South System Expansion 4 completes federal permitting across the Southeast

Federal environmental review and permitting for Southern Natural Gas Company’s South System Expansion 4 reached complete status on November 5, according to the federal Permitting Dashboard and a November 6 Permitting Council announcement.

The project would add 1.323 billion cubic feet per day of firm natural-gas transportation capacity for Southeastern markets. The federal description covers 22 pipeline loops organized into 14 segments, totaling 291 miles of modifications, along with construction or upgrades at 14 existing compressor stations, meter-station work and abandonment of roughly 2.2 miles of lateral pipeline in Mississippi.

The work spans Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission led the review, with actions involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Park Service.

Permitting Council Executive Director Emily Domenech announced the milestone. FERC Chairman Laura V. Swett addressed the project’s reliability rationale, and Southern Natural Gas President Ernesto Ochoa said federal environmental review and permitting were complete.

Completion of federal permitting is a development-stage milestone, not a construction award, financing close or open solicitation. The official sources do not disclose a total project cost or a construction-start date. The next step is sponsor execution under the completed authorizations and any remaining nonfederal or commercial requirements.