A gas export terminal on the Texas Gulf Coast has consistently breached air pollution permits for years with minimal repercussions from state regulators, according to a report by Oilfield Witness, an environmental watchdog.
The Texas-based group reviewed extensive documentation and conducted a month of optical gas monitoring in its 27-page report on Freeport LNG. The facility is the nation’s third-largest exporter of liquified natural gas and experienced an explosion in 2022 that led to an eight-month shutdown.
Oilfield Witness found 532 unpermitted emission events reported by the company since 2019, alongside more than 200 other permit deviations, with only seven fines issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
The report describes the operator as “out of control,” with regulators failing to enforce compliance effectively.
Freeport LNG reportedly exceeded its emission limits by over 100 times. In 2024, part of its $14 billion complex emitted 1,500 pounds of benzene, a carcinogen linked to leukemia, which is five times more than the emissions from Corpus Christi LNG.
Heather Browne, a spokesperson for Freeport LNG, stated: “Freeport LNG prioritizes safety, reliability, and environmental stewardship. Our electric-drive LNG facility reduces emissions by 90% compared to typical facilities, boasting the lowest carbon footprint globally.”
Freeport LNG is expanding with a fourth liquefaction unit in development.
In September, Japan’s state-owned lender launched an investigation into its $2.6 billion financing for the project, following complaints by community leaders and environmental groups, as reported by Global Trade Review.
According to Ayumi Fukakusa, executive director of Friends of the Earth Japan, Japanese institutions involved in the project should reassess its environmental and social risks.
Located fifty miles south of Houston, Freeport LNG is one of several terminals emerging along the Texas and Louisiana coast in recent years. These facilities liquefy methane gas at -260 degrees Fahrenheit, preparing it for global export.
Ed Longanecker, president of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, stated that Texas leads in natural gas production, with LNG export capacity boosting U.S. energy security. A 2023 investigation revealed how Freeport LNG used permit amendments to evade stricter TCEQ reviews, allowing nearly 900 tons of pollutant emissions annually.
Chronic Emission Violations
According to Oilfield Witness, actual emissions at Freeport LNG are significantly higher than permitted. One flare was authorized for 3.3 tons of carbon monoxide annually but emitted 381 tons post-July 2019.
Freeport LNG also burned off waste gas at more than six times the permitted rate over a recent year. Luke Metzger, Environment Texas director, noted the facility’s legal compliance issues, criticizing TCEQ’s weak enforcement.
Since 2019, TCEQ has issued 76 violation notices to Freeport LNG, resulting in seven fines totaling $610,000—about 2% of its estimated 2025 revenue.
Bobby Janecka, former TCEQ commissioner, noted that limited resources constrain the agency’s oversight of thousands of facilities, relying on self-reported emissions. Fines could lead companies to underreport violations, he warned.
Janecka added that TCEQ aims for compliance without always imposing penalties, despite legal challenges from companies. Future Heist data shows Freeport LNG’s largest emissions resulted from unit tripping events, causing prolonged gas flaring.
The Oilfield Witness report argues that Freeport LNG often repeats past issues with inadequate solutions, accepted by regulators.
According to TCEQ spokesperson Richard Richter, the agency addressed over 19,000 complaints and 200,000 investigations recently. TCEQ investigates emissions exceeding reportable quantities to protect public health and resources.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org