The STL Pipeline project was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in 2018 after a thorough and rigorous regulatory review and was designed and constructed to uphold Spire's commitment to the environment and communities.

STL Pipeline partnered with a reputable environmental firm to carefully study the pipeline route and identify any ecological and archeological concerns.

During construction, STL Pipeline strived to work side by side with landowners to minimize the impact resulting from the construction and operation of the pipeline.

The pipeline route was adjusted to ensure requirements were met to protect the environment and a number of steps were taken to minimize environmental impact, including installing erosion-prevention devices and using low-impact horizontal drilling to avoid disturbing sensitive areas.

Full restoration with the least environmental impact takes time.

Restoration activities will continue until the pipeline right-of-way sees regrowth matching its surrounding area. And even after full restoration is complete, STL Pipeline will continue to monitor and address any environmental or operational concerns with the pipeline, consistent with FERC rules and policy.

Spire STL Pipeline is committed to:

• Continuing to monitor restoration efforts and performing additional remediation, where necessary, along the entire 65-mile route. As part of this process, we have closely adhered to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the environmental conditions in FERC's Certificate Order, and the environmental requirements of other state and local regulatory agencies.
• Maintaining a strong relationship with landowners and continuing to work to reach a fair agreement for land easements and resolve any remaining landowner restoration concerns as quickly and as reasonably as possible.
• Supporting the communities where we work--which includes Scott, Greene and Jersey counties in Illinois and St. Charles and St. Louis counties in Missouri--the communities along the STL Pipeline's route.

On October 7, 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Staff released their final Environmental Impact Study (EIS) on Spire STL Pipeline, finding the project's environmental impact "less than significant."

Read FERC's news release >

On June 22, 2021 — more than a year and a half after the STL Pipeline went into service — the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the FERC's approval of the STL Pipeline, ordering that its certificate of public convenience and necessity be vacated. EDF's challenge, and the D.C. Circuit opinion, unfortunately overlooks the substantial FERC record demonstrating multiple benefits, and operational reliability benefits for the Spire Missouri gas utility. 

STL Pipeline is working with FERC to prevent the disruption, and likely curtailment, of gas supply into the St. Louis region. STL Pipeline will also vigorously defend its FERC authorization to continue serving the important gas supply needs of the St. Louis region.

• Spire Missouri relies on the STL Pipeline to transport natural gas into the St. Louis region. Without STL Pipeline, Spire Missouri’s ability to secure new pipeline contracts on other systems serving the region is significantly constrained, making it impossible to replace that supply based on current market and operating conditions.

In 2015, Spire Missouri (the gas utility serving the St. Louis region) identified a critical need to address infrastructure resiliency and explore new supply options to meet customer needs in the Greater St. Louis region.

Natural gas is known for its reliability—no matter the weather. And so much of that reliability is thanks to a vast pipeline infrastructure.

Previously, Spire Missouri was heavily dependent on a single pipeline to serve the St. Louis region. That pipeline ran through the New Madrid fault zone, an area with the potential for severe and unpredictable earthquakes. Additionally, some of that pipeline’s energy source comes from Texas, which can face severe weather that can adversely impact the availability and cost of supply. 

At the same time, the natural gas supply landscape had changed dramatically with the development of natural gas resources in the Appalachian Basin. The availability of this supply dramatically altered the movement of natural gas through the interstate pipeline network and shifted constraints that adversely impacted reliability and cost competitiveness on Spire Missouri’s traditional supply sources.

Spire Missouri entered into discussions with several pipeline developers about a potential project to ensure continued delivery of reliable gas supply to the greater St. Louis region. When none of the project proposals met all of the needs for the region, Spire STL Pipeline was developed to fill the need through its 65-mile interstate pipeline that brings natural gas from the 1,700-mile Rockies Express (also known as, REX) Pipeline which spans eight states. 

By interconnecting with REX, With STL Pipeline’s interconnection to REX, the Greater St. Louis region is no longer singularly dependent on the Texas gas producing basins – which, after Winter Storm Uri, has shown to be less reliable.  Instead, STL Pipeline (through its interconnection with REX) provides a more diverse energy supply to the St. Louis region by directly accessing the Appalachian Basin as well as the Rocky Mountains producing region, ensuring that natural gas customers have abundant and reliable domestic supplies.

The energy supply diversity created by STL Pipeline allows Spire Missouri to take advantage of the most competitively-priced supply of natural gas from multiple producing regions. 

Following two years of thorough and rigorous regulatory review, the FERC approved a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity in 2018 authorizing the construction and operation of the Spire STL Pipeline. After approximately one year of construction, the Spire STL Pipeline began operations in November 2019. 

A New York-based environmental group, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), challenged FERC’s need determination in authorizing the STL Pipeline Project to serve St. Louis in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (D.C. Circuit).  

On June 22, 2021 -- more than a year and a half after the STL Pipeline went into service -- the D.C. Circuit ruled against the FERC's approval of the STL Pipeline, ordering that its FERC authorization be vacated and remanding the proceedings back to FERC. Importantly, the D.C. Circuit’s judgment does not take effect until after the expiration (or denial) of the Court’s opportunity to reconsider its decision.   

EDF’s challenge, and the D.C. Circuit opinion, unfortunately overlook the substantial FERC record demonstrating multiple benefits the STL Pipeline Project provided – including environmental benefits, diverse gas supply benefits, and operational reliability benefits for the Spire Missouri gas utility.

While the Court decision was aimed at actions taken by FERC, the ruling has significant implications on the ability for STL Pipeline to continue operations long-term, and consequently, on Spire Missouri customers throughout the St. Louis region.

STL Pipeline is working with FERC to prevent the disruption of gas supply into the St. Louis region.  

STL Pipeline will pursue all legal and regulatory avenues and remains committed to working with FERC to ensure that its pipeline continues to serve residents of eastern Missouri.

We are confident that when people have an opportunity to reexamine the benefits of the STL Pipeline, they will agree that there is a critical need for this important gas infrastructure to ensure reliable, affordable natural gas service for the people of eastern Missouri.