On May 29, 2026, Texas Gas Transmission, LLC (Texas Gas) filed an application in Docket No. CP26-536-000 requesting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline facilities. The proposed project is known as the Dearborn County Lateral Project (Project) and would entail Texas Gas constructing and operating a new interstate natural gas pipeline and associated aboveground facilities in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio to deliver up to 265,000 dekatherms per day of firm natural gas transportation service to Vistra Corp.'s Miami Fort Power Plant in Hamilton County, Ohio, supporting the plant's planned conversion from coal-fueled to natural-gas-fueled generation.

On June 12, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's environmental document for the Project.

This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) for the Project and the planned schedule for the completion of the environmental review.^[1] The EA will be issued for a 30-day comment period.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA, January 15, 2027.

90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline ^[2] , April 15, 2027.

If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the Project's progress.

Project Description

The Dearborn County Lateral Project would consist of the following new facilities:

• an approximately 11.8-mile-long, 20-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline beginning in Dearborn County, Indiana and terminating in Hamilton County, Ohio;
• tie-in piping, a pig launcher, and associated infrastructure to connect the new lateral to the existing Texas Gas 26-inch-diameter Mainline System in Dearborn County, Indiana;
• a new measurement and flow control station and associated infrastructure in Dearborn County, Indiana; and
• a new pig receiver and associated infrastructure at the terminus of the pipeline in Hamilton County, Ohio.

Background

On June 26, 2026, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Dearborn County Lateral Project (Notice of Scoping). The Notice of Scoping was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to the Notice of Scoping and the Commission's Notice of Application for the Project, the Commission received comments from county officials, state legislators, and some potentially affected landowners. The Boone County Fiscal Court expressed confusion regarding the rationale for routing the Project through Boone County, noting that the route appears circuitous and would require two crossings of the Ohio River, and requested that any construction within the county be conducted in the least impactful manner possible while stating its opposition to the use of eminent domain. The Commission also received letters of support for the Project from Ohio State Senator Louis W. Blessing III and Ohio State Representative Mike Odioso.

The primary issues raised by landowners relate to the routing of the Project across their private properties. Concerns include impacts on farming operations, maple syrup and honey production, woodland resources, groundwater and drinking-water springs, stocked ponds and outflow structures, farmland privacy, and property values. Commenters also raised concerns regarding the need for the Project; cumulative impacts; effects on soil, water, and vegetation resources; impacts on special-status species; the use of eminent domain; and the potential for increased trespassing along the right-of-way. All substantive environmental comments will be addressed in the EA.

Additional Information

In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to keep track of formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This service provides automatic notification of filings made to subscribed dockets, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/​ferc-online/​overview to register for eSubscription.

For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or OPP@ferc.gov.

Additional information about the Project is available from the FERC website ( www.ferc.gov). Using the “eLibrary” link, select “General Search” from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and “Docket Number” excluding the last three digits ( i.e., CP26-536), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC website also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1.)