Government Wants Input on Moving Iconic Cape Cod Canal Bridge—Environment at Stake!
Published Date: 4/9/2025
Notice
Summary
Algonquin Gas Transmission plans to move the Cape Cod Canal Bridge in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, and the government wants your thoughts on how this might affect the environment. They’re asking for public comments by May 5, 2025, to help decide if the project should move forward. This is a big deal for local communities and could impact construction timelines and costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Easement Offers and Eminent Domain Risk
If you are a landowner in the project area, Algonquin may contact you to negotiate an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities. You are not required to sign an agreement, but if the Commission approves the project the Natural Gas Act conveys eminent domain authority to the company and, if negotiations fail, the company could initiate condemnation proceedings with compensation determined by a judge under state law.
Construction Will Disturb 73 Acres; 21 Acres Permanent
Algonquin says construction would disturb about 73 acres of land for aboveground facilities and pipeline work, and after construction it would maintain about 21 acres for permanent operation while the rest would be restored to former uses. This means local land use and nearby properties could be impacted during and after construction.
Environmental Review Will Cover Key Resources
FERC staff will prepare an environmental document that will evaluate potential impacts in areas including geology and soils; water resources and wetlands; vegetation and wildlife; threatened and endangered species; cultural resources; land use; air quality and noise; and reliability and safety. If an application is filed, staff will decide whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which would open additional public comment opportunities.
Pipeline Relocations and New Pipeline Miles
The project would remove or relocate about 1.14 miles of existing 8-inch and 18-inch pipelines, remove and relocate two mainland meter and regulating stations, and install about 3.4 miles of 16-inch pipeline and about 2.2 miles of 18-inch pipeline plus two new meter and regulating stations. The stated purpose is to accommodate replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges while continuing uninterrupted natural gas service to National Grid on both sides of the Cape Cod Canal.
How to Comment and Scoping Meeting
You can submit written or oral comments to FERC on the scoping issues by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 5, 2025. FERC will hold a public scoping session on April 23, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EDT at Brookside Golf Club in Bourne, MA, where you can provide oral comments one-on-one (individual comments may be limited to 5 minutes if many wish to speak).
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-16925, Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725U); Comment Request; Extension
In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection FERC-725U (1902-0274), Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk Power System; CIP Reliability Standards. There are no proposed changes to the reporting requirements. The comment period ended on July 27, 2026, with no comments received.
2026-16739, Venture Global CP2 LNG, LLC, Venture Global CP Express, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed CP2 LNG Expansion Project, and Notice of Public Scoping Sessions
2026-16633, Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Maysville Project
2026-16616, Regulatory Agenda
We are publishing our regulatory agenda (the Agenda) in accordance with Public Law 96-354, "The Regulatory Flexibility Act," and Executive Order 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review." FERC's complete Agenda, available on OMB's website at https://www.reginfo.gov, is a compilation of all rulemaking activities on which we have recently completed action or have proposed or are considering action. Our last Agenda was provided in May 2025 and in this current agenda, we have listed 42 rulemaking activities. We also note that the Agency has one inactive rulemaking that is not listed in this Agenda. This issuance of our Agenda contains ten (10) Pre-Rules, eleven (11) Notice of Proposed Rules, eight (8) Final Rules, and thirteen (13) Completed activities. Four (4) rulemakings are Section 3(f)(1) Significant; two (2) are Other Significant; one (1) is a routine rulemaking activity; two (2) are administrative, and thirty-two (32) are Substantive, Nonsignificant rulemaking activities.
2026-16637, Combined Notice of Filings
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission got new filings from several natural gas pipeline companies about rate changes and rule updates. These changes could affect pipeline rates starting as soon as July 9, 2026, and some compliance updates kick in January 1, 2027. If you want to speak up or get involved, you need to comment by late August 2026.
2026-16525, Combined Notice of Filings
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission got new filings from natural gas pipeline companies about their rates and refunds. These filings could change how much customers pay starting as soon as September 1, 2026. If you want to speak up or get involved, you need to act by mid to late August.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-06069, Notice of Application of Transfer of License and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests: Southern California Edison Company; Lower Tule Hydro, LLC
Southern California Edison wants to hand over the license for the Lower Tule River Hydroelectric Project to Lower Tule Hydro, LLC. This 2.52-megawatt project in California’s Sequoia National Forest will keep running under the new owner, who must follow all the same rules. If you have thoughts or want to get involved, you’ve got until May 5, 2025, to speak up!
Next: 2025-06072, Fisheries of the Gulf of America; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting; Cancellation
The planned public meeting to review Gulf of America red snapper data has been canceled. Fishermen, seafood lovers, and coastal communities should note this change, but the assessment process will continue with online workshops instead. No extra costs or delays are expected, so everyone can stay tuned for updates on managing red snapper fishing wisely.