The Pipeline They Never Told Us About

A Fight for Answers

When CO₂ Chronicles first began reporting on the Williams pipeline project, most residents had never even heard of the Louisiana Energy Gateway (LEG) or the Gillis Treatment Plant. Now, thanks to months of research and public records, the truth is clear — and it raises questions every citizen deserves answered.

The Question No One Will Ask in Baton Rouge

How much did our elected officials know? And why didn’t they warn the people of Beauregard Parish before allowing Williams to build a massive gas line that will bring in CO₂-rich gas, strip it down, and vent the excess into our air?

FERC quietly ruled that Williams’ project would operate without federal oversight, shifting all responsibility to the state. Then state legislators — including some who claim to stand for landowners — voted for laws that cemented industry’s power instead of protecting communities.

So we ask again: Where were they when the people needed answers?

October 14 — Ragley, Louisiana

At the public meeting on October 14, concerned citizens filled the room. Families, farmers, and local leaders gathered to learn about the significance of this project, as well as other planned initiatives for our parish, focusing on water, land, and children. Not one elected official showed up, other than local police jury members.

No state representative. No senator. ONLY police jury members.

Are we now standing alone in this fight — the people of Beauregard Parish against billion-dollar corporations and their political allies?

What Really Happened — In Simple Terms

1. The Williams Pipeline: What It Is

Williams built a huge pipeline system called the Louisiana Energy Gateway (LEG). It runs from north Louisiana (Haynesville Shale) down through Sabine and Beauregard Parishes to a new gas treatment plant in Gillis (Beauregard Parish).

The purpose:

• Gather natural gas that has too much CO₂ in it.
• Ship it to Beauregard.
• Strip the CO₂ out so the gas meets export standards for Cameron LNG.
• Send the “clean” gas to the coast for export.
• Dump or “vent” the removed CO₂ here in Beauregard until (or unless) storage wells are ready.

2. The FERC Decision: Why It Matters

Normally, interstate pipelines (those that cross state lines or carry gas to export markets) must go through FERC — the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

FERC requires:

• Public notice and hearings
• Environmental studies
• Landowner protections and compensation processes
• Federal safety oversight

But Williams’ lawyers found a loophole. They argued that the LEG system isn’t an interstate transmission pipeline — it’s just a “gathering” system.

That argument won.

FERC ruled that Williams’ project is not under federal jurisdiction, meaning:

• No federal environmental review
• No federal landowner protections
• No federal safety oversight

All regulation now falls to Louisiana’s state agencies, which are heavily influenced by the same oil and gas lobby that pushed this project.

In other words, Beauregard Parish lost federal protection the moment FERC stepped aside.

3. What That Means for Beauregard Residents

Here’s what people should understand in real-world terms:

Air Pollution:
 The Gillis Treatment Plant will strip out over a million tons of CO₂ per year (1,334,400 tons by estimate). Until Class VI sequestration wells are operational, much of that gas will be vented or flared into the atmosphere right here in Beauregard.

Water Risk:
 Once Class VI wells come online, the CO₂ will be injected underground — potentially under or near aquifers that supply local water wells. If those wells leak, CO₂ and brine migration can contaminate drinking water.

Explosion and Safety Risk:
 The LEG system runs high-pressure gas lines (30–42 inches wide) under the parish. If anything ruptures or ignites, the blast radius could reach homes, farms, and schools.

Property Rights and Value:
 Because this is now classified as a “gathering system,” residents have no federal eminent domain appeal. Companies can negotiate easements quietly and cheaply, often under state “common carrier” laws that favor the pipeline.

No Community Benefit:
 Williams doesn’t qualify for the 45Q tax credit (because it’s venting the CO₂), but they’ll still get paid by Cameron LNG for cleaning up the gas. The profits leave the parish; the emissions stay.

What Rep. Brett Geymann Could Have Done

Brett Geymann represents this region and sits in a position of influence. Here’s what he could — and should — have done:

Sound the Alarm:
 He could have alerted Beauregard residents when FERC announced it would not oversee the project. That decision effectively handed control to the state and industry, removing environmental and public safety oversight. This was done in 2024.

Hold Local Hearings:
 Geymann could have called for public information meetings with Williams and DENR (Department of Energy & Natural Resources) before construction began — giving residents a voice.

Push for Safety Conditions:
 He could have demanded air monitoring, water testing, and emergency response funding tied to any state permit.

Introduce Legislative Oversight Bills:
 He could have joined the legislators fighting for bills to require parish approval before CO₂ wells are drilled, mandate full disclosure of emissions and injection plans, and block projects until emergency plans are in place.

Instead, silence.
And silence, in this case, means consent — because the pipeline and treatment plant moved forward without public debate.

The Bigger Picture

The pattern you’re exposing is clear:

CO₂-rich gas is shipped to rural parishes, where it’s “cleaned up” out of sight and mind.
The profits flow to Houston and Wall Street.
The pollution and long-term risks stay with Beauregard parish families.
And the politicians — both state and federal — keep calling it progress.

Our Commitment

The CO₂ Chronicles will continue to investigate:

• Williams’ permitting trail
• FERC’s classification decision
• Every state-level approval that allowed this to happen

When the truth is exposed, the people win.