GREENVILLE, Miss.—A planned pipeline project is set to extend across 10 counties, starting in the Mississippi Delta. Associates of the Singleton Schreiber Law Firm are urging Mississippi citizens to file a motion to intervene in the construction of the Mississippi Crossing Project before Aug. 5. An extension of the South System Expansion 4 Project, the Mississippi Crossing Project is a pipeline that will carry natural gas 208 miles from Greenville, Mississippi to Butler, Alabama.
The pipeline will span Humphreys, Sunflower, Washington, Attala, Holmes, Clarke, Leake, Newton, Lauderdale and Neshoba counties. The project is anticipated to begin construction in January 2027, breaking ground in Greenville. Attorneys Ebony Griffin-Guerrier and Laura Singleton are ensuring that Mississippians know their right to intervene over the pipeline.
“After August 5th, if citizens don’t intervene in that process, then they are kind of out in terms of the right to formally challenge the actual construction of the pipeline. It preserves your right to challenge the pipeline in federal court and receive information about the pipeline project moving forward,” Griffin-Guerrier stated in an interview with the Mississippi Free Press.
Attorney Laura Singleton added, “If you file an intervention now, it doesn’t mean you have to challenge it later. If people file now, they can just leave it at that, but it does preserve their right to do more in the future should they want it.”
The counselors also noted possible issues that could arise with the construction and operation of the pipeline as well as a permanency on their land.
“Just in the construction process, you can potentially have soil degradation, you can have any sort of damage to the environment around that. It can damage ecosystems because (they are) having permanent right-of-way,” Singleton added.
According to the Singleton Schreiber website, the law firm has over 75 years of practice in environmental justice.
“At Singleton Schreiber, we’re here to help communities fight for what’s right and for what’s best for them. We stand with the community and if anything comes up, and they need any help at all; they can reach out to us in the Jackson office,” Singleton said.
Mississippi Crossing Project Brings Economic Development
The Mississippi Crossing Project is a $1.7 billion pipeline that is being constructed by Kinder Morgan, a North American infrastructure company. The goal of the initiative is to connect the new pipeline to the already existing Tennessee Gas Pipeline, providing critical access to natural gas sourced from multiple supply basins for delivery to Southern Natural Gas and Transco near Butler, Alabama.
Kinder Morgan Vice President Allen Fore believes that the Mississippi Crossing Project will bring economic and environmental benefits to the Magnolia State.
“(These projects) bring significant natural gas supply to make sure that Mississippi is well positioned for attracting business (and) residents. That increases the opportunity that there will be for additional economic development because you have a reliable, secure form of energy,” he said.
The Kinder Morgan vice president also discussed the safety procedures that the company will be taking to ensure the proper care of the environment.
“This pipeline will be monitored 24/7. We have an internal system that will alert us to any issues with the pipeline. We also have aerial patrols and foot patrols of the pipeline regularly. We regularly run inspection tools through the pipe once it’s in the ground,” Fore said.
Fore reiterated that while the filing a motion to intervene is in the hands of individual citizens, people can receive information without going through the process.
“If (citizens) want to go through a formal intervention process, that’s fine, but it’s not necessary if they want to stay informed. If you go to the FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) website … You can sign up and get everything that is filed and associated with this project,” he said.
Connection to Community
On Feb. 19, 2025, Fore met with Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons at the Washington County Convention Center to discuss the plans for the Mississippi Crossing Project with the public at an open forum.
“The Mississippi Crossing Project will create hundreds of temporary construction jobs, as well as permanent positions, while also driving economic growth for our local businesses and communities,” Simmons said in a Feb. 19 press release from the City of Greenville.
In a later interview with the Mississippi Free Press, Simmons discussed the advantages of the project as well as the environmental accountability that is entrusted to the Mississippi Crossing Project.
“It will bring major economic activity to our region; however, that opportunity comes with the responsibility to protect the property rights, safety, and environmental interests of all of those directly impacted,” Simmons stated.
He also expressed the importance of citizens and stakeholders to exercise their legal right to file a motion to intervene in the project.
“As mayor of the city of Greenville and as an attorney, we’re urging our residents and counties along the proposed Mississippi Crossing Pipeline to exercise those rights before the federal deadline of August 5th, 2025,” the Greenville mayor added.
Reve. Morris Allen, a citizen of Belzoni, Mississippi, and a local radio show host, believes that the pipeline running through Humphreys County is a good idea.
“It’s able to supply natural gas to where it is really needed,” Morris said.
Mississippians can file a motion to intervene in the construction of the Mississippi Crossing Project by the Aug. 5 deadline by visiting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) website and entering docket number CP25-514-000.