Virginia DEQ
Home MenuSoutheast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP)
This page provides information on current activities related to Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company’s (Transco’s) Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP). The purpose of this pipeline project is to transport natural gas from an existing Transco station and an interconnect with Mountain Valley Pipeline’s Main Line project in Virginia with delivery points in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
A portion of the SSEP designated as the Eden Loop is proposed to be located in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and Rockingham County, North Carolina. (A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity.) In Virginia, the Eden Loop would include the construction of 26.8 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline. The SSEP also proposes the addition of two electric motor-driven compressor units at Transco’s existing compressor station in Virginia.
In the Commonwealth, the construction of natural gas pipelines is regulated under several environmental programs.
- A Public Notice of the Draft Virgina Water Protection (VWP) Permit for the SSEP was published on September 20, 2025. Click here to view the draft permit.
- A Public Notice of the Tentative Upland 401 Water Quality (WQ) Certification Decision for the SSEP was published on September 20, 2025. Click here to view the tentative decision.
Summary of Public Comments and Responses
Before issuing a final decision on the draft VWP Individual Permit and the tentative Upland 401 WQ Certification decision for Transco’s SSEP, DEQ is publishing a summary of public comments received during the public comment periods and public hearings for the aforementioned decisions, as well as DEQ’s responses to the summarized comments (9VAC25-210-172). Use this link to view the summary and responses: SSEP_Summ. of Comments - VWP Ind Permit & Upland 401 Cert
Summary of Comments Public Hearing
DEQ will hold a Public Hearing on December 18, 2025, to provide an opportunity for individuals who previously commented on the draft VWP Permit and/or the tentative Upland 401 WQ Certification decision for the SSEP (either at a public hearing or in writing during the public comment periods) to respond to the department’s public comment summary and responses. A Public Notice for this Summary of Comments Public Hearing was issued on December 4, 2025, and can be viewed on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website, or by clicking on this link: SSEP_Pub. Notice - Summ. of Comments Pub. Hearing. More information on the Public Hearing can be found on the DEQ Calendar.
Please note the following:
- The public hearing is open to everyone. However, only individuals who previously commented during the public comment periods will be eligible to provide responses at the hearing.
- During the public hearing, no new information will be accepted. Only responses regarding the DEQ’s Summary of Comments will be accepted.
- Eligible individuals that sign up at the public hearing no later than 7:30 P.M. will be allotted 3 minutes to provide their responses. If an eligible individual previously commented on both the draft VWP Individual Permit and the tentative Upland 401 WQ Certification decision, they can provide 3 minutes of responses on the draft permit and 3 minutes of responses on the tentative certification decision, for a total of 6 minutes maximum. These minutes cannot be combined or donated to other eligible individuals.
- Eligible individuals not able to provide verbal responses at the hearing may submit written responses to designated DEQ staff pertaining to the summary of comments for the SSEP project record prior to the end of hearing.
The public hearing will be held at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research’s Barkhouser Auditorium, located at 150 Slayton Avenue in Danville, Virginia (24540). Below is a timeline for the hearing.
- 5:00 P.M. – Public hearing doors open.
- 5:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. – Eligible individuals (those who submitted comments during the public comment period) may sign up to provide verbal responses during the hearing. Eligible individuals must sign up to provide verbal responses no later than 7:30 P.M.
- 6:00 P.M. – Public hearing starts.
- Public hearing ends when all eligible individuals that signed up by 7:30 P.M. have had an opportunity to provide their response, or at 9:00 P.M., whichever occurs first.