Contact Us  

To reach emergency personnel for NEXUS 24/7, call toll-free

(855) 329-1781

Permitting Process

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the lead federal agency in charge of overseeing the permitting process for interstate natural gas transmission pipelines.

To guide its decision making process, FERC conducted a comprehensive environmental review of the project, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Throughout this process, FERC worked closely with other federal, state, and local agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, among others. Landowners and the general public also had numerous opportunities to participate in the process by attending public meetings and providing public comments to FERC.

Before the formal environmental review of the project began, NEXUS spent more than a year engaging with and gathering input from impacted stakeholders during the FERC Pre-File process. Once the Pre-File process was complete, NEXUS filed an Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity with FERC, which initiated the formal environmental review of the project. The Application described the purpose and commercial need for the project, the transportation rate to be charged to customers, proposed project facilities, and how the company will comply with all applicable regulatory requirements.

FERC then reviewed the Application in order to evaluate the need, proposed facility locations, and overall impact of project construction and operation, and summarized its findings in an Environmental Impact Statement. Ultimately, FERC determined that the project is necessary and appropriate and issued NEXUS a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct and operate the pipeline project.

During the three year process, NEXUS evaluated proposed routes, design and construction methods and potential impacts on community members and the environment. Years of discussions, surveys, studies, permitting and planning helped develop a balanced plan for the route, construction techniques, and measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts.

Learn More About The FERC Process

Agencies in the Permitting Process

Throughout its environmental review of the NEXUS project, FERC worked closely with other federal, state, and local agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, to fully evaluate potential environmental impacts. Below is a list of some of the key consulting agencies that actively participated in the FERC review process.


  • Federal
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  • National Marine Fisheries Service
  • National Parks Service
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Department of Transportation
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
  • State
  • Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
  • Ohio Department of Natural Resources
  • Ohio Office of Historic Preservation
  • Ohio Department of Transportation
  • Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
  • Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  • Michigan Office of Historic Preservation
  • Michigan Department of Transportation
  • Local
  • County Boards of Commissioners (Ohio & Michigan)
  • County Historic Preservation Offices (Ohio & Michigan)
  • Local Departments of Public Works (Ohio & Michigan)
  • Village, Town & City Councils (Ohio & Michigan)