Texas enviro agency approves NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG project

US LNG export project developer, NextDecade said that its proposed Rio Grande LNG export project in South Texas has received a series of air permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

During a meeting on Wednesday, TCEQ Commissioners voted to issue Air Quality Permit No. 104792, PSD Air Quality Permit No. PSDTX1498, and GHGPSD Air Quality Permit No. GHGPSDTX158, according to a NextDecade statement.

In addition, all requests for hearing and a motion for reconsideration were denied, it said.

The 27 mtpa Rio Grande LNG project also remains subject to review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which is the primary and coordinating agency responsible for the permitting of U.S. LNG projects.

FERC issued a draft environmental impact statement on the Rio Grande LNG project and associated Rio Bravo Pipeline on October 12, 2018.

A final EIS will be issued on April 26, 2019. FERC has established a 90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline of July 25, 2019.

NextDecade said it expects to make a final investment decision on the project in the third quarter of 2019.