Regulatory Approvals

The successful siting of a long-haul transmission project is a lengthy, complex process.

Through environmental evaluation and stakeholder participation, the Clean Line team along with land, engineering, and environmental specialists will study and review many variables that will determine suitable route corridors for the Plains & Eastern Clean Line. This process includes review and evaluation of potential project impacts on existing resources, including but not limited to, federal, state and local managed lands, heavily populated communities, recognized tribal lands, areas with high resource value, known cultural resources, water resources, and federal and state protected species. In addition, engineering considerations such as route corridor length and type of terrain to be traversed will also be evaluated. After receiving additional stakeholder input and conducting further environmental studies, we will identify a preferred route, as well as alternative routes.

State Regulatory Processes and Approvals

On October 28, 2011, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) approved Plains and Eastern Clean Line Oklahoma LLC's request to conduct business as a public utility in Oklahoma.  Plains and Eastern Clean Line Oklahoma LLC submitted an application to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in June 2010.

Clean Line intends to resubmit an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to the Arkansas Public Service Commission to enable Clean Line to operate as a public utility in the state of Arkansas.  After receiving the authority to operate as a public utility in Arkansas, Clean Line will submit an application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (CECPN) to the Arkansas Public Service Commission. Arkansas law requires that any public utility receive a CECPN from the Arkansas Public Service Commission before it can construct and operate a transmission facility.

To view additional information about these regulatory processes and applications, please click here.

Federal Regulatory Process and Approval

Following the identification of a preferred route and alternative routes, Clean Line plans to complete an EIS under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The EIS will be prepared under the guidance of a lead federal agency. Other federal agencies, along with involved state, tribal or local entities, may act as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS.  Part of the objective of NEPA includes bringing together all of the relevant federal and state agencies so all environmental concerns can be clearly documented and addressed in one process. The designated lead federal agency for the Plains & Eastern Clean Line has not been determined at this time. To learn more about NEPA, please click here.

In addition to the regulatory processes outlined above, Clean Line will comply with all other applicable federal, state and local regulations.