NextDecade said that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) voted to issue air permits to its Rio Grande LNG project in South Texas.
Image: TCEQ commissioners vote to approve air permits for NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG Project. Photo: courtesy of Carlo San/Freeimages.com.
NextDecade president and CEO Matt Schatzman said: “We appreciate the TCEQ’s commitment to the review of our project and are pleased to achieve another significant milestone in our efforts to deliver a safe and reliable LNG facility.
“We look forward to bringing thousands of jobs to the Rio Grande Valley and communities throughout the State of Texas, and to facilitating access to clean-burning, U.S.-produced natural gas for our customers around the world.”
During today’s meeting, TCEQ Commissioners voted to issue Air Quality Permit No. 104792, PSD Air Quality Permit No. PSDTX1498, and GHGPSD Air Quality Permit No. GHGPSDTX158. In addition, all requests for hearing and a motion for reconsideration were denied.
The 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 (“EIS”) 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 anticipates a final investment decision on the project in the third quarter of 2019.
Source: Company Press Release