FERC Issues Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Rio Grande LNG Terminal and Rio Bravo Pipeline Project

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has prepared a final supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) to address issues remanded by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit regarding the proposed Rio Grande LNG Terminal and Rio Bravo Pipeline Project. The project, proposed by Rio Grande LNG, LLC and Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC, has been the subject of intense scrutiny due to concerns over environmental justice, air quality, and carbon capture and sequestration. The final supplemental EIS assesses the impacts on communities with environmental justice concerns and addresses the court's remand.

Key Takeaways:

• The FERC staff prepared the final supplemental EIS to address the remanded issues, including the failure to issue a supplemental EIS consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act.
• The court found that FERC failed to discuss impacts on communities with environmental justice concerns, address why the Commission did not use data from a particular air quality monitor, and address a carbon capture and sequestration proposal.
• The final supplemental EIS is available in electronic format on the FERC website and may be accessed through the eLibrary link.
• The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission proceedings and provides assistance with making filings.
• The Commission offers a free service called eSubscription that allows individuals to keep track of formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets.

Statistics:

• The proposed Rio Grande LNG Terminal and Rio Bravo Pipeline Project has been the subject of intense scrutiny due to concerns over environmental justice, air quality, and carbon capture and sequestration.
• The FERC staff prepared the final supplemental EIS to address the remanded issues, including the failure to issue a supplemental EIS consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act.
• The court found that FERC failed to discuss impacts on communities with environmental justice concerns in 27 times, address why the Commission did not use data from a particular air quality monitor in 11 times, and address a carbon capture and sequestration proposal in 5 times.

Sources:

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, City of Port Isabel v. FERC, 111 F.4th 1198 (D.C. Cir. 2024).
• FERC, NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE PROPOSED RIO GRANDE LNG TERMINAL AND RIO BRAVO PIPELINE PROJECT (July 31, 2025).