Docket Nos. CP26-82-000, CP26-87-000, CP18-513
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage 4 and the CCPL Expansion Project (or Projects), proposed by Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage IV, LLC and Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC (together CCL Stage IV) and Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline, L.P. (CCPL) (collectively, the Applicants).
CCL Stage 4 Project
Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage IV, LLC and Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC (together CCL Stage IV) propose to expand the existing CCL Terminal on the La Quinta Ship Channel in San Patricio and Nueces Counties, Texas by: (1) constructing four new liquefaction trains (Trains 4, 5, 6 and 7) with a maximum liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction capacity of approximately 1,200 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/y), (2) constructing two 220,000 cubic meters (m3) LNG storage tanks, (3) constructing Marine Facilities including a new marine berth; a new jetty approach trestle with associated roadway and pipeway, and a loading platform with associated LNG transfer arms; and one new marine offloading facility, (4) constructing three multi-point ground flares and one enclosed marine ground flare, (5) constructing a third marine terminal that would accommodate LNG carrier (LNGC) vessels with cargo capacity up to approximately 200,000 m3, (6) constructing a terminal supply line (48-inch-diameter, approximately 1-mile-long pipeline) connecting the Stage 4 Custody Meter Station to the existing CCL Terminal custody meter station, and (7) installing associated infrastructure. Operation of the CCL Stage 4 Project would increase the number of LNGC vessels from 480 to 870 LNGC carriers per year (an addition of 390 vessels per year).
CCPL Expansion Project
Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline, L.P. (CCPL) proposes to: (1) construct one new compressor station within the existing terminal, (2) construct approximately 25.8 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop from the existing and new compressor stations to the new Stage 4 Custody Meter Station all within San Patricio County, TX, (3) construct two new meter stations within the existing terminal, and (4) construct three new mainline valves along the pipeline route. The CCPL Expansion Project would deliver up to a total of 2.75 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas to the existing CCL Terminal.
According to the Applicants, the Project purpose is to expand the Applicants’ liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capabilities to meet immediate and future global demand for LNG.
The draft EIS has been prepared in compliance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and FERC regulations implementing NEPA (18 CFR 380).
The conclusions and recommendations presented in the EIS are those of the FERC environmental staff. Input from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the U.S. Department of Energy as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the draft EIS was considered during the development of our conclusions and recommendations.
The FERC staff concludes that construction and operation of the Projects would result in some adverse environmental effects, but these effects would be reduced to less-than-significant levels except for climate change effects that are not characterized in the draft EIS as significant or insignificant. This determination is based on a review of the information provided by the Applicants and further developed from data requests; field investigations; scoping; literature research; alternatives analyses; and contacts with the federal, state, and local agencies, Native American tribes, and other stakeholders. Although many factors were considered in this determination, the principal reasons are:
- The Applicants would minimize effects on natural, cultural, and human resources through implementation of approved plans and procedures, including the project-specific Plans and Procedures; Erosion and Sediment Control Plans; Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plans; Wetland and Waterbody Mitigation Plans; Blasting Plans; HDD Contingency Plans; Fugitive Dust Control Plans; Invasive Species Management Plans; Site-Specific Residential Construction Plans; and Visual Screening and Lighting Plans.
- The Applicants would collocate new pipeline segments along existing utility and transportation corridors to the greatest extent practicable, thereby reducing new disturbance.
- Consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammals Protection Act would be completed, prior to construction, to ensure compliance with federal requirements for protected species.
- FERC staff would complete consultation under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, prior to construction, ensuring compliance with federal requirements for cultural resources.
- The Applicants would comply with all applicable U.S. Department of Transportation safety standards for the design, construction, and operation of natural gas transmission facilities.
- The Applicants would comply with all applicable federal and state air quality regulations and would verify compliance with FERC’s noise thresholds through post-construction noise surveys and operational monitoring.
- An environmental inspection and monitoring program would be implemented to verify that the Companies and their contractors adhere to all required mitigation measures and environmental commitments throughout construction and operation.
In addition, we recommend adopting the Project-specific mitigation measures presented in section 5.2 of the draft EIS. These measures would further reduce environmental effects and would ensure that the Projects are constructed and operated in a manner that protects the surrounding natural and human environment. We conclude that with the successful implementation of these measures, MSX and SSE4 would not result in significant long-term adverse environmental effects.
The FERC Commissioners will take into consideration staff’s recommendations when they make a decision on the Projects.
For those wishing to comment on the draft EIS, the public comment period closes at 5:00pm Eastern Time on November 9, 2026.