FERC has issued a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed Port Arthur, TX Liquefaction Project and interrelated Texas Connector Project and Louisiana Connector Project.

Staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission concluded that construction and operation of the projects “would result in some adverse environmental impacts, but these impacts would be reduced to less-than-significant levels.”

FERC will accept comments on the DEIS through Nov. 19.

Sempra Energy began the prefiling process for the Port Arthur LNG project and associated natural gas pipelines in March 2015 [CP17-20].

The project would include two liquefaction trains, each with a total export capability of 6.73 million metric tons/year (mmty); two 160,000-cubic-meter storage tanks; marine facilities for vessel berthing and loading; natural gas liquids and refrigerant storage; feed gas pre-treatment; truck loading and unloading areas; and combustion turbine generators for self-generation of electricity.

Last year, Sempra’s Port Arthur Pipeline LLC requested that FERC issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity for its proposed $1.2 billion Louisiana Connector Project, which would supply feed gas to the Port Arthur facility [CP18-7]. Plans call for construction of 131 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline, with a capacity of 2 MMcf/d. It also includes a compressor station in Allen Parish, LA, interconnections with eight interstate and intrastate natural gas facilities, and other appurtenant facilities.

The Texas Connector Project would include 34 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline to bring feed gas to liquefaction facilities [CP17-21].

Last month, FERC issued environmental schedules for a dozen pending LNG terminal projects, including Port Arthur. FERC also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to coordinate the siting and safety review of FERC-jurisdictional LNG facilities.

The Port Arthur DEIS comes two weeks after FERC issued a DEIS for the Driftwood LNG project, which calls for construction and operation of a 26 mmty LNG export facility near Lake Charles, LA, and a 96-mile pipeline connecting the facility to interstate pipelines.