FERC staff issued a favorable draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the Golden Pass LNG Export Project in Texas proposed by Golden Pass Products LLC and Golden Pass Pipeline LLC.

The project would add to the existing Golden Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal three liquefaction trains, a truck unloading facility, refrigerant and condensate storage, safety and control systems, and associated infrastructure; supply dock and alternate marine delivery facilities; 2.6 miles of a 24-inch diameter pipeline loop adjacent to the existing Golden Pass pipeline; three new compressor stations; five new pipeline interconnections and modifications at existing pipeline interconnections; and miscellaneous appurtenant facilities.

The addition of liquefaction and export capability at Golden Pass would cause some environmental harms, but these could be reduced to acceptable levels with proposed and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff-recommended mitigation measures, staff said [CP14-517, CP14-518].

In 2014, Golden Pass Products, a joint venture of ExxonMobil Corp. (30%) and Qatar Petroleum International (70%), asked FERC for authority to construct and operate export facilities in Sabine Pass, TX (see Daily GPI, July 7, 2014). Golden Pass was approved for exports to free trade agreement countries in late 2012 (see Daily GPI, Oct. 9, 2012).

Comments on the DEIS are due at FERC by May 16.