FERC staff said Thursday it plans to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Louisiana Connector Extension project, which would provide about 2.5 Bcf/d to supply Sempra Energy’s Port Arthur Liquefaction project in Texas.

Port Arthur Pipeline LLC (PAPL) has proposed construction of a 166-mile long, 48-inch diameter natural gas pipeline in Allen, Evangeline, Rapides, Grant, La Salle, Catahoula, Franklin and Richland parishes in Louisiana [PF19-6]. The project would also include construction of a 15-mile long header system with various diameters of pipeline, new compressor stations in Allen and Richland parishes, and as many as eight new interconnects and meter stations in Beauregard and Richland parishes.

The Port Arthur Liquefaction project, along with the Port Arthur Texas Connector project and the Louisiana Connector project, were authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission earlier this year [CP17-20, CP17-21, CP18-7].

The Port Arthur LNG terminal would export an estimated 13.5 million metric tons/year (mmty) from the site of a previously approved but unbuilt import terminal. Both the Louisiana Connector and the 34-mile, 42-inch diameter Texas Connector would feed the LNG terminal.

The Port Arthur project would include two liquefaction trains capable of processing about 11 mmty of LNG, up to three LNG storage tanks and associated facilities. Although Sempra has yet to make a FID on the project, the company said last year that cargoes would be supplied beginning in 2023.

FERC is accepting public comments on the scope of issues to address in the EIS through Oct. 7. In addition, public scoping sessions are scheduled Sept. 23 in Winnsboro, LA, and Sept. 24 in Sulphur, LA.