WHARTON COUNTY — A major natural gas storage expansion proposed across Wharton and Matagorda counties is now undergoing federal environmental review, with plans calling for a new compressor station near El Campo, additional pipelines and three new underground natural gas storage caverns.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, announced the public review period in a Sept. 25 Federal Register notice.
The proposed Tres Palacios Smith Cavern Expansion Project would add approximately 24.8 billion cubic feet of new working natural gas storage capacity to the company’s existing Gulf Coast system.
New compressor station near El Campo
A major part of the proposal is construction of a new El Campo Compressor Station.
According to FERC, the station would include four new reciprocating compressor units, related compression equipment and two pipeline interconnections.
The overall project would also:
- Convert three existing salt brine caverns — Smith Caverns 5, 6 and 7 — into natural gas storage caverns
- Build approximately 5.4 miles of new 36-inch pipeline
- Construct three approximately 1.7-mile, 16-inch cavern pipelines
- Add three new compressor units at the existing Tres Palacios Gas Storage Facility
- Add six cooling bays
- Install a gas dehydration system capable of handling 750 million standard cubic feet of gas per day
- Modify three existing metering and regulation stations
- Construct additional related facilities in Wharton and Matagorda counties
FERC said the expansion is intended to increase Tres Palacios’ ability to provide natural gas storage and injection services in the Gulf Coast region.
About 185 acres could be affected during construction
Construction of the project would temporarily disturb approximately 185 acres, according to the federal notice.
After construction, Tres Palacios would maintain about 61 acres for permanent operation of the facilities. The remaining acreage would be restored and returned to its previous use.
Federal regulators said approximately 94% of the proposed 36-inch pipeline route would follow existing pipeline, utility or road rights-of-way.
Federal environmental review underway
The project has not received final federal approval.
FERC is now beginning what is known as the scoping process, during which regulators collect comments from residents, landowners, government agencies and other interested parties before preparing an environmental review.
FERC said its review could examine potential effects involving water resources and wetlands, air quality, noise, wildlife, threatened and endangered species, land use, geology, cultural resources, reliability and safety.
After the public scoping period, FERC staff will determine whether the project requires an Environmental Assessment or a more extensive Environmental Impact Statement.
The environmental review will later be used as part of FERC’s decision on whether the project should receive a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.
Landowners could be contacted about easements
The federal notice also contains information specifically for property owners who could be affected by the project.
FERC said representatives of Tres Palacios may contact landowners seeking easements needed to construct, operate or maintain project facilities.
Landowners are not required to voluntarily agree to an easement.
However, FERC states that if the project ultimately receives federal approval, the Natural Gas Act can provide the company with eminent-domain authority. If the company and a property owner cannot reach an agreement, the company could seek condemnation through the courts.
FERC does not handle those condemnation cases, and compensation would ultimately be determined through the court process.
Public comments accepted through Oct. 22
Wharton County residents, affected property owners and other interested parties have until 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Oct. 22 to submit comments about the project.
FERC is asking residents to comment on possible environmental impacts, alternatives to the proposal and measures that could reduce those impacts.
Comments should reference Docket No. CP26-556-000.
Residents can submit comments electronically through FERC Online, including its eComment or eFiling systems.
The full Federal Register notice for the Tres Palacios Smith Cavern Expansion Project provides additional information about the project and the federal review process.
The proposed expansion remains under review and FERC has not yet made a final decision on whether the project will be approved.
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