FERC Questions Need for MVP Southgate Expansion, Cites Overlap with Williams Project
FERC’s environmental assessment of the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate Amendment Project finds no significant environmental harm, but questions the need for the 31-mile Virginia-to-North Carolina expansion, citing overlap with Williams’ proposed project.
By Mary Holcomb, Digital Editor
(P&GJ) — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has released its long-awaited Environmental Assessment (EA) for Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC’s proposed Southgate Amendment Project, concluding that while the project would not cause significant environmental harm, it may be unnecessary given competing infrastructure already in development.
BACKGROUND: Court Ruling Allows MVP’s $500 Million Southgate Pipeline Extension to Proceed
The 107-page analysis, issued Oct. 3, assesses Mountain Valley’s plan to build a 31-mile, 30-inch natural gas pipeline from Pittsylvania County, Va., to Rockingham County, N.C., increasing capacity from 375,000 dekatherms per day to 550,000 Dth/d.
FERC staff said the project’s approval “would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment” but noted an alternative system—the Transco Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSE)—could provide similar service with fewer environmental impacts.
The report highlights that the Lambert compressor station and roughly 44 miles of previously authorized pipeline have been removed from the revised route, reducing land disturbance by more than half compared with the original 2020 certification. Construction would begin in late 2026 with an in-service target of mid-2028.
While the EA concludes that Mountain Valley’s environmental safeguards and mitigation plans are adequate, FERC staff questioned the economic and operational necessity of the expansion. The analysis finds that Williams’ SSE line could “supply the same downstream customers served by Southgate while avoiding duplicative right-of-way disturbance,” effectively rendering the new build redundant if the SSE proceeds.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service participated as a cooperating agency. Public comments are open until Nov. 3, 2025, after which FERC commissioners will determine whether to issue an amended certificate.