FERC staff recommend final environmental approval for Rio Grande LNG project

July 31 (Reuters) - Staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have recommended Next Decade's Rio Grande LNG project in Brownsville, Texas, receive its final environmental approval, a document showed.

The recommendation is a major step forward for the company as it pursues the 18 million metric tons per annum export facility. The project had faced uncertainty after a Washington, D.C. Circuit court last year quashed FERC's prior approval for the plant, saying it failed to issue a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on how communities will be affected and ordered it to publish one for public comment.

FERC staff on Thursday recommended giving the project the environmental go-ahead, saying it should not have significant environmental impacts, the FERC document shows. The FERC staff said environmental concerns can be resolved without the need for a carbon capture and storage project.

Next Decade did not immediately respond to a request for comment.