US EPA OK with approval for Sentinel’s 1 million b/d-capacity Texas GulfLink port
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it would not oppose Sentinel Midstream LLC’s proposed 1-million b/d Texas GulfLink Deepwater Port off the coast of Brazoria County, Tex.
“EPA does not object to the issuance of a license” for the project following its evaluation of its impact under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, EPA’s Zone 6 administrator Earthea Nance said in a letter to Rear Admiral Ann C. Phillips, administrator of the US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD). The Maritime Administration must approve the project. The agency said it will decide by Dec. 12.
EPA added it “recommends continued emphasis on ensuring environmental justice and climate change considerations be included in the licensing project for the protection of overburdened communities.”
Texas GulfLink, which filed for a permit in May 2019, would include an onshore terminal with as much as 18 million bbl of storage, an offshore 42-in. pipeline, and a manned platform 30 miles offshore Freeport, Tex. From the platform, oil would flow to two single-point mooring buoys to allow for VLCCs at a loading loading rate up to 85,000 bbl/hr (OGJ Online, June 3, 2019).
MARAD in April approved Enterprise Products Partner’s 2 million b/d Sea Port Oil Terminal (SPOT), also offshore Brazoria County, Tex. (OGJ Online, Apr. 10, 2024). Two other proposed deepwater oil export terminals are still awaiting approval.
Climate activists and some local officials oppose the deepwater ports, arguing that they are at odds with President Biden’s commitment to environmental justice and combatting climate change.
Cathy Landry | Washington Correspondent
Cathy Landry has worked over 20 years as a journalist, including 17 years as an energy reporter with Platts News Service (now S&P Global) in Washington and London.
She has served as a wire-service reporter, general news and sports reporter for local newspapers and a feature writer for association and company publications.
Cathy has deep public policy experience, having worked 15 years in Washington energy circles.
She earned a master’s degree in government from The Johns Hopkins University and studied newspaper journalism and psychology at Syracuse University.