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) on August 17, 2026. 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, August 21, 2026. The public comment period for this project will close at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Federal License and Permit Activities:
Applicant: ST LNG
Location: The Proposed Action would be located in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone of the Gulf of America (GoA) approximately 10.4 nautical miles (19.2 kilometers) off the coast of Matagorda County, Texas in water depths between 65 and 72 feet. It would consist of fixed and floating components in Brazos Area Block (BA) 476 and a proposed 5.6-mile lateral pipeline in lease blocks BA-476, BA-449, and BA-450. The Proposed Action would not involve any new structures or improvements located onshore or “upstream” of the pipeline lateral interconnect with the existing Transco pipeline.
Project Description: The purpose of the Proposed Action is to construct, own, operate, and eventually decommission the ST LNG deepwater port terminal using domestic natural gas from multiple supply hubs in Texas (including, but not limited to, the Tres Palacios Gas Storage and Trading Hub and the Williams Markham Gas Processing Plant), utilize existing natural gas infrastructure to transport the gas offshore, liquefy the gas, and export up to 8.4 Million Metric Tons Per Annum as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) via an offshore Deepwater Port (DWP) to Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) and non-FTA nations.
The Proposed Action would consist of four phases. Each phase would include five fixed offshore platforms (Gas Treatment, Liquefaction, Bridge Support Trestle, LNG Transfer, and Accommodation and Utilities), bridges linking each platform, a dolphin mooring system composed of three berthing dolphins and six mooring dolphins, and a moored LNG Floating Storage Unit (FSU). At full build-out, the Proposed Action would include 20 platforms, 4 FSUs, 4 mooring systems, and 7.7 miles of pipeline (a 5.6-mile lateral pipeline, and 2.1 miles of interconnecting pipelines between each phase. The platforms of each individual phase would be connected via a series of linking bridges; however, the four phases of the Proposed Action would stand independently of one another, separated by approximately 2,260 feet, and would be capable of functioning independently.
To facilitate the necessary feed gas for the Project, ST LNG anticipates obtaining natural gas from the Tres Palacios Natural Gas Storage and Trading Hub and the Williams Markham Gas Processing Plant through an existing Transco 36-inch-diameter pipeline that is approximately 5.6 miles northeast of the DWP site. Once the natural gas has been transported to the DWP, the gas would be processed, liquefied, and stored in the FSUs. From the FSUs, the LNG would be loaded onto LNG carriers (LNGCs) with cargo capacities between 125,000 and 180,000 cubic meters (m3). A maximum of 25 LNGCs would be loaded per year for each phase of the Project, totaling 100 LNGCs annually for the DWP. The LNGCs would export the LNG to FTA and non-FTA nations. While associated with the Project, the Applicant would not have control over the visiting LNGCs, except for contracting them to transport the LNG.
The Proposed Action would not involve any new structures or improvements located onshore or “upstream” of the pipeline lateral interconnect with the existing Transco pipeline. While exact locations of fabrication yards are not currently identified by ST LNG, fabrication activities would occur at existing facilities in Texas and/or Louisiana. The ST LNG team office would be located on site at the fabrication yards. During operation, the onshore ST LNG team would be based near the Calhoun Port Authority site in Point Comfort, Texas, using existing buildings and vessel berths. No new or modified onshore facilities are included in the Proposed Action.
If approved, construction of each phase of the Proposed Action would be staggered by 18 months for ease of constructability: Phase 2 on-site construction would start 18 months after the start of Phase 1 on-site construction, Phase 3 on-site construction would start 18 months after the start of Phase 2 on-site construction, and Phase 4 on-site construction would start 18 months after the start of Phase 3 on-site construction. The Project is proposed to have a 25-year life span for each phase (approximately 30 years in operation), and each phase would be decommissioned independently. The Applicant would comply with the environmental regulations applicable at the time of decommissioning to minimize impacts on the natural and social environment. The type and severity of impacts may need to be reevaluated at the time of decommissioning to account for changes between the time the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is published and the time the Project is decommissioned that would affect the natural or social environment.
Type of Application: Deepwater Port License Docket No. MARAD-2025-0096 Draft EIS.
CMP Project No: 26-1195-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.