Frequently asked questions
Have questions about pipeline projects, landowner rights, compressor stations or safety practices? Below you will find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
The project is led by Boardwalk Pipelines, a leading national provider of natural gas, storage and supply services, through its subsidiary, Texas Gas Transmission, which has operated in Owensboro, Kentucky, since 1948.
- Texas Gas has operated in Kentucky for 75 years, building a long history of safe, reliable service and a commitment to local community engagement.
- Boardwalk operates an extensive network of natural gas and natural gas liquids pipelines and storage facilities, serving critical markets across the Midwest, Gulf Coast and Southeast. Our infrastructure connects supply to demand by delivering safe and reliable energy.
The Borealis Project is a proposed natural gas pipeline that will help meet the region’s ever-increasing and evolving energy demands and better position Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana for future economic growth by providing access to affordable natural gas.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) reviews and authorizes interstate natural gas infrastructure projects to ensure they serve the public interest and are developed safely and in an environmentally responsible manner. As the lead regulatory agency for the Borealis Project, FERC will oversee a comprehensive review process, with input and coordination from numerous federal and state environmental agencies. Before any major project can proceed, FERC conducts a rigorous evaluation to confirm compliance with applicable environmental and regulatory standards. The agency's pipeline siting and permitting process is highly structured, requiring extensive public notification, stakeholder engagement, and multiple opportunities for community and landowner input throughout the review process.
No. We anticipate filing in 4Q-1Q 2026-27.
The Borealis Project is in the early phase of development, wherein stakeholder engagement and obtaining initial landowner survey permission are our focus. This helps us determine a viable route based on on-the-ground inspections and feedback from local officials and landowners. As our development work continues, we will regularly share information about the evolving route. We know our projects cross other people’s land, which is why we are committed to hearing concerns. We are committed to keeping community leaders and residents informed.
The Project will traverse multiple counties in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. We are still in the preliminary design phase and will identify specific locations once a final route is established.
Because route development is ongoing, only broader regional maps have been shared to date. As planning advances, additional route information will be made available, including a future web-based mapping tool that will enable landowners to view proposed route information relative to their property.
Landowners and stakeholders will be contacted at several key points throughout the project. Early on, our Land team may reach out by mail, phone, or in person to request survey access, with advance notice provided before any surveys begin. Later, land agents will discuss easement offers. You may also receive invitations to attend project open houses, either in person or virtually. During the FERC review process, both Texas Gas and FERC will send notifications about the project and opportunities to participate. Public notices will also be published in local newspapers, and project documents will be available at local libraries.
Contact our Landowner Line: (844) 652-6731.
You can learn more by visiting the Project website (borealis.bwpipelines.com) where detailed information is available on the Project, pipeline route, benefits, and the FERC review process.
Contact our Community Line: (832) 924-5010 or borealis@erm.com
Texas Gas’s commitment to safety, reliability, and environmental stewardship drives every stage of the Project, from planning to operation. We work hard to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations while maintaining strong relationships with the communities that Texas Gas serves. You may view Texas Gas’ website (txgt.com) for safety information.
Texas Gas is committed to operating its assets in a safe, reliable, and compliant manner. To that end, we monitor our natural gas pipeline systems 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through our Pipeline Control Center. All pipelines and compressor stations are required to comply with Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pipeline engineering and operations requirements. Pipelines are also coated and cathodically protected to reduce corrosion. Texas Gas’s compressor stations are fenced and have controlled access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Natural gas pipeline systems are designed and constructed in accordance with the robust pipeline safety standards established by industry experts and the United States Department of Transportation. Compressor stations and pipelines are constructed with multiple safety systems (such as gas and fire detection systems and emergency shutdown equipment). In the extremely rare event of an emergency, these systems have been designed to ensure the station is safely shut down with minimal risk to the public and the environment. Local first responders will be immediately notified and we will then work with them to take all necessary and appropriate actions to isolate the area and inform the public while working to resolve the emergency.
Following completion of pipeline construction and restoration temporary construction workspace and permanent right-of-way (ROW), the landowner still may use the land over the pipeline for most purposes, including grazing, farming, gardening (e.g., planting of flowers, bushes, and/or grasses) within the permanent ROW. However, certain practices detailed in the utility easements are prohibited within the permanent ROW as they may impede safe operation of the pipeline.
Landowners who have a pipeline on their property may build up to the ROW, but not within it. Owners of property adjacent to a compressor station may build on their land, but not within any established ROW on their property. The following are helpful resources from the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America:
Compressor stations are required to stay below an average noise level of 55 decibels (dB) at nearby homes, schools, hospitals, and other sound-sensitive areas. For comparison, 55 dB is about the sound-level of a normal conversation—quieter than a vacuum cleaner—closer to the sound of a quiet library than heavy machinery. The stations will be designed to meet this limit, and once they begin operating, sound measurements will be taken and submitted to FERC to show they are complying.
The Borealis Project is a natural gas pipeline, not a liquids pipelines or a carbon capture pipeline. Natural gas pipelines transport fuel used for heating, power generation, and industry, while carbon capture pipelines move compressed CO₂ for permanent underground storage to reduce emissions. Natural gas pipelines are regulated by FERC, whereas liquid or carbon capture pipelines often follow state-level rules and regulations that vary by state. Both types must meet PHMSA federal safety standards.
Our goal is to acquire all right-of-way through private, good-faith negotiations with landowners.
Eminent domain is a legal process available under federal law but would only be considered after other reasonable efforts to reach a negotiated agreement have been exhausted.
If eminent domain were pursued:
- A court would determine whether the easement should be granted.
- Landowners would be entitled to just compensation as provided by law.
- Eminent domain is considered a last-resort option and is rarely used by Boardwalk. Our focus remains on reaching fair agreements through respectful negotiations with landowners.
- We know our projects cross people’s land, which is why we are committed to hearing their concerns about how our projects may affect them. This starts with the first request to survey a property and continues through construction and long-term pipeline operation.
- The proposed project route is not final. Surveys help ensure a route is viable for construction and operations. In most cases, surveying someone’s property results in very little ground disturbance.
- Once we have been granted permission to survey the property, we typically focus on an area that is larger (approximately 300 feet wide) than the eventual right-of-way (approximately 50 feet wide) as it provides routing flexibility and minimizes the need for repeat visits to a landowner’s property.
- Once we have assessed the property and determined the route, we work directly with each affected landowner to agree on a right-of-way easement and fair compensation for both the temporary and permanent use of the property.
The proposed project route will follow existing utility corridors, helping to reduce impacts on communities, natural resources, and environmentally sensitive areas.