On June 22, 2026, Vinton Dome Storage Hub, LLC (Vinton Dome) filed an application in Docket No. CP26-544-000 requesting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct a new natural gas storage facility in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana as part of the Vinton Dome Storage Hub Project (Project). Via the proposed Project, Vinton Dome would construct a natural gas storage facility designed for the injection and storage of natural gas in underground solution-mined salt caverns and the withdrawal of stored natural gas for delivery to interstate natural gas transmission pipelines. The storage facility would be supplied by four 24-inch-diameter, new bidirectional natural gas pipelines that would interconnect with existing and planned interstate gas transmission pipelines owned and operated by others. Vinton Dome states the facility would provide a total underground storage capacity of approximately 63.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas, with a working gas capacity of 44.5 Bcf.

On June 30, 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 29, 2027

90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline ^[2] —April 29, 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 Vinton Dome Storage Hub Project would consist of the following facilities:

• five salt dome storage caverns, each 8.9 Bcf in working gas capacity and 3.8 Bcf in bas capacity for a total per cavern capacity of 12.7 Bcf;
• six raw groundwater withdrawal and six class II brine disposal wells, including associated pumping and pipeline systems;
• one cavern leaching plant;
• one 55,000-horsepower (hp) compressor station with 10 Caterpillar 3616 natural gas driven reciprocating compressor engines at 5,500 hp per unit, with appurtenant and auxiliary equipment;
• a northern header system, consisting of approximately 16.02-mile-long dual 24-inch-diameter, bidirectional natural gas pipelines and six interconnects with other interstate gas transmission pipelines with metering and regulation stations;
• and an eastern header system, consisting of approximately 16.27-mile-long dual 24-inch-diameter, bidirectional natural gas pipelines, three interconnects with metering and regulation stations, and three dual 24-inch-diameter, bidirectional natural gas lateral pipelines totaling approximately 0.88 mile to interconnect with four existing interstate gas transmission pipelines and metering and regulation stations.

Background

On July 29, 2026, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Vinton Dome Storage Hub 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. The Commission received comments regarding concerns over cumulative effects of natural gas facilities in the vicinity; effects on groundwater, local water supplies, wetlands, and waterways; as well as comments regarding effects on impacted communities. Commentors also requested more transparency of privileged and confidential information and questioned whether Vinton Dome has the qualifications to construct a natural gas storage facility. All substantive comments received 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 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., CP26-544), 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)