Petersburg homeowner Penny Morris wants to know what a 12-mile natural gas pipeline will do to her drinking water.
"How is it going to directly affect my water well?" Morris said Thursday, July 23, in an interview with WCPO. "Because if they drill in and the river bed is very, very soft and delicate, it can either cause it to frack or it can cause it to have backwash that can backwash into our system."
Morris lives near the planned route of the Dearborn County Lateral Project, a 20-inch-diameter pipeline proposed by Texas Gas Transmission, LLC. The line would run from Dearborn County, Indiana, across the Ohio River through Boone County and into Hamilton County, Ohio, delivering natural gas to Vistra Corp.'s Miami Fort Power Plant. That plant is converting from coal to natural gas.
Boone County residents have until 5 p.m. July 27, to submit comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under Docket No. CP26-536-000.
Company responds to drilling concerns
Boardwalk Pipelines, the parent company of Texas Gas, said in an email July 23, that no fracking will be involved in the construction process and that protecting water resources is part of its planning. The company said environmental concerns and proximity to homes were weighed when selecting the route.
Hydraulic fracturing, used to extract gas from underground rock, is a different process from the directional drilling used to install pipelines beneath rivers. FERC's scoping process will evaluate geological and hydrological impacts along the route, including river crossings.
Boardwalk also said Texas Gas began engaging local officials in late 2025, early in the project's development.
County leaders push back
Boone County Commissioner Jesse Brewer has questioned why the pipeline crosses the river into Boone County at all.
"Usually projects like this benefit the communities that they're running through. We don't see that here," Brewer said Thursday.
Boone County leaders have formally opposed the project in a letter to pipeline officials. Brewer said he wanted earlier communication from the company so local leaders could understand the project and offer guidance.
What's at stake
According to the FERC scoping notice published July 1 construction would disturb about 199 acres of land. Texas Gas would permanently maintain about 76 acres; the rest would be restored to former uses.
If FERC ultimately approves the project, the Natural Gas Act gives the company the right of eminent domain, meaning Texas Gas could initiate condemnation proceedings if it cannot reach easement agreements with landowners.
No construction timeline has been announced. After the comment period closes, FERC staff will decide whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment or a full Environmental Impact Statement before making a final decision.
How to comment
Residents can submit comments to FERC before the July 27, deadline three ways:
- Online: Via eComment or eFiling at www.ferc.gov
- By mail: Secretary, FERC, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426 (reference Docket No. CP26-536-000)
- For help: Call (866) 208-3676 or email [email protected]
