On January 10, 1997, the State of Texas received federal approval of the Coastal Management Program (CMP) (62 Federal Register pp. 1439 - 1440). Under federal law, federal agency activities and actions affecting the Texas coastal zone must be consistent with the CMP goals and policies identified in 31 TAC Chapter 501. Requests for federal consistency review were deemed administratively complete for the following project(s) during the period of July 29, 2019 to August 2, 2019.  As required by federal law, the public is given an opportunity to comment on the consistency of proposed activities in the coastal zone undertaken or authorized by federal agencies.  Pursuant to 31 TAC §§506.25, 506.32, and 506.41, the public comment period extends 30 days from the date published on the Texas General Land Office web site. The notice was published on the web site on Friday, August 9, 2019.  The public comment period for this project will close at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 8, 2019.

FEDERAL AGENCY ACTIONS:

Applicant: Freeport LNG Development, L.P.
Location:The project site is located on the Freeport Harbor Ship Channel, near the city of Freeport, in Brazoria County, Texas. The Freeport Maintenance Offshore Dredge Material Disposal Site (ODMDS) is located approximately 3 miles offshore and about 1,000 feet southwest of the centerline of the Outer Bar Channel.
Latitude & Longitude (NAD 83): 28.982761, -95.309178
Project Description:  Freeport LNG Development (FLNG) have requested a modification to their existing Department of the Army maintenance dredge permit to include the use of hopper dredges in addition to the currently authorized hydraulic and mechanical methods. The maintenance dredge permit authorizes dredging of the entire FLNG Basin (both Dock 1 and Dock 2). Dredging conducted via a hydraulic cutter head dredge and/or mechanical clamshell will utilize to a dump scow barge. The barge will be transported to the Freeport Harbor Maintenance ODMDS where the material will be dumped. Maintenance dredge cycles utilizing a hopper dredge will not require a barge for transportation of the dredged material. Each maintenance dredging cycle is expected to take 3 months to complete. Submittals to evaluate effects of dredging and disposal of dredge material will be conducted, as required by Section 103 of the MPRSA. FLNG has estimated that maintenance dredge cycles will occur annually and are estimated to remove no more than approximately 500,000 cubic yards.
Type of Application: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permit application # SWG-2013-00147. This application will be reviewed pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (MPRSA).
CMP Project No: 19-1241-F1

Further information on the applications listed above, including a copy of the consistency certifications or consistency determinations for inspection, may be obtained from Ms. Allison Buchtien P.O. Box 12873, Austin, Texas 78711-2873, or via email at federal.consistency@glo.texas.gov. Comments should be sent to Ms. Buchtien at the above address or by email.