Mountain Valley Pipeline Boost: Eco Review by October
Published Date: 7/9/2025
Notice
Summary
Mountain Valley Pipeline wants to boost its Southgate Project’s gas capacity from 375,000 to 550,000 dekatherms per day, meaning more gas can flow through the pipeline. The government is preparing an environmental check and will share the results by October 3, 2025, with final decisions expected by January 1, 2026. This affects local communities, regulators, and energy users, and could speed up energy delivery while following environmental rules.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Pipeline Capacity Increase to 550,000 Dth/d
Mountain Valley Pipeline proposes to raise the Southgate Project capacity from 375,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) to 550,000 Dth/d. The Amendment Project would also change pipeline diameter to 30 inches and alter the route between Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Rockingham County, North Carolina.
Environmental and Safety Concerns Will Be Addressed
Public commenters raised concerns about groundwater, waterbodies, wetlands, threatened and endangered species, forested areas, cumulative impacts, air emissions, and pipeline safety related to the increased diameter and capacity; FERC says all substantive environmental comments will be addressed in the EA. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service field offices are cooperating agencies for the EA.
Project Design Changes Affect Local Contractors
The Amendment Project would shorten the pipeline from 75.1 miles to 31.3 miles, remove the Lambert Compressor Station, remove four mainline valves and two cathodic protection groundbeds, and add two new contractor yards; construction of the originally authorized Southgate Project has not yet started.
Environmental Review Schedule and Deadlines
FERC staff will issue an Environmental Assessment (EA) on October 3, 2025, which will be open for a 30-day comment period, and other federal and state agencies must reach final decisions within 90 days after the EA, by January 1, 2026. If the schedule changes, FERC will provide additional notice.
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: 2025-12758, Combined Notice of Filings
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission got new filings about natural gas pipeline rates and rules that could change starting August 1, 2025. Companies like Caledonia Energy and Golden Pass Pipeline are updating their prices and operating plans, so folks involved should act by mid-July if they want to speak up. These changes might affect how much people pay or how pipelines operate soon.
Next: 2025-12761, Notice of Receipt of Complaint; Solicitation of Comments Relating to the Public Interest
The U.S. International Trade Commission got a complaint about certain synthetic braiding hair and its packaging. They want the public to share their thoughts on how this might affect everyone, especially businesses and shoppers. If you have opinions, now’s the time to speak up before any decisions are made!