On March 16, 2020, in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 4370M-2(c) and Section 4.36 of the “Guidance to Federal Agencies Regarding the Environmental Review and Authorization Process for Infrastructure Projects,” issued by OMB and CEQ on January 13, 2017, the Commission’s Council Member provided a status report to the FPISC ED describing the Commission’s activities related to final action for the Jordan Cove LNG Terminal and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. The status report stated that:
As previously communicated, on September 21, 2017, Jordan Cove Energy Project, L.P. filed an application under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (FERC Docket No. CP17-495-000) for a liquefied natural gas export facility in Coos County, Oregon. On the same day, Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline, LP filed an application pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (FERC Docket No. CP17-494-000) for an approximately 229-mile natural gas pipeline. On September 27, 2019, the Commission issued a public notice stating it anticipated issuance of a final order on these projects no later than February 13, 2020. On February 13, 2020, Commission staff provided notification to the FPISC ED, OMB and CEQ that the Commission was still considering the record in the proceeding and had not yet taken final action on these proposals.
On March 12, 2020, the Commission issued a public notice, pursuant to section 3(a) of the government in the Sunshine Act (Pub. L. No. 94-409), 5 U.S.C. 552b, that the Jordan Cove and Pacific Connector applications were on the list of matters to be considered by the Commission at the March 19, 2020 open meeting. Subsequently, on March 13, 2020, the Commission voted to cancel the Commission meeting scheduled for March 19, 2020. All orders listed on the Sunshine Act Notice that was published on March 12, 2020 will be processed by notational voting.
On March 19, 2020, the Commission issued by notational vote an order authorizing the Jordan Cove LNG Terminal and the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline under sections 3 and 7 of the Natural Gas Act. These permitting timetable revisions are to reflect the issuance of the March 19, 2020 order and mark this action as “Complete.”
Description:
The Commission issues a decision on an application under the Natural Gas Act concurrently with its Record of Decision (i.e., the Commission’s order serves as its Record of Decision). The order is dependent on the receipt of any information requests needed to rectify an incomplete application; receipt of responses to any recommendations in a draft EIS (due by the end of the draft EIS comment period); receipt of any applicable U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and U.S. Department of Defense letters; and issuance of a final EIS.
Milestones:
-
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
:
Official Notice of Availability of a Final EIS published in the FR beginning both the public review period and concurrent CAA Section 309 Review (Agency Action)
- Completed Date: 11/15/2019
-
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
:
Official Notice of Availability of a Final EIS published in the FR beginning both the public review period and concurrent CAA Section 309 Review (Agency Action)
- Completed Date: 11/15/2019
PROJECT WEBSITE: Jordan Cove LNG
All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
IN PROGRESS
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
07/17/2020
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Pipelines
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Covered Projects
Major Infrastructure Projects
LEAD AGENCY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of Energy Projects
View FAST-41 Postings by Agencies
Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Description:
The Jordan Cove LNG Project (Docket No. CP17-495-000) includes the construction and operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal on the North Spit of Coos Bay in Coos County, Oregon. The terminal would include gas inlet facilities, a metering station, a gas conditioning plant, five liquefaction trains and associated equipment, two full-containment LNG storage tanks, an LNG transfer line, LNG ship loading facilities, a marine slip, a marine offloading facility, a new access channel between the Coos Bay Navigation Channel and the new marine slip, and enhancements to the existing Coos Bay Navigation Channel at four turns. In addition, the terminal would include emergency and hazard, electrical, security, control, and support systems, administrative buildings, and a temporary workforce housing facility. The LNG terminal would be designed to liquefy about 1.04 billion cubic feet per day of LNG for export to markets across the Pacific Rim.
The Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline (Docket No. CP-17-494) includes the construction and operation an approximately 235-mile-long, 36-inch-diameter interstate natural gas transmission pipeline and associated aboveground facilities. The pipeline would originate near Malin in Klamath County, Oregon, traverse Douglas and Jackson Counties, and terminate (at the LNG Terminal) in Coos County, Oregon. The pipeline would be capable of transporting about 1.2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas. The associated aboveground facilities would include the new Klamath Compressor Station (61,500 horsepower) near Malin, Oregon; 3 new meter stations; 5 new pig launchers and receivers; 17 mainline block valves; and a gas control communication system.
Fast-41 Initiation Notice
- Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14710540.
Project Application and Supporting Documents
- Project Application for Jordan Cove LNG, FERC Docket No. CP17-495-000 (submitted 09/21/2017). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/OpenNat.asp?fileID=14687596.
- Project Application for Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline, FERC Docket No. CP17-494-000 (submitted 09/21/2017). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/OpenNat.asp?fileID=14687464.
- Additional Project-related filings and issuances can be found on FERC’s eLibrary website by searching under Docket Nos. CP17-494 and CP17-495.
Federal Agency Actions
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Notice of Applications (issued 10/05/2017). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/OpenNat.asp?fileID=14702836.
- The FERC is responsible for consulting with the FWS if the project may affect a listed endangered or threatened species and/or designated critical habitat. The purpose of the consultation is to assist FERC in meeting its duty to ensure that its action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat. If consultation is required, upon completion of the consultation and no later than 135 days from the receipt of a complete biological assessment, FWS will provide FERC with either a letter of concurrence that the proposed project is not likely to adversely affect any listed species or a biological opinion.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Project (issued 08/31/2018). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=15013583.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Notice of Anticipated Schedule of Final Order for the Project (issued 08/31/2018). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=15013578.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Notice of Revised Schedule for the Environmental Review and the Final Order for the Project (issued 02/28/2019). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=15172047.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Draft Environmental Impact Statement (issued 03/29/2019). Document located at: https://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis/2019/03-29-19-DEIS.asp.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Notice of Revised Schedule for the Environmental Review and the Final Order for the Project (issued 09/27/2019). Document located at: http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=15363763.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Final Environmental Impact Statement (issued 11/15/2019). Document located at: https://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis/2019/11-15-19-FEIS.asp.
FERC Litigation
- None filed.
For improved transparency, FERC is providing this supplemental table to reflect the additional federal authorizations that may be required for the Jordan Cove LNG Project.
| Additional Federal Agency Authorization Timetable for the Jordan Cove LNG and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline Project | |||
| Agency | Permit | Status | Applicable Timelines |
| U.S. Coast Guard | Letter of Recommendation | Completed | Receipt of Letter of Intent: April 2006 Receipt of Water Suitability Assessment: 10/1/17 Letter of Recommendation to FERC: 5/10/18 |
| Federally-Delegated State Authorization Table | |||
| Agency | Permit | Status | Applicable Timeline |
| Oregon Department of Environmental Quality | Clea Water Act 401 Water Quality Certification | Pending | The state agency has not opted into the FAST-41 process. This authorization is listed for information purposes only, and does not transfer any responsibility to the state agency to conform to the Permitting Timetable. 18 C.F.R. § 157.22 (2016) provides that "a final decision on a request for a Federal authorization is due no later than 90 days after the Commission issues its final environmental document, unless a schedule is otherwise established by Federal law." |
| Oregon Department of Environmental Quality | Clean Water Act - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit | Pending | The state agency has not opted into the FAST-41 process. This authorization is listed for information purposes only, and does not transfer any responsibility to the state agency to conform to the Permitting Timetable. 18 C.F.R. § 157.22 (2016) provides that "a final decision on a request for a Federal authorization is due no later than 90 days after the Commission issues its final environmental document, unless a schedule is otherwise established by Federal law." |
| Oregon Department of Environmental Quality | Clean Air Act – Title V Operating Air Permit | Pending | The state agency has not opted into the FAST-41 process. This authorization is listed for information purposes only, and does not transfer any responsibility to the state agency to conform to the Permitting Timetable. 18 C.F.R. § 157.22 (2016) provides that "a final decision on a request for a Federal authorization is due no later than 90 days after the Commission issues its final environmental document, unless a schedule is otherwise established by Federal law." |
| Oregon Department of Environmental Quality | Clean Air Act - New Source Review Permit for LNG Terminal | Pending | The state agency has not opted into the FAST-41 process. This authorization is listed for information purposes only, and does not transfer any responsibility to the state agency to conform to the Permitting Timetable. 18 C.F.R. § 157.22 (2016) provides that "a final decision on a request for a Federal authorization is due no later than 90 days after the Commission issues its final environmental document, unless a schedule is otherwise established by Federal law." |
| Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development | Coastal Zone Management Consistency Determination | Pending | The state agency has not opted into the FAST-41 process. This authorization is listed for information purposes only, and does not transfer any responsibility to the state agency to conform to the Permitting Timetable. 18 C.F.R. § 157.22 (2016) provides that "a final decision on a request for a Federal authorization is due no later than 90 days after the Commission issues its final environmental document, unless a schedule is otherwise established by Federal law." |
Last updated December 30, 2019
Original Target Date: 11/29/2019
Milestone: Issuance of decision for permit/approval
Requested extensions greater than 30 days for this Action are shown below:
Issuance of decision for permit/approval extended by 111
From: 02/13/2020
To: 03/19/2020