The Trump administration should dial back its drive to build new liquefied natural gas export terminals in light of the flawed environmental compliance records of those that already exist, a watchdog group said in a new report.
All seven LNG terminals fully in business last year have violated their air pollution permits at least once since 2020, while five exceeded water permit limits during the same period, according to the Environmental Integrity Project survey released Wednesday.
Along the Gulf Coast, LNG terminals reported more than 400 accidents, excessive flaring and other “upsets” that over time have led to the release of more than 14,000 tons of unpermitted emissions of air toxics, soot and other pollutants, the report found.
“Against this backdrop of chronic pollution problems, state and federal agencies should be slowing down and more carefully scrutinizing permits and approvals for LNG export terminals, not rushing through new applications,” the report said.
