EPA Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Permit for $500M CCI Petroleum Facilities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final greenhouse gas (GHG) prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) construction permit to CCI Corpus Christi LLC. The company plans to construct petroleum process facilities near Corpus Christi, Texas.

“Climate change contributes to many types of challenges, especially for coastal areas like Corpus Christi,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ron

Curry. “Helping businesses minimize their greenhouse gas emissions will help protect these communities from dangers such as increased flooding and storms.”

The permit authorizes CCI to construct a 100,000-barrel-a-day condensate splitter plant and a bulk petroleum terminal. The bulk terminal will include storage tanks and barge loading operations that can handle 500,000 barrels a day of crude condensate for export. In addition to exporting product, the company plans to use the crude condensate to produce diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, and other petroleum products.

In June 2010, EPA finalized national GHG regulations specifying that, beginning in January 2011, projects that increase GHG emissions substantially will require an air permit.

Texas is working to replace the federal implementation plan with its own state program, which will eliminate the need for businesses to seek air permits from the EPA. This action will increase efficiency and allow industry to continue to grow in Texas.

EPA has finalized 52 GHG permits in Texas, proposed an additional four permits, and has 12 additional GHG permits in development in Texas.