The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) began its environmental review of Freeport LNG's plan to export approximately 12 million tons per year of LNG from its terminal near Freeport, Texas on Quintana Island. This study is the first part of the assessment for the terminal being reconfigured into an export facility.

FERC will study the impact on approximately 117 acres of land on the island, including air quality, noise, geology, wetlands, threatened and endangered species, and public safety.

Should the study be successful for Freeport LNG, the company would apply to build three liquefaction refrigeration units and add compression and make modifications to the terminal while adding a second ship berthing area and a third storage tank among other additions. Should the company receive approval for this project, construction would begin in December with exports beginning in late 2015.

Like many other LNG import facilities in North America, the facility is seeking to export LNG to foreign markets with better economics for the volumes than North America, which has been overwhelmed with shale gas that has lowered the price for imported LNG in the market.