EPA Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Permit for $1 Billion Jumbo Project in Corpus Christi

From EPA:

EPA Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Permit for $1 Billion Jumbo Project in Corpus Christi

Facility will bring almost 4,000 jobs to Corpus Christi area

DALLAS – (Nov. 19, 2014) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued two final greenhouse gas (GHG) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) construction permits to M&G Resins USA L.L.C., to build a new chemical process plant and utility support facility. The facility will be located in Corpus Christi, Texas.   

“EPA will continue working with companies to ensure they have the permits they need,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “We are working to help Texas businesses take advantage of growth opportunities while building greener facilities with better controls for greenhouse gas emissions.”

M&G Resins plans to build a new polyethylene terephthalate resin manufacturing complex along with a collocated combined support system for heat and power utility generation. The support system will be used for steam and electrical demands. The project will emit up to 1,178,441 tons of CO2 annually.

The additions will bring over $1 billion in capital investments, create 3000 construction jobs, 250 long-term operations jobs and 700 support positions in the local area.

In June 2010, EPA finalized national GHG regulations, which specify that beginning on Jan. 2, 2011, projects that substantially increase GHG emissions require an air permit. 

EPA believes states are best equipped to run GHG air permitting programs. EPA will continue to work closely with applicants who have pending permits retained by EPA at their request. This action will increase efficiency and allow industry to continue to grow in Texas. 

Since January 2, 2011, projects in Texas that substantially increase GHG emissions required an air permit from the EPA. In Texas alone, EPA has received 85 GHG permit applications from businesses since 2011.  Texas is No. 1 in the country for receiving EPA-issued GHG permits – with over 58 permits being issued by EPA. Of the 191 GHG permits issued nationwide, EPA has completed 63 and the states have issued 128 permits.