FERC releases final EIS for Cameron LNG project

April 30, 2014
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Apr. 30 released its final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Cameron Liquefaction Project, proposed by Cameron LNG LLC and Cameron Interstate Pipeline, concluding that construction and operation would result in some adverse environmental impacts.

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Apr. 30 released its final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Cameron Liquefaction Project, proposed by Cameron LNG LLC and Cameron Interstate Pipeline, concluding that construction and operation would result in some adverse environmental impacts.

FERC said, however, that those impacts would be reduced to “less-than-significant levels” by implementing Cameron’s proposed minimization and mitigation measures and the additional measures recommended by FERC in the EIS, which stipulated as follows:

• Cameron Interstate would collocate 100% of the pipeline with existing rights-of-way.

• The project would be consistent with or in conformance with federal authorizations, including the Coastal Zone Management Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act.

• Cameron would implement resource or activity-specific plans, procedures, and agreements to protect natural resources, avoid or limit environmental impacts, and promote restoration of all disturbed areas during construction and operation of the project.

• The use of the HDD method would avoid disturbances to a number of wetlands and major waterbodies along the route.

• The appropriate consultations with the FWS, COE, SHPOs, and any appropriate compliance actions resulting from these consultations, would be completed before Cameron would begin construction in any given area.

• An environmental inspection program would be implemented to ensure compliance with all mitigation measures, certificate conditions, and other stipulations included in permits from other authorizing federal, state, and local agencies.

Cameron plans to construct three separate systems that liquefy natural gas; one 160,000-cu m, full-containment LNG storage tank; refrigerant make-up and condensate product storage; a truck loading/unloading area; one marine work dock; minor modifications to existing terminal facilities; 21 miles of 42-in. pipeline; one 56,820-hp compressor station; and ancillary facilities.

The proposed project in Cameron, Calcasieu, and Beauregard Parishes, La., would provide Cameron the capability to export 12 million tons/year of LNG.

The US Department of Energy in February conditionally approved LNG exports from the Cameron LNG terminal to countries that do not have a free-trade agreement with the US (OGJ Online, Feb. 11, 2014). A month later, Cameron let a $6 billion engineering, procurement, and construction contract to CB&I and Chiyoda International Corp. to build the Hackberry, La. export plant (OGJ Online, Mar. 17, 2014).