Nearly 500 Miles of Southeast Gas Pipeline Projects Enter FERC Review

FERC has launched an environmental review for the 199-mile Mississippi Crossing and 291-mile South System Expansion 4 projects, which together would add more than 3.4 Bcf/d of gas capacity across Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.

By Mary Holcomb, Digital Editor

(P&GJ) — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has begun preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) for two major natural gas pipeline expansions: Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s Mississippi Crossing (MSX) Project and Southern Natural Gas/Elba Express’ South System Expansion 4 (SSE4) Project, according to a Sept. 10 filing.

The review will cover new pipeline construction, compressor station installations, and facility upgrades across Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, with the projects designed to deliver more than 3.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of additional transportation capacity to the Southeast.

Project Details

• Mississippi Crossing Project (TGP):
• About 199 miles of 36- and 42-inch pipeline from Washington County, Mississippi, to Choctaw County, Alabama.
• New laterals in Humphreys, Sunflower, Attala, and Lauderdale counties.
• Three new compressor stations in Mississippi and one station upgrade.
• Expected to provide 2.1 Bcf/d of firm capacity.
• South System Expansion 4 (SNG/EEC):
• 291 miles of looping pipelines along the South Main Line.
• Compression upgrades at 12 existing stations across Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.
• Replacement of older compressor units with higher-efficiency technology.
• Expected to add 1.323 Bcf/d of capacity, aimed at meeting rising demand from residential, industrial, and power generation customers.

Environmental Scope

FERC staff said the draft EIS will analyze potential impacts on water resources, wetlands, endangered species, cultural sites, and land use. The MSX project would affect 146 acres of wetlands and cross over 1,000 waterbodies, including the Big Black River and the Natchez Trace Parkway. SSE4 would affect 224 acres of wetlands and cross the Flint, Oconee, and Tallapoosa Rivers.

The draft EIS is scheduled for January 2026, with a final EIS expected by June 2026. A federal decision deadline is set for September 2026.