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Notice2026-18995

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company L.L.C.; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the South Texas Enhancement Project

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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
September 16, 2026

Issuing agencies

Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 178 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58671-58672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18995]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP26-540-000]


Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company L.L.C.; Notice of Schedule for the 
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the South Texas 
Enhancement Project

    On June 5, 2026, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (TGP) filed 
an application in Docket No. CP26-540-000 requesting a Certificate of 
Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities in Brooks and Nueces Counties, Texas. The proposed project 
is known as the South Texas Enhancement Project and would provide about 
319,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas from existing receipt points 
in Hidalgo, Starr and Jim Wells Counties to the Agua Dulce area in 
Nueces County.
    On June 18, 2026, 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-019-20-000-1781539369.
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Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--December 18, 2026

[[Page 58672]]

90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\--March 18, 2027
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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

    TGP proposes to construct and operate a 1.54-mile-long, 30-inch-
diameter, natural gas transmission pipeline and modify three existing 
meter stations in Nueces County TX. TGP also proposes to construct a 
new 15,900-horsepower compressor station and associated facilities/
equipment in Brooks County, Texas, and other appurtenance facilities 
along TGP's pipeline system.

Background

    On July 16, 2026, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping Period 
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed South 
Texas 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 to the Notice of Scoping, the Commission 
received comments from two federal agencies and one potentially 
affected landowner. After the close of the scoping period, we received 
comments from one state agency and a non-governmental organization. The 
US Army Corps of Engineers recommended the applicant conduct a 
delineation of waters to determine if Clean Water Act permitting is 
required. The US Environmental Protection Agency recommended that the 
environmental document address water quality and quantity, groundwater, 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit coverage, 
impaired waters, ambient air conditions and air quality, and solid and 
hazardous waste generated. The Texas Commission on Environmental 
Quality recommended compliance with applicable regulations and Best 
Management Practices implementation. The Water Protector Legal 
Collective requested preparation of a project environmental impact 
statement rather than EA to evaluate alternatives, an evaluation of air 
quality effects and greenhouse gas emissions, pipeline safety issues, 
cumulative impacts, the public need of the project, and complete Tribal 
Consultation and cultural resource review. One landowner submitted 
comments expressing concerns that the pipeline project would cause 
safety and encroachment issues on her property. 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#327d626272545740511c555d44"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b3fce3e3f3d5d6c1d09dd4dcc5">[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., CP26-540), 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#b7f1f2e5f4f8d9dbded9d2e4c2c7c7d8c5c3f7d1d2c5d499d0d8c1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b3f5f6e1f0fcdddfdaddd6e0c6c3c3dcc1c7f3d5d6c1d09dd4dcc5">[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)

    Dated: September 11, 2026.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-18995 Filed 9-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on September 16, 2026.

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