Docket Nos. CP16-454-000,CP16-455-000,CP20-481-000
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) to address the August 6, 2024 opinion issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (court) regarding the Commission’s environmental review of the Rio Grande LNG Terminal and Rio Bravo Pipeline Project (Rio Grande LNG Project) proposed by Rio Grande LNG, LLC and Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC. The court remanded the Commission’s April 21, 2023 Order on Remand and Amending Section 7 Certificate that approved the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and pipeline project.
The court found that FERC failed to issue a supplemental EIS consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act to discuss impacts on communities with environmental justice concerns, address why the Commission did not use data from a particular air quality monitor in the air analysis, and address a carbon capture and sequestration proposal. This draft supplemental EIS was prepared to assess the issues remanded by the court.
The purpose of the Rio Grande LNG Project is to develop, own, operate, and maintain a natural gas pipeline system to access natural gas from the Agua Dulce Hub and an LNG export facility in south Texas to export 27 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG that provides an additional source of firm, long-term, and competitively priced LNG to the global market. The Rio Grande LNG Terminal Project purpose also includes providing LNG for truck transport and for fueling operations.
The draft supplemental EIS was prepared in accordance with the requirements of NEPA and the Commission’s implementing regulations under Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 380 (18 CFR pt. 380).
FERC staff continues to conclude that project impacts on communities with environmental justice concerns would be disproportionate and adverse because they would be predominately borne by the communities with environmental justice concerns identified and, specifically, communities in the areas near the Rio Grande LNG Terminal may experience significant cumulative visual impacts. Specific to air quality impacts, we clarify that the project’s air quality impacts on communities with environmental justice concerns would also be disproportionate and adverse; however, air quality impacts near the Rio Grande LNG Terminal would not be significant. Specific to the RB Pipeline, we identify potential significant air quality impacts on communities with environmental justice concerns near Compressor Station 1 and have requested refined modeling to clarify those findings. For all other resources, FERC staff continues to conclude that approval of the projects would result in less than significant impacts, with implementation of the environmental conditions set forth in the Commission’s prior authorizations for the project, and the additional mitigation measures recommended in the draft supplemental EIS. Furthermore, staff does not recommend the CCS Alternative.
The draft supplemental EIS comment period closes at 5:00pm Eastern Time on May 19, 2025.