NextDecade Corp.has launched a competitive engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) bid process for its Rio Grande LNG project, and has issued formal invitations to bid to Bechtel Corp.,Fluor Corp.andMcDermott International Inc.On Friday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued environmental schedules for Rio Grande and 11 other pending LNG export terminal projects. According to the order, FERC expects to issue a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for Rio Grande next month and a final EIS in April 2019. Assuming a favorable FERC order, NextDecade anticipates a final investment decision on the project in 3Q2019.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commissionsaid it will prepare an environmental assessment for the proposed D’Lo Natural Gas Storage Project Amendment [CP18-524]. The project would involve construction and operation of facilities owned by Lafayette, LA-based D’Lo Gas Storage LLCin Rankin and Simpson counties, MS, and would provide about 1.2 Bcf/d of withdrawal and 0.59 Bcf/d of injection capacity. Project revisions include eliminating theGulf SouthInterconnect Lateral and Gulf South meter facilities, as well as the relocation of two primary source water wells and two primary brine disposal wells. Comments will be accepted through Sept. 26.

Cayce, SC-based Scana Corp. said its proposed merger with Dominion Energy Inc. took a step forward after the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the indirect transfer of three nuclear power plant licenses from a Scana subsidiary to Dominion. The merger, valued at $14.6 billion, remains contingent upon approvals from the public service commissions of South Carolina and North Carolina, among other conditions.

In a court-ordered review, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concluded that the Dakota Access Pipeline poses “no significant potential impact” to nearby hunting and fishing resources, and its crossing of the Missouri River does not create a “disproportionately high and adverse” risk to nearby Native American tribes, some of whom oppose the $3.8 billion, 1,200-mile crude oil pipeline. A federal judge ordered the review in June 2017, but allowed the pipeline to continue operations. Sponsor Energy Transfer Partners LP reported this June that the pipe, which has transported more than 100 million bbl, is moving 500,000 b/d, or close to half of the Bakken Shale’s daily production.

Enbridge Energy Partners LP and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa have reached an agreement to replace the Line 3 crude oil pipeline, which traverses the band’s reservation in northeast Minnesota. Financial terms were not disclosed. The agreement gives Enbridge easements for six existing oil pipelines through 2039. Line 3 was built in the 1960s and carries Canadian crude from Alberta through North Dakota and Minnesota to Enbridge’s terminal in Superior, WI.