Annova’s Texas LNG export project gets positive FERC DEIS

Annova LNG’s proposed Brownsville liquefied natural gas export project in Texas received its draft environmental impact statement prepared by the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

The issuance aligns with the estimated schedule the agency outlined in August and propels the project through another significant milestone, according to Annova LNG.

The FERC DEIS said in reference to the project’s overall environmental impact, “with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIS and Annova’s proposed mitigation measures, impacts in the Project area would be avoided or minimized and would not be significant.”

“Annova LNG is pleased FERC has acknowledged our proactive approach towards minimizing and offsetting the project’s environmental impacts,” said Omar Khayum, Annova LNG CEO.

“Annova LNG is investing in electric motor-driven equipment to minimize air emissions, restoring former wetlands in the project vicinity to more than offset wetlands impacts, and actively contributing to efforts to protect the ocelot and other wildlife, including establishing a wildlife corridor on the project site,” he said.

The project has modified its layout to create a 185-acre environmental conservation corridor and avoid impacting over 100 acres of wetlands. Further, the project proposes to restore and enhance over 250 acres of wetlands and shallow water habitat.

These proposed 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, the statement said.

“We continue to make steady progress,” said Khayum. “In just the past few months, Annova LNG has received its FERC Notice of Schedule and FERC Draft EIS; expanded the team of world-class equity owners to include Black & Veatch Corporation and Kiewit Corporation, in addition to Exelon Corporation; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has resumed its permitting process.”

According to the estimated schedule FERC outlined in August, Annova LNG should receive its final environmental impact statement in the second quarter of 2019.

Annova LNG estimates commercial operations to begin in 2024.