The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Oct. 15 proposed rules allowing certain LNG plant activities to proceed without case-specific authorization orders and separately proposed changes to its review of operational air-quality effects from gas pipelines and other projects.

The proposals would accelerate infrastructure development by streamlining authorizations and reducing duplicative environmental reviews.

FERC unanimously proposed a blanket authorization program for eligible LNG plant activities modeled on the commission's blanket certificate program for interstate natural gas pipelines, which has operated for about 40 years.

Under the three-tier framework, LNG developers could gain authorization for major construction projects, including new liquefaction trains, storage tanks, and marine berths, following a 90-day notice-and-protest period. Eligible projects could extend beyond an existing plant's footprint but permanently occupy no more than 25 acres of previously disturbed or developed land or waterways in industrially zoned or unzoned areas. Developers also would be required to use the same or upgraded versions of equipment previously evaluated and authorized at the terminal.

Projects that increase authorized capacity while remaining within an existing footprint and equipment design limits could gain authorization after a 60-day notice period.

Other activities would qualify for automatic authorization, subject to notification and reporting requirements, provided they would not increase authorized capacity, expand the plant footprint, or exceed equipment design limits.

Unlike the existing pipeline blanket certificate program, the LNG proposal contains no dollar limits on eligible projects.

FERC will accept comments for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Air permitting requirements

FERC also issued a draft policy statement that would change how it evaluates operational air-quality effects from natural gas pipelines and other projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Under the proposal, FERC would stop requiring applicants to submit air-dispersion modeling and would no longer use the modeling in its NEPA reviews of operational air-quality effects.

Federal and state regulators already assess air emissions under the Clean Air Act, FERC said. The commission said it could instead rely on information from applicants and staff to disclose potential air-quality effects without duplicating those reviews.

The change would focus NEPA analyses on matters within FERC's statutory authority and avoid overlap with air-quality regulators, the commission said. Comments on the draft policy statement are due Nov. 16.

Louisiana LNG pipeline actions

At the same meeting, FERC amended Louisiana LNG's permits to add an interconnection and receipt meter station linking the export terminal to the Kinder Morgan Louisiana interstate natural gas pipeline system.

Louisiana LNG said the interconnection would provide the Calcasieu Parish, La., plant, now under construction, with an additional gas supply source sooner than some alternatives.

Project operator Woodside reported in August that the initial phase was 28% complete, with three trains and two storage tanks under construction. First LNG remains targeted for 2029.