Activists stepping up effort to block LNG projects in the Valley
Environmentalists are stepping up efforts to sink three liquefied natural gas export terminals proposed for the Rio Grande Valley after federal officials released their third and final environmental review for each of the projects.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission released a 452-page draft environmental impact statement on Friday morning for Exelon's proposed Annova LNG project at the Port of Brownsville. The Chicago-based company is seeking permission to build an $3 billion LNG export terminal at the South Texas waterway.
As part of the federal permit application process, FERC’s draft report kicks off a public comment period that ends on Feb. 4. It also requires a public comment session, which will take place at the Port Isabel Convention Center on Jan. 10.
Regulators will take comments received about the draft report to put together a final environmental impact statement that will be released in April 2019. That final report will be used in July 2019 to decide if the proposed project receives the required federal permit.
The draft environmental report cites concerns about increased ship traffic, air emissions, construction noise, the site’s impact on endangered species such as the ocelot and jaguarundi and the LNG plant’s proximity to SpaceX’s rocket launch site at nearby Boca Chica Beach. FERC officials gave Exelon a list of 124 items to mitigate environmental impacts. Among the report’s recommendations is halting construction and LNG production during rocket launches.
Annova LNG CEO Omar Khayum said the company is investing in electric motor-driven equipment to minimize air emissions and noise. The company has modified the layout of its 185-acre site to preserve 100 acres of wetlands and has pledged to restore and enhance an additional 250 acres of nearby wetlands.
“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,” Khayum said.
The company began the FERC application process in July 2016. If its federal permit is approved, Annova LNG would take natural gas from Agua Dulce hub near Corpus Christi, liquefy it and ship it to customers around the world. The proposed facility would support an average of 700 construction jobs over a four-year period and require 165 full-time jobs to operate and maintain the plant upon completion.
Working under the banner Save RGV From LNG, a coalition of environmentalists, shrimpers, fishermen and nearby communities opposes Annova LNG and two similar projects proposed at the Port of Brownsville by Houstonbased companies NextDecade and Rio Grande LNG. Coalition members have vowed to flood FERC with comments opposing the projects and pack public meetings to voice their opposition.
“Texans from across the state have already submitted thousands of comments in opposition to the draft environmental impact statement for Rio Grande LNG and the Rio Bravo Pipeline, and that same level of opposition exists for Texas LNG and Annova LNG,” Save RGV From LNG organizer Rebekah Hinojosa said in a statement.
“Local communities have been opposing these projects for several years to prevent these companies from industrializing and polluting our pristine coastline to export fracked gas overseas.”