Tacoma LNG facility under supplemental environment review

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency determined that a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) is required for the LNG facility in Tacoma being built by Puget Sound Energy.

The project would include an LNG bunkering according to an application by the proponent which includes details on associated improvements to the existing PSE natural gas distribution system that delivers natural gas from the Williams natural gas pipeline to the LNG facility.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency said in its statement that it has continued to review the Notice of Construction (NOC) application for the LNG facility, determining a supplemental environmental impact statement is required to identify and analyze greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and impacts for the project.

There will be no optional scoping for the SEIS. The agency will hire a consultant to prepare the SEIS. Public comment opportunities will be provided for the draft SEIS when it has been prepared.

The SEIS will supplement the air and cumulative impacts sections of the City of Tacoma’s FEIS, specifically related to GHGs, to include quantitative analysis of the emissions throughout the fuel life cycle.

The agency has not yet started the comment period.

To remind, the Tacoma LNG facility will provide liquefied natural gas as fuel for TOTE’s vessels traveling between Tacoma and Alaska.