Nearly 500 Miles of Kinder Morgan Gas Pipelines Advance with Final FERC EIS
The 199-mile Mississippi Crossing Project and 291-mile South System Expansion 4 have reached a key regulatory milestone as FERC advances its review.
(P&GJ) — FERC staff has issued the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for Tennessee Gas Pipeline's Mississippi Crossing Project and Southern Natural Gas' South System Expansion 4 (SSE4) Project, advancing two major natural gas expansion projects toward Commission review.
The Mississippi Crossing Project would add approximately 2.1 billion cubic feet per day of firm transportation capacity through construction of about 199 miles of new 36- and 42-inch pipeline, along with compressor stations, meter stations and related facilities across Mississippi and Alabama.
The South System Expansion 4 Project would provide approximately 1.323 billion cubic feet per day of additional transportation capacity through nearly 291 miles of pipeline looping, compressor upgrades, meter station additions and other system modifications across Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
SEE ALSO: Kinder Morgan Expects July FERC Decision on $3.5 Billion SSE4 Project
FERC environmental staff concluded that construction and operation of both projects would result in some adverse environmental impacts but determined those impacts could be reduced to less-than-significant levels through proposed mitigation measures. Staff noted that climate change impacts were not characterized as either significant or insignificant in the environmental review.
The agency said the projects incorporate numerous environmental protection measures, including erosion and sediment controls, wetland mitigation, spill prevention plans, invasive species management and post-construction environmental monitoring. FERC staff also completed or is continuing consultations required under the Endangered Species Act and National Historic Preservation Act.
The final EIS recommends additional project-specific mitigation measures outlined in the environmental review and concludes that, if those measures are implemented, neither project would result in significant long-term adverse environmental effects.
The final environmental impact statement serves as a recommendation from FERC staff. The Commission will consider the environmental findings before issuing a final order on the projects.