The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has authorised Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC, under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), to construct and operate its proposed liquefaction project.
On 31 August 2012, Corpus Christi Liquefaction, a subsidiary of Cheniere Energy, filed an application to site, construct and operate LNG import and export facilities on the Northern Shore of Corpus Christi Bay in San Patricio and Nueces Counties, Texas.
On the same date, Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline L.P. (Cheniere Pipeline) filed an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct and operate a 23 mile long, 48 in dia. pipeline in San Patricio County, Texas, to transport natural gas bi-directionally between the Liquefaction Project and existing interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline systems.
A statement on FERC’s website read: “We conclude that, with the conditions required herein, Corpus Christi Liquefaction’s project results in minimal environmental impacts and can be constructed and operated safely. Accordingly, we find that, subject to the conditions imposed in this order, Corpus Christi Liquefaction’s proposal is not inconsistent with the public interest. We will also authorize Cheniere Pipeline’s proposal under section 7(c) of the NGA to construct and operate the Pipeline Project. Based on the benefits the Pipeline Project will provide and the minimal adverse impacts on existing customers, other pipelines and their customers, and landowners and surrounding communities, we find, consistent with the Certificate Policy Statement and section 7(c) of the NGA, that Cheniere Pipeline’s proposal […] is required by the public convenience and necessity.
“The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) concludes that if the project is constructed and operated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, the project will result in some adverse environmental impacts. However, the impacts described in the final EIS will be reduced to less than significant levels with the implementation of Corpus Christi Liquefaction’s and Cheniere Pipeline’s proposed mitigation and Commission staff’s recommendations which this order adopts as conditions.”
Adapted from press release by Callum O'Reilly