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 26. Requests for federal consistency review were deemed administratively complete for the following project(s) during the period of April 21, 2025 to April 28, 2025. 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 §§30.20(f), 30.30(h), and 30.40(e), 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, May 2, 2025. The public comment period for this project will close at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, 2025.
Federal License and Permit Activities:
Applicant: Texas Connector Pipeline, LLC
Location: The pipeline is proposed to originate southeast of Keith Lake and to extend north to a terminus east of the Neches River and south of Beaumont, in Orange County, Texas. The pipeline route will cross the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), Taylor Bayou, Big Hill Bayou, the Sabine Neches Waterway (SNWW), and Hillebrandt Bayou.
Latitude and Longitude:
Starting point (NAD 83): Latitude: 29.758237, -93.978950
Ending point (NAD 83): Latitude: 30.067618, -93.978950
Project Description: The applicant proposes to construct a 42-inch natural gas pipeline system to provide feed gas to the Port Arthur LNG (PALNG) terminal facility. Access roads, support facilities, staging areas, and temporary workspaces are also proposed along the pipeline route. The pipeline is proposed to be installed by open cut trench and by horizontal directional drill (HDD) in specified segments. The pipeline route will cross under the GIWW, Taylor Bayou, Big Hill Bayou, the SNWW, and Hillebrandt Bayou by HDD. Top soil excavated from the trench during open cut excavation will be side cast adjacent to the trench, and segregated so it can be replaced after the pipeline is installed. Temporary work spaces and staging areas are proposed to be returned to pre-construction contours after construction is complete.
A segment of Big Hill Bayou is proposed to be dredged as an access route to transport HDD equipment. Approximately 119,717 cubic yards of native material along Big Hill Bayou is proposed to be mechanically dredged with a bucket dredge and/or marsh buggy excavator. The dredged material will be placed adjacent to the shoreline for beneficial use (BU) to reestablish the previous bank line of the bayou. The site will be allowed to revegetate naturally with native vegetation with the intent to create emergent marsh habitat consistent with the adjacent marsh. TXCPL does not propose planting or long term monitoring of the BU site. No maintenance dredging is proposed for the project. TXCPL proposes to compensate for all permanent wetland impacts by purchasing the required wetland mitigation credits from an approved mitigation bank.
Type of Application: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit application #SWG-2025-00115. This application will be reviewed pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Note: The consistency review for this project may be conducted by The Railroad Commission of Texas Commission as part of its certification under §401 of the Clean Water Act. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District has found that this permit request meets the terms of Executive Order 14156 and is therefore subject to special emergency permitting procedures and an expedited review process.
CMP Project No: 25-1189-F1
Further information on the applications listed above, including a copy of the consistency certifications or consistency determinations for inspection, may be obtained from the Texas General Land Office Public Information Officer at 1700 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, or via email at pialegal@glo.texas.gov. Comments should be sent to the Texas General Land Office Coastal Management Program Coordinator at the above address or via email at federal.consistency@glo.texas.gov.