BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Federal regulators have issued an environmental assessment for Rio Grande LNG’s request to increase the authorized production capacity of five liquefaction trains at its Brownsville-area export terminal without adding new construction.
The amendment would raise the authorized capacity of each train from 5.4 million metric tons per year to about 6.03 million metric tons, increasing total authorized capacity from 27 million to 30.15 million metric tons annually.
Rio Grande LNG told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that the change would align its authorization with the equipment’s demonstrated capabilities and would not require new facilities or operational modifications. FERC posted the environmental assessment Aug. 26 in docket CP26-31-000.
The review is part of the federal authorization process and is not a final approval. The federal notice established Nov. 23 as the deadline for other agencies to complete related authorization decisions.
The proceeding has drawn comments from the city of Port Isabel, the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, environmental and worker groups, and area residents. Their filings raised concerns about air quality, greenhouse-gas emissions, public health and environmental justice.
FERC will consider the environmental record and public filings before acting on the amendment.
