FERC Releases Final EIS for the Rio Grande LNG Project

FERC has released the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Rio Grande LNG project consisting of a liquefaction and LNG export terminal facilities in Cameron County, Texas, and an interconnected feeder pipeline. The final EIS “concludes that construction and operation of the Rio Grande LNG Project would result in some adverse environmental impacts, but these impacts would be reduced to less than significant levels. However, the Rio Grande LNG Project, combined with other projects within the geographic scope, including the Texas LNG and Annova LNG Projects, would contribute to potential significant cumulative impacts from construction noise during nighttime pile-driving; sediment/turbidity and shoreline erosion within the Brownsville Ship Channel during operations from vessel transits; on the federally listed ocelot and jaguarundi from habitat loss and potential for increased vehicular strikes during construction; on the federally listed northern aplomado falcon from habitat loss in combination with past actions; and on visual resources from the presence of aboveground structures. Construction and operation of the Rio Grande LNG Project would result in mostly temporary or short-term environmental impacts; however, some long-term and permanent environmental impacts would occur.”