This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final greenhouse gas (GHG) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) construction permit for the Lone Star NGL facility in Mont Belvieu, Texas, just west of Houston. The permit allows the company to build a natural gas processing plant.
"Natural Gas is important to meeting our climate goals and energy future," said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. "EPA is working with Texas businesses to take advantage of growth opportunities while building greener facilities."
The facility will separate natural gas liquids (NGL) into different gas products, including ethane, propane, butanes, and natural gasoline. The plant will process about 100,000 barrels of NGL per day.
In June 2010, EPA finalized national GHG regulations, which specify that beginning on January 2, 2011, projects that increase GHG emissions substantially will require an air permit.
EPA believes states are best equipped to run GHG air permitting programs. Texas is working to replace a federal implementation plan with its own state program, which will eliminate the need for businesses to seek air permits from EPA. This action will increase efficiency and allow for industry to continue to grow in Texas.
EPA has finalized over 34 GHG permits in Texas, proposed an additional 9 permits, and currently has over
30 additional GHG permit applications under development in Texas.
