The Sea Port Oil Terminal (SPOT), owned by energy pipeline
operator Enterprise Products Partners, would be the largest
offshore export terminal in the United States with the capacity
to load two supertankers at a time and export 2 million barrels
of crude oil per day.
Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, Center for
Biological Diversity and others, said the terminal and related
pipeline construction could cause oil spills and affect some
species.
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), an agency of the
Department of Transportation, failed to adequately assess the
oil-spill risk and harm to species in approving the terminal,
the environmental groups said.
Enterprise Products and MARAD did not immediately respond to
requests for comments.
MARAD in November issued an order saying construction and
operation of the offshore port was in the national interest and
the project met environmental quality goals.
The agency had found in its decision that construction of the
offshore export terminal will reduce the number of ship-to-ship
transfers of crude oil and lessen emissions from conventional
crude oil loading facilities.
The environmental impact analysis requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act have also been satisfied, MARAD had
said.
"MARAD’s review of SPOT’s environmental and community impacts
entirely fails to account for the project’s significant
contributions to climate change," said Sierra Club Senior
Attorney Devorah Ancel.
A license is yet to be issued before SPOT can begin construction
of the port.
U.S. oil major Chevron Corp signed a long-term agreement with
Enterprise, saying SPOT provides opportunity to significantly
expand export capacity as the company increases its Permian oil
production. Canadian oil company Enbridge also has an option to
purchase a stake in SPOT.
(Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar in Houston; Editing by Aurora
Ellis)
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