Staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a final environmental impact statement (EIS) on October 8 for the Cheniere liquefied natural gas export terminal in Texas and concluded that impacts would be avoided or minimized and would not be significant.

The FERC staff concluded that approval of the proposed Project, with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIS, would result in mostly temporary and short-term environmental impacts; however, some long-term and permanent environmental impacts would occur.

The project is proposed by Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC and Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline, L.P. All land-based facilities associated with the Project are in San Patricio County, Texas, with the marine facilities located in Nueces County, Texas.

The Project would enable Cheniere to export 2.1 billion standard cubic feet (Bscf) per day of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and import sufficient LNG volume to send out 400 million standard cubic feet (MMscf) per day of natural gas.

The Project would also include 23 miles of new 48-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline and two compressor stations which total 53,260 horsepower. Cheniere would install additional ancillary facilities along the pipeline including six meter stations, five mainline valves and a pig launcher and receiver.
FERC commissioners will take into consideration the staff's recommendations and comments received when they make a decision on the project.

In late September, the FERC authorized Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP to build the $3.4 billion Cove Point Liquefaction Project in Calvert County, Maryland, and related facilities at an existing compressor station and at metering and regulating sites in Virginia. The FERC’s September 29 action came after more than two years of consideration.