Annova LNG reaches regulatory milestone

According to the statement, the issuance of the DEIS aligns with the estimated schedule outlined by the agency in August, and signals another major milestone for the project.

In the DEIS, FERC said: “with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIS and Annova’s proposed mitigation measures, impacts in the project area would be avoided or minimised and would not be significant.”

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

“Annova LNG is investing in electric motor-driven equipment to minimise 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.”

According to the statement, the project has updated its layout to create a 185 acre environmental conservation corridor and avoid affecting more than 100 acres of wetlands. In addition to this, the project is proposing to restore and enhance more than 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 built, and supplement on going efforts to restore critical estuarine habitat in the area.

Khayum added: “Annova LNG’s up-front actions demonstrate our commitment to the environment and to the community in which we plan to be a productive member for years to come. We continue to make steady progress.

“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 Corp. and Kiewit Corp., in addition to Exelon Corp.; and the US Army Corps of Engineers has resumed its permitting process.”

According to the estimated schedule that was outline by FERC in August, Annova LNG should receive its final environmental impact statement in 2Q19. In the statement, Annova LNG claims that it is estimating commercial operations to commence in 2024.

Khayum added: “This Draft EIS follows an extensive FERC review of Annova LNG’s application, coordination with stakeholder regulatory agencies, and hundreds of questions answered by our team of engineers.

“Given our efforts to minimise and mitigate our environmental impacts, including the use of electric motor-driven equipment that reduce regional air emissions significantly, we are confident that we have a project that meets or exceeds federal and state regulations.”

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/18122018/annova-lng-reaches-regulatory-milestone/