FERC staff prepares Magnolia LNG pro...

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s staff has prepared a draft supplemental environmental impact statement for Magnolia LNG LLC’s request to increase LNG production capacity at its previously authorized project in Calcasieu Parish, La. Magnolia LNG now requests an authorized capacity of 8.8 million tonnes/year vs. the initial capacity of 8 million tpy. Comments on the draft SEIS will be accepted through Nov. 18.

The increased production capacity would be achieved through the optimization of Magnolia LNG’s final design, including additional and modified process equipment, FERC’s staff said. All new or reconfigured facilities would be within the footprint of the authorized Magnolia LNG terminal site, it said.

FERC’s staff said the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration still must issue a letter of determination regarding the proposed facilities’ compliance with federal siting requirements for LNG operations. The operations also would be subject to PHMSA’s inspection and enforcement program, it added.

"FERC staff concludes that the modifications associated with the Production Capacity Amendment, with the additional mitigation measures recommended in the supplemental EIS, would continue to avoid or reduce impacts to less than significant levels," FERC’s staff said.