 34822]]
on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter. This format is designed to
receive the maximum amount of oral comments in a convenient way during
the timeframe allotted.
Each scoping session is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EDT.
You may arrive at any time after 5:30 p.m. There will not be a formal
presentation by Commission staff when the session opens. If you wish to
speak, the Commission staff will hand out numbers in the order of your
arrival. Comments will be taken until 7:30 p.m. However, if no
additional numbers have been handed out and all individuals who wish to
provide comments have had an opportunity to do so, staff may conclude
the session at 7:00 p.m. Please see appendix 1 for additional
information on the session format and conduct.\1\
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\1\ 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="87c1c2d5c4c8e9ebeee9e2d4f2f7f7e8f5f3c7e1e2f5e4a9e0e8f1">[email protected]</a> or call toll
free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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Your oral comments will be recorded by a court reporter (with FERC
staff or representative present) and become part of the public record
for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on FERC's
eLibrary system (see the last page of this notice for instructions on
using eLibrary). If a significant number of people are interested in
providing oral comments in the one-on-one settings, a time limit of 5
minutes may be implemented for each commentor.
It is important to note that the Commission provides equal
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form
or provided orally at a scoping session. Although there will not be a
formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the
scoping session to answer your questions about the environmental review
process. Representatives from AGT may also be present to answer
project-specific questions.
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#3e716e6e7e585b4c5d10595148"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b1fee1e1f1d7d4c3d29fd6dec7">[email protected]</span></a>.
Summary of the Proposed Project
AGT plans to install a total of 13.5 miles of interstate, natural
gas transmission pipeline along its existing natural gas pipeline
transmission system in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Specifically,
AGT plans to replace about 8.3 miles of existing 16-inch-diameter
natural gas transmission pipeline (G-1 Pipeline) with new 36-inch-
diameter pipeline in Worcester and Norfolk Counties, Massachusetts, and
Providence County, Rhode Island. Generally, the existing pipeline would
be removed and the new pipeline would be installed in the same
location. AGT also plans to install about 2.2 miles of 12-inch-diameter
natural gas transmission pipeline next to its existing 6-inch-diameter
pipeline (G-2 Pipeline) in Newport County, Rhode Island; and install
about 3.0 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline loop (L36D Pipeline) next
to its existing 24-inch-diameter Mainline and 30-inch-diameter L30B
pipeline in Providence County, Rhode Island. The Project would also
include installation of pipeline appurtenances in Massachusetts and
Rhode Island and software modifications at Algonquin's existing
Cromwell Compressor Station in Middlesex County, Connecticut.
The Algonquin Reliable Affordable Resilient Enhancement Project
would provide about 73,500 dekatherms of natural gas per day to seven
local distribution companies. According to AGT, its project would help
alleviate pipeline constraints by increasing peak-day natural gas
deliveries into the region and reducing reliance on non-firm or
intermittent supply during high-demand events.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
2.\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="80c6c5d2c3cfeeece9eee5d3f5f0f0eff2f4c0e6e5f2e3aee7eff6">[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 planned facilities would disturb a total of
about 170.7 acres of land. Following construction, AGT would maintain
about 103.5 acres for permanent operation of the project's facilities;
the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses.
Approximately 100 percent of the proposed pipeline route parallels
existing pipeline, utility, or road 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> air quality and noise; and
<bullet> reliability and safety.
Commission staff have already identified several issues that
deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed
facilities and the environmental information provided by AGT. This
preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and our
analysis:
<bullet> wetlands and waterbodies;
<bullet> residential areas;
<bullet> shallow bedrock;
<bullet> groundwater;
<bullet> agriculture land; and
<bullet> recreation use.
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.
Although no formal application has been filed, Commission staff
have already initiated a NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing
process. The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early
involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve
issues before the Commission receives an application. As part of the
pre-filing review, Commission staff will contact federal and state
agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the
preparation of the environmental document.
If a formal application is filed, Commission staff will then
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 34823]]
independent analysis of the environmental 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 determination on the proposed
project. If Commission staff prepares an EIS, a Notice of Intent to
Prepare an EIS/Notice of Schedule will be issued once an application is
filed, which will open an additional public comment period. Staff will
then prepare a draft EIS that 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; Native
American Tribes; environmental and public interest groups; other
interested parties including the Little Compton Conservation Committee,
Sakonnet Preservation, Rhode Island Land Trusts; and local libraries
and media outlets. 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#2e694f5d7e5c41444b4d5a6f4a4a5c4b5d5d6d464f40494b6e484b5c4d00494158"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="91d6f0e2c1e3fefbf4f2e5d0f5f5e3f4e2e2d2f9f0fff6f4d1f7f4e3f2bff6fee7">[email protected]</span></a> stating your
request. You must include the docket number PF26-7-000 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).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once AGT files its application with the Commission, you may want to
become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the Commission's
proceeding. Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the
Commission's decision and be heard by the courts if they choose to
appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor formally
participates in the proceeding by filing a request to intervene
pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Motions to intervene are more fully
described at <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/how-intervene">https://www.ferc.gov/how-intervene</a>. Please note that the
Commission will not accept requests for intervenor status at this time.
You must wait until the Commission receives a formal application for
the project, after which the Commission will issue a public notice that
establishes an intervention deadline.
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#63250611002c0d0f0a0d06301613130c111723050611004d040c15"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8fc9eafdecc0e1e3e6e1eadcfaffffe0fdfbcfe9eafdeca1e8e0f9">[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.
(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)
Dated: June 4, 2026.
Carlos D. Clay,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-11538 Filed 6-8-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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