NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG issued final EIS by FERC

NextDecade informed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for its Rio Grande liquified natural gas (LNG) project in Brownsville.

The final EIS has also been issued for the associated Rio Bravo Pipeline to originate in the Agua Dulce area.

The FERC’s process includes a detailed review of the environmental, engineering, social, and other elements of proposed projects.

Matt Schatzman, NextDecade’s president and CEO, “the Final Environmental Impact Statement is a culmination of several years of analysis and cooperation with FERC staff and multiple federal, state, and local agencies and other stakeholders.”

With the FEIS issuance, the FERC has established a 90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline of July 25, 2019.

Pending the achievement of further commercial milestones and receipt of a FERC order, NextDecade anticipates making a positive final investment decision on up to three trains (Phase I) of the Rio Grande LNG project by the end of the third quarter of 2019.

Rio Grande LNG is a proposed 27 mtpa LNG export facility to be located on a 984-acre site on the Brownsville Ship Channel in South Texas and will be constructed in phases.

The approximately 137-mile proposed Rio Bravo Pipeline will supply the facility with its feedgas, connecting it to the Agua Dulce natural gas supply area.