The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) have prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Sabine Pass Stage 5 Expansion Project (Project), proposed by Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC; Sabine Pass Liquefaction Stage V, LLC; Sabine Crossing Pipeline, LLC; and Cheniere Creole Trail Pipeline, L.P. (collectively, the Applicants).^[1] The Applicants propose to expand the existing Sabine Pass Liquefied Natural Gas (SPLNG) Terminal facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana by adding three new liquefaction trains and appurtenant facilities; construct and operate the Sabine Crossing Pipeline (SCPL), a new, 48-inch-diameter, 55.6-mile-long natural gas pipeline as well as one new compressor station, six new meter stations, and other new appurtenant facilities in Liberty, Chambers, and Jefferson Counties, Texas and Cameron Parish, Louisiana; and construct and operate the new greenfield Tarpon Compressor Station in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, expand the existing Gillis Compressor Station in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, and modify an existing delivery meter station in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, all along the existing Creole Trail Pipeline System (CTPL).

FERC is the lead federal agency for authorizing interstate natural gas transmission facilities under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 (NGA) and the lead federal agency for preparation of the final EIS. The final EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the SPLNG Terminal Expansion, SCPL and SCPL Aboveground Facilities, and CTPL Aboveground Facilities (collectively referred to as “the Project”) in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) ^[2] and the Commission's implementing regulations.^[3] The principal purposes of the final EIS are to: identify and assess the potential effects on the natural and human environment; describe and evaluate reasonable alternatives; identify and recommend mitigation measures; and facilitate public involvement in the environmental review process. The EIS concludes that for most resources, the construction and operation of the Project would result in limited environmental effects. Most environmental effects would be temporary or short-term during construction, but some long-term and permanent environmental effects would occur in wetlands, forested lands, visual resources, and on air quality. This determination is based on our review of the information provided by the Applicants and further developed from environmental information requests; scoping; literature research; consideration of potential alternatives; contacts with federal, state, and local agencies; and other stakeholders. We conclude that effects would be less than significant with implementation of the Applicants' proposed avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures as well as the environmental and engineering conditions we recommend the Commission include in any Project authorization it may issue. In addition, based on a preliminary engineering and technical review of the SPLNG Terminal Expansion design, we conclude there are acceptable layers of protection or safeguards that would reduce the risk of a potentially hazardous scenario from developing into an event that could impact the offsite public.

Two districts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—National Marine Fisheries Service, and the U.S. Department of Energy participated as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the final EIS. Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources potentially affected by the proposal and participate in the NEPA analysis. Although the cooperating agencies provided input towards the conclusions and recommendations presented in the final EIS, the agencies will present their own conclusions and recommendations in their respective records of decision (where applicable) for the Projects.

The final EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of construction and operation in Texas and Louisiana of the following facilities:

• SPLNG Terminal Expansion:
  • Three new Liquefaction Trains (Trains 7, 8 and 9) and appurtenant facilities.
• SCPL:
  • Approximately 55.6 miles of 48-inch-diameter pipeline.
  • SCPL Aboveground Facilities:

Four 52,500-horsepower (hp) modular compressor packages and appurtenant facilities at the new Hamshire Compressor Station along the pipeline route;

Six new meter stations ( i.e., Moss Bluff, two at Winnie, Kinder Morgan Tejas, Hamshire, SCPL Delivery) along the pipeline route; and

Four new pig traps ^[4] and three new mainline valves (MLV) along the pipeline route.

• CTPL Aboveground Facilities:
  • Two 23,470-hp compressor packages and appurtenant facilities at the existing Gillis Compressor Station along the existing pipeline system;
  • One 52,500-hp modular compressor package and appurtenant facilities at the new Tarpon Compressor Station along the existing pipeline system; and
  • One new 16-inch-diameter meter and flow control run and one new filter at an existing meter station within the SPLNG Terminal.

The Commission mailed a copy of the Notice of Availability of the final EIS to federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and groups; and newspapers and libraries in the project area. The final EIS is only available in electronic format. It may be viewed and downloaded from the FERC's website ( www.ferc.gov), on the natural gas environmental documents page ( www.ferc.gov/​industries-data/​natural-gas/​environment/​environmental-documents). In addition, the final EIS may be accessed by using the eLibrary link on the FERC's website. Click on the eLibrary link ( elibrary.ferc.gov/​eLibrary/​search) select “General Search” and enter the docket ( printed page 61845) number in the “Docket Number” field, excluding the last three digits ( i.e., CP24-75, CP25-505 or CP25-506). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.

The final EIS is not a decision document. It presents Commission staff's independent analysis of the environmental issues for the Commission to consider when addressing the merits of all issues in this proceeding. Under Section 3 of the NGA, the FERC considers as part of its decision to authorize natural gas facilities, all factors bearing on the public interest. Specifically, regarding whether to authorize natural gas facilities used for importation or exportation, the FERC shall authorize the proposal unless it finds that the proposed facilities will not be consistent with the public interest. Under section 7(c) of the NGA, the Commission determines whether interstate natural gas transportation facilities are in the public convenience and necessity and, if so, grants a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to construct and operate them. The Commission bases its decisions on both economic issues, including need, and environmental effects.

For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or OPP@ferc.gov. Additional information about the project is available from the FERC website ( www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.

In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription that allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/​ferc-online/​overview to register for eSubscription.

(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)