Annova LNG clears environmental hurdle

Annova LNG said it has received its final environmental impact statement (EIS) from the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), clearing a new milestone for its Brownsville project.

The cooperating agencies included U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Federal Aviation Administration.

Annova LNG also consulted with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission throughout the review process, the statement reads.

The FERC EIS said in reference to the project’s overall environmental impact, “we conclude that impacts on the environment from the proposed project would be reduced to less than significant levels with the implementation of Annova’s proposed impact avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures and the additional measures recommended by FERC staff.”

Annova LNG has modified its layout to create a 185-acre environmental conservation corridor and avoid impacting over 100 acres of wetlands, designed with ocelots in mind. In addition, Annova LNG will restore and enhance over 250 acres of wetlands and shallow water habitat.

These efforts would restore tidal exchange and estuarine habitat lost when the Brownsville ship channel and State Highway 48 were constructed and supplement ongoing efforts to restore critical estuarine habitat in the area, Annova LNG said.

Annova LNG is a 6.0 MTPA liquefied natural gas export facility under development at the Port of Brownsville, Texas.