Final Required Milestone Date of 07/01/2021 for Conclusion of ESA Consultation has passed by 5 business days
Description:
The ESA Biological Opinion was completed together with the NMFS Essential Fish Habitat Response in a single document on January 10, 2020. However, the FERC’s March 19, 2020 order authorizing the Jordan Cove LNG Project incorporated the Blue Ridge Variation, which would deviate from the project sponsor’s proposed route. In a letter dated June 23, 2020, Commission staff requested, in accordance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the re-initiation of formal consultation to address the Blue Ridge Variation. In letters dated July 1, 2020 and September 4, 2020, NMFS responded to FERC's request indicating that it did not contain sufficient information to initiate consultation. The information needed to re-initiate the consultation was received on October 19, 2020.
On May 14, 2021 NMFS received a letter from FERC withdrawing the request for re-initiation of the consultation. Therefore, the re-initiated consultation has been cancelled.
Milestones:
-
Monthly Status Report for April 2021:Milestones for the conclusion of the ESA consultation and issuance of the EFH conservation recommendations were missed because the project sponsor did not submit proposed additional restoration actions by the previously agreed upon date. In a March 2, 2021 meeting between NOAA, FERC, and the project sponsor, all parties agreed to a new schedule and a path forward that included: 1) the project sponsor providing an application for an amendment to FERC; 2) FERC providing NOAA the modification to the proposed action; and 3) after receiving the modification, NOAA concluding the ESA/EFH consultations. To date, the project sponsor has not submitted the necessary paperwork to move forward with the completion of the ESA and EFH consultations that would facilitate meeting the new deadline.
-
Monthly Status Report for March 2021:Milestones for the conclusion of the ESA consultation and issuance of EFH conservation recommendations were missed because the project sponsor did not submit proposed additional restoration actions by the previously agreed upon date. The documentation is necessary for NMFS to determine if the restoration actions are reasonably certain to occur and can be included in the effects analysis for issuance of the final joint ESA/EFH Biological Opinion. In a March 2, 2021 meeting between NOAA, FERC, and the project sponsor, all parties agreed to a new schedule and a path forward that included: 1) the project sponsor providing an application for an amendment to FERC; 2) FERC providing NOAA the modification to the proposed action; and 3) after receiving the modification, NOAA concluding the ESA/EFH consultations.
-
Monthly Status Report for April 2021:Milestones for the conclusion of the ESA consultation and issuance of the EFH conservation recommendations were missed because the project sponsor did not submit proposed additional restoration actions by the previously agreed upon date. In a March 2, 2021 meeting between NOAA, FERC, and the project sponsor, all parties agreed to a new schedule and a path forward that included: 1) the project sponsor providing an application for an amendment to FERC; 2) FERC providing NOAA the modification to the proposed action; and 3) after receiving the modification, NOAA concluding the ESA/EFH consultations. To date, the project sponsor has not submitted the necessary paperwork to move forward with the completion of the ESA and EFH consultations that would facilitate meeting the new deadline.
-
Monthly Status Report for March 2021:Milestones for the conclusion of the ESA consultation and issuance of EFH conservation recommendations were missed because the project sponsor did not submit proposed additional restoration actions by the previously agreed upon date. The documentation is necessary for NMFS to determine if the restoration actions are reasonably certain to occur and can be included in the effects analysis for issuance of the final joint ESA/EFH Biological Opinion. In a March 2, 2021 meeting between NOAA, FERC, and the project sponsor, all parties agreed to a new schedule and a path forward that included: 1) the project sponsor providing an application for an amendment to FERC; 2) FERC providing NOAA the modification to the proposed action; and 3) after receiving the modification, NOAA concluding the ESA/EFH consultations.
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
PAUSED
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Pipelines
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Covered Projects
Major Infrastructure Projects
LEAD AGENCY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
View FAST-41 Postings by Agencies
Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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 229-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.
On May 10, 2021, the project sponsors filed a letter with the Commission stating that they are pausing the development of the project.
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.
- Letter from project sponsors stating that they are pausing project development (submitted 05/10/2021). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filedownload?fileid=15789034.
- 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/draft-environmental-impact-statement-deis-jordan-cove-energy-project.
- 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://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/intermediate.asp?link_file=yes&doclist=14814378.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Order Granting Authorizations under Sections 3 and 7 of the Natural Gas Act (issued 03/19/2020). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=15487862.
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 |
Last updated June 18, 2021
-
Monthly Status Report for April 2021:Milestones for the conclusion of the ESA consultation and issuance of the EFH conservation recommendations were missed because the project sponsor did not submit proposed additional restoration actions by the previously agreed upon date. In a March 2, 2021 meeting between NOAA, FERC, and the project sponsor, all parties agreed to a new schedule and a path forward that included: 1) the project sponsor providing an application for an amendment to FERC; 2) FERC providing NOAA the modification to the proposed action; and 3) after receiving the modification, NOAA concluding the ESA/EFH consultations. To date, the project sponsor has not submitted the necessary paperwork to move forward with the completion of the ESA and EFH consultations that would facilitate meeting the new deadline.
-
Monthly Status Report for March 2021:Milestones for the conclusion of the ESA consultation and issuance of EFH conservation recommendations were missed because the project sponsor did not submit proposed additional restoration actions by the previously agreed upon date. The documentation is necessary for NMFS to determine if the restoration actions are reasonably certain to occur and can be included in the effects analysis for issuance of the final joint ESA/EFH Biological Opinion. In a March 2, 2021 meeting between NOAA, FERC, and the project sponsor, all parties agreed to a new schedule and a path forward that included: 1) the project sponsor providing an application for an amendment to FERC; 2) FERC providing NOAA the modification to the proposed action; and 3) after receiving the modification, NOAA concluding the ESA/EFH consultations.