Last Friday (Apr19) Annova LNG received its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a significant milestone in the development process for the Annova LNG Brownsville Project.
“We appreciate the extensive reviews conducted by FERC and the cooperating agencies,” said Omar Khayum, CEO, Annova LNG. “We are pleased they recognize our proactive approach to minimizing our impact on the environment, including investing in mitigation that is above and beyond what is required by local, state and federal regulations.”
The cooperating agencies included U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Federal Aviation Administration. Annova LNG also consulted with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission throughout the review process.
The FERC EIS said in reference to the project’s overall environmental impact, “We conclude that impacts on the environment from the proposed Project would be reduced to less than significant levels with the implementation of Annova’s proposed impact avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures and the additional measures recommended by FERC staff.”
“From moving the entire site to accommodate an ocelot corridor, to using electric motor-driven equipment to minimize air emissions, Annova LNG has demonstrated its continued commitment to operating the Annova LNG project in an environmentally responsible manner,” Khayum added.
Annova LNG has modified its layout to create a 185-acre environmental conservation corridor and avoid impacting over 100 acres of wetlands, designed with ocelots in mind. In addition, Annova LNG will restore and enhance over 250 acres of wetlands and shallow water habitat. These efforts would restore tidal exchange and estuarine habitat lost when the Brownsville Ship Channel and State Highway 48 were constructed and supplement ongoing efforts to restore critical estuarine habitat in the area.
“We also recognize FERC’s tremendous efforts to streamline the LNG review process, as FERC maintained its published schedule for the project, despite reopening the public comment period to allow additional time due to the federal government shutdown,” said Khayum. “This milestone is a significant contributor to the commercial development of the Annova LNG project.”
Annova LNG would support an average of approximately 700 on-site jobs over a four-year period. Upon completion of the facility, Annova LNG would employ approximately 165 permanent full-time workers to run and manage the plant.
Source: Annova LNG