Docket No. CP22-21 et al.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) to address the November 27, 2024 Order Addressing Arguments Raised on Rehearing And Setting Aside Prior Order, In Part (Rehearing Order) issued by the Commission for the CP2 LNG and CP Express Pipeline Project (Project), proposed by Venture Global CP2 LNG, LLC (CP2 LNG) and Venture Global CP Express, LLC (CP Express).
The Rehearing Order set aside the Authorization order, in part, regarding the Commission’s analysis of the cumulative air quality impacts specific to the Project’s nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to 2.5 microns (PM2.5) emissions, for the purpose of conducting additional environmental review in light of an opinion issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (see Healthy Gulf v. FERC, 107 F.4th 1033 (D.C. Cir. 2024)). This draft supplemental EIS was prepared to assess these issues as part of the Commission’s consideration of a further merits order for the Project.
CP2 LNG and CP Express are seeking authorization to construct, install, own, operate, and maintain certain liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Cameron Parish, Louisiana and certain pipeline facilities in Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes, Louisiana and Jasper and Newton Counties, Texas. CP2 LNG states that the purpose of the proposed project is to liquefy, store, and export a nameplate liquefaction capacity of 20 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG, with approximately 28.0 MTPA capacity possible under optimal conditions, to overseas markets by ocean-going vessels. CP Express states that the purpose of the pipeline system (about 91 miles) is to create the firm transportation capacity needed to transport 4 billion cubic feet per day of feed gas required for the proposed LNG export operations from natural gas supply points in east Texas and southwest Louisiana to the Terminal Facilities.
The draft supplemental EIS was prepared in compliance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the FERC regulations implementing NEPA under Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 380 (18 CFR 380).
Commission staff conclude that the emission impacts, including 1-hour NO2 and annual PM2.5 impacts from the Moss Lake Compressor Station and CP2 LNG Terminal, when combined with past, present, and reasonably foreseeable emissions within the regional air environment are not significant. As such, we conclude that there would be no significant cumulative air quality impacts.
The draft supplemental EIS comment period closes at 5:00 pm Eastern Time on March 31, 2025.