[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 29, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47827-47828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-15286]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP26-80-000]
Transwestern Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for the
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Green Chile Project
On January 29, 2026, Transwestern Pipeline Company, LLC
(Transwestern) filed a prior notice application in Docket No. CP26-80-
000, pursuant to
[[Page 47828]]
sections 157.205, 157.208, and 157.211 of the Commission's regulations
under the Natural Gas Act (NGA), and Transwestern's blanket certificate
issued in Docket No. CP82-534-000, requesting authorization to
construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline facilities in
Do[ntilde]a Ana County, New Mexico. The proposed project is known as
the Green Chile Project (Project) and would be capable of delivering up
to 400,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas from a point of receipt
located on the existing El Paso Natural Gas Company, L.L.C. pipeline
system to a point of delivery with Green Chile Ventures, LLC (GCV).
According to Transwestern, the Project is designed to meet GCV's demand
for natural gas that would be used for power generation by a new
artificial intelligence/data center campus.
On April 13, 2026, Commission staff protested the prior notice
request because Transwestern did not provide a copy of a finding by the
New Mexico State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of ``no historic
properties'' or ``no historic properties affected.'' Staff explained
that this documentation is necessary to demonstrate the project's
compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as
required under the Commission's regulations at sections
157.206(b)(3)(ii) and 157.208(c)(9) and Appendix II of subpart F.\1\
Staff explained that without this documentation, environmental concerns
cannot be adequately addressed before the protest period expired on May
13, 2026. Transwestern did not file the documentation by the deadline
(or subsequently), and therefore Transwestern's prior notice request
will proceed as an application for case-specific authorization under
section 7 of the NGA.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 18 CFR 157.206(b)(3)(ii), 157.208(c)(9), App. II (2025).
\2\ 18 CFR 157.205(f) (2025).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) for the Project, the planned schedule for
the completion of the environmental review,\3\ and the 90-day federal
authorization decision deadline. The EA will be issued for a 30-day
comment period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ For tracking purposes under the National Environmental
Policy Act, the unique identification number for documents relating
to this environmental review is EAXX-019-20-000-1781096872.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schedule for Environmental Review
Issuance of EA--September 4, 2026
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \4\--December 3, 2026
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The Commission's deadline applies to the decisions of other
federal agencies, and state agencies acting under federally
delegated authority, that are responsible for federal
authorizations, permits, and other approvals necessary for proposed
projects under the Natural Gas Act. Per 18 CFR 157.22(a), the
Commission's deadline for other agency's decisions applies unless a
schedule is otherwise established by federal law.
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
Transwestern proposes to construct and operate approximately 17.8
miles of 24-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline and associated
facilities in Do[ntilde]a Ana County, New Mexico. Transwestern would
also construct the Green Chile El Paso Meter & Regulation Station
(receipt point) and the Green Chile Meter & Regulation Station
(delivery point).
Background
In response to the Commission's February 10, 2026 Notice of Request
Under Blanket Authorization and Establishing Intervention and Protest
Deadline, the Commission received comments from several individuals,
Hold the Line Campaign, Public Citizen, Inc., Center for Biological
Diversity, Sierra Club, Food & Water Watch, and the Oracle Corporation.
The primary issues raised concern siting permissions and easements, air
quality, cultural resources, water resources, wildlife, cumulative
effects, and the non-jurisdictional artificial intelligence/data center
campus. All substantive comments pertaining to the Project will be
addressed in the EA. The Bureau of Land Management is a cooperating
agency in the preparation of 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 [email protected].
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., CP26-80), 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
[email protected]. 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)
Dated: July 24, 2026.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-15286 Filed 7-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P