Black Bear Natural Gas Project in Texas Gets Fast-Track Federal Review

The Federal Permitting Council added Revenant Energy’s Black Bear Natural Gas Project in Texas to the FAST-41 program, streamlining federal environmental review for the proposed wells and pipelines in Angelina National Forest.

(P&GJ) — The Black Bear Natural Gas Development Project in San Augustine County, Texas, has been accepted for review under the FAST-41 federal permitting program, which aims to streamline environmental and regulatory approvals for major infrastructure projects.

The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) announced the decision on Oct. 31, 2025, saying the project would support the administration’s goal of expanding domestic energy production and reducing permitting delays.

“I am thrilled to welcome the Black Bear Natural Gas Development Project to FAST-41 coverage,” said Emily Domenech, Executive Director of the Permitting Council. “Under the Trump Administration we are using every tool to responsibly increase production and strengthen our energy security. I am excited to see FAST-41 provide a transparent and predictable permitting process for this critical project.”

The project, sponsored by Revenant Energy Operating LLC, proposes up to four well pads with as many as 32 wells in total, along with gathering lines, access roads, and a trunk pipeline to move natural gas produced from both private and Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-managed minerals in Angelina National Forest.

“The need for responsibly sourced energy to support the country’s rapidly expanding infrastructure project growth is overwhelming, and we believe the FAST-41 permitting process provides the most efficient method for transparent and environmentally responsible regulatory review,” said Chelsea Budowsky, Senior Vice President of Land at Revenant Energy.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service will serve as the lead federal agency for the project’s permitting process. Details are available on the Federal Permitting Dashboard.

Established in 2015, the FAST-41 program was created under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act to improve transparency and coordination among federal agencies reviewing critical infrastructure projects.