FERC Issues Environmental Assessment for Transco’s Southeast Supply Enhancement Project

The 1.6 Bcf/d expansion would add new pipeline loops and compressor horsepower across five southeastern states, pending public comment and FERC’s final decision by year-end.

(P&GJ) — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has released an environmental assessment (EA) for Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company’s (Transco) proposed Southeast Supply Enhancement Project, concluding that the project “would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.”

Transco’s project aims to expand natural gas transportation capacity by 1.6 Bcf/d (1,596,900 dekatherms per day) to serve growing demand in the southeastern United States. The project would add new pipeline loops and compressor horsepower across Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.

Key project components include:

• 31.2 miles of 42-inch pipeline in Virginia and North Carolina (Eden Loop)
• 24.2 miles of 42-inch pipeline in North Carolina (Salem Loop)
• Compressor unit additions at stations in Pittsylvania (VA), Davidson (NC), and Iredell (NC) counties
• Replacement of three compressor units at Station 145 in Cleveland County, NC
• Valve and regulator installations at existing Transco facilities throughout the route

FERC noted that cooperating agencies — including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — participated in the review under the Clean Water Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, and Endangered Species Act. The EA analyzed geology, soils, water resources, air quality, and wildlife impacts, finding no significant effects with appropriate mitigation.

The document also outlines land and construction needs, estimating that the project will disturb about 1,452 acres during construction, with 380 acres maintained permanently for operation. Construction is expected to begin in March 2026, with in-service targeted for November 2027, subject to final approvals.

Public comments on the EA are open until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 1, 2025, via FERC’s eComment and eFiling systems or by mail. The Commission emphasized that only parties with intervenor status may seek rehearing or judicial review of its final decision.

The EA represents a significant step toward certification under Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, under which FERC will determine whether the project meets public convenience and necessity standards.