Statement on FERC’s decision to issue an Environmental Analysis for the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2025

CONTACT
Dan Radmacher, Media Specialist, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org 

On Jan. 22, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced it will prepare an Environmental Assessment rather than a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement for the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project pipeline proposed by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Williams Companies, Inc., which operates a network of national methane gas pipelines. FERC’s announcement includes a projected publishing date of the environmental assessment on Nov. 7, 2025, followed by a meager 30-day public comment period, (the typical comment period for a DEIS is 90 days), with a deadline of Feb. 5, 2026, for FERC to decide whether to issue a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the project.

Statement by Jessica Sims, Virginia Field Coordinator, Appalachian Voices:
“Again, federal review agencies have signaled their disregard of the public’s valid concerns about the massive capacity fracked-gas Southeast Supply Enhancement Project, with their decision to prepare the less-detailed environmental assessment for the pipeline. It is also concerning that they have offered a mere 30 days for public review and comment on the less-detailed environmental assessment — especially since it will occur over the 2025 winter holiday season. This diminishes the public voice from input on a project that could put communities at increased risk from pollution and explosion dangers.”

Statement by Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck, Co-Founder, 7 Directions of Service:
“Today we learned that federal regulators have decided not to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement on one of the largest methane gas expansion proposals in decades, Transco’s SSEP. They will give the public and our elected leaders just 30 days to study and respond to their findings. The message to impacted communities is clear: understanding the full picture of the impacts of this giant, polluting infrastructure on our water, soil, air and health is not a priority, nor is our input.”