Friday, January 2, 2015

THE U.S. FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION HAS AUTHORIZED CHENIERE TO SITE, CONSTRUCT, AND OPERATE LNG EXPORT AND IMPORT FACILITIES ON THE NORTHERN SHORE OF CORPUS CHRISTI BAY IN SAN PATRICIO AND NUECES COUNTIES, TEXAS. THE APPROVED PROJECT IS SUBJECT TO 104 CONDITIONS.



The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has authorized Cheniere to site, construct, and operate LNG export and import facilities on the northern shore of Corpus Christi Bay in San Patricio and Nueces Counties, Texas.  THE APPROVED PROJECT IS SUBJECT TO 104 CONDITIONS.





The application was filed on August 31, 2012, together with an application to construct and operate a 23-mile-long, 48-inch-diameter pipeline to transport natural gas bi-directionally between the liquefaction project and existing interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline systems.




FERC concluded in its filing that Corpus Christi liquefaction’s project results in minimal environmental impacts and can be constructed and operated safely.



Cheniere recently engaged 18 financial institutions to act as Joint Lead Arrangers to assist in the structuring and arranging of up to $11.5 billion of debt facilities.




The Corpus Christi Liquefaction project would have a capacity of approximately 15 mtpa of LNG through three liquefaction trains. It would include three 160,000 m3 LNG tanks capable of storing 10.1 Bcf, and will have a maximum continuous regasification rate of 2.6 Bcf/d.



_____________________________________________
 



149 FERC 61,283

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Before Commissioners: Cheryl A. LaFleur, Chairman;



Philip D. Moeller, Tony Clark, and Norman C. Bay.







Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC



Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline, L.P.







Docket Nos. CP12-507-000



CP12-508-000







ORDER GRANTING AUTHORIZATION UNDER SECTION 3 OF THE NATURAL GAS ACT AND ISSUING CERTIFICATES







(Issued December 30, 2014)







1.   On August 31, 2012, in Docket No. CP12-507-000, Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC (Corpus Christi Liquefaction) filed an application for authority under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA)[1] and Part 153 of the Commission’s regulations[2] to site, construct, and operate liquefied natural gas (LNG) export and import facilities (Liquefaction Project) on the northern shore of Corpus Christi Bay in San Patricio and Nueces Counties, Texas.







2.   On August 31, 2012, in Docket No. CP12-508-000, Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline, L.P. (Cheniere Pipeline) filed an application under NGA section 7(c)[3] and Parts 157 and 284 of the Commission’s regulations[4] for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct and operate a 23-mile-long, 48-inch-diameter pipeline in San Patricio County, Texas (Pipeline Project)[5] to transport natural gas bi-directionally between the Liquefaction Project and existing interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline systems.







3.   For the reasons discussed in detail below, we will authorize Corpus Christi Liquefaction’s proposal under section 3 of the NGA to construct and operate the Liquefaction Project. We conclude that, with the conditions required herein, Corpus Christi Liquefaction’s project results in minimal environmental impacts and can be constructed and operated safely. Accordingly, we find that, subject to the conditions imposed in this order, Corpus Christi Liquefaction’s proposal is not inconsistent with the public interest. We will also authorize Cheniere Pipeline’s proposal under section 7(c) of the NGA to construct and operate the Pipeline Project. Based on the benefits the Pipeline Project will provide and the minimal adverse impacts on existing customers, other pipelines and their customers, and landowners and surrounding communities, we find, consistent with the Certificate Policy Statement and section 7(c) of the NGA, that Cheniere Pipeline’s proposal, as conditioned below, is required by the public convenience and necessity.  The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) concludes that if the project is constructed and operated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, the project will result in some adverse environmental impacts. However, the impacts described in the final EIS will be reduced to less-than-significant levels with the implementation of Corpus Christi Liquefaction’s and Cheniere Pipeline’s proposed mitigation and Commission staff’s recommendations, which this order adopts as conditions.[6]










[1] 15 U.S.C. § 717b (2012).  


[2] 18 C.F.R. pt. 153 (2014).  


[3] 15 U.S.C. § 717f (2012).  


[4] 18 C.F.R. pts. 157, Subpart F and 284, Subpart G (2014).  


[5] We refer to the Liquefaction Project and Pipeline Project together as “the project” in this order.

[6] The authorizations issued to Corpus Christi Liquefaction and Cheniere Pipeline herein are subject to the 104 conditions set forth in the attached Appendix A.