Happy Thursday!
We have over
the past couple years have blogged on the happenings of the U.S. Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC), especially when it has involved oil and gas along
the Gulf Coast. We have blogged on who they
have been approving for some big projects in the oil and gas industry, see our
latest approval in July 2026. Well,
looks like changes are coming to FERC to help with speeding up approvals for
LNG ventures. Let’s dig in.
Did anyone
happen to read the Oil & Gas Journal’s OGJ Daily Update Newsletter on
October 19, 2026, their article titled, “FERC proposes faster LNG approvals,
changes pipeline air reviews”? The
article goes on to speak on how the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) last week recommended changes on how they will approve specific LNG
facility projects and how they are trying to change air review for LNG
projects. The agency has agreed they
want to have comprehensive approvals for specific types of LNG projects based on
their decades used blanket certificate program for interstate natural gas pipelines,
as well as changing monetary limits tied to the project. The program will have three-level structure which
LNG project proponents could use to get their LNG infrastructure approvals
after a 90-day notice and protest period.
This type of infrastructure change would be qualified even if the plan
has them outside of their current developed area but less than 25 acres of formerly
improved areas in industrial region. The
project would be obliged to use current or improved equipment which was on
their previous authorizations. Another level
is if the venture only wanted to scale up operations with no additional equipment
and staying within existing paraments would only need a 60-day notice
period. The last level of actions like replacing
old equipment would be eligible for approvals with no notifications and
reporting in semi-annual report as long as they aren’t going beyond original
approved limits, site area or surpassing equipment operational maximums. FERC has published this proposal in the Federal Register, and the stakeholder comment period is 60 days.
On another
note: FERC has suggested changes to a policy on how they look as air emission impacts
of certain oil and gas activities which fall under the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA). They are suggesting
they would no longer make ventures present air-dispersion modeling, and this
would not be used in NEPA reviews of air emission impacts. FERC’s reasoning is
due to other federal and state agencies evaluate these under the Clean Air Act
and feel venture representatives will notify them of potential issues. In a nutshell they want to stay in their lane
instead of going over the lane into another agency’s purview. FERC published in the Federal Registry and there is a comment period until November 16, 2026.
Lastly, the
article said had an update on Woodside Louisiana’s LNG facility. FERC amended Woodside’s Louisiana’s LNG authorization
to include a tie-in and meter station to connect to Kinder Morgan Louisiana’s
interstate natural gas transmission system. The plant is currently being built
in Louisiana and is over a quarter way built in phase 1, the plant is expected
to be operational before the end of the decade.
We will let you know, if we hear anything else from FERC and its
proposed changes. If you would like to
read more of the Oil & Gas Journal’s article, please click the link FERC
proposes faster LNG approvals, changes pipeline air reviews | Oil & Gas
Journal.
Our team has
experience in developing hydrocarbon storage facilities as well as helping you
transport your hydrocarbons, so if you too would like to get a project going,
we’re here to help! Don’t forget to
check out our ESC website or
contact us via the email in the Blog!
We hope you have a wonderful evening and a productive week!
**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read The Oil
and Gas Journal’s article. **