Note: For a copy of the report, click here. For audio of the press conference, click here or here.
Washington, DC – At a time when the Trump Administration is trying to expedite approvals for a wave of new LNG export terminals, a review of public records shows the industry has a poor track record of complying with its existing air and water pollution control permits.
A report by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), “Terminal Trouble: Pollution Violations at America’s LNG Export Terminals,” shows that all seven of the LNG export terminals that were fully operational at the end of 2024 violated the Clean Air Act over the last five years. EIP’s report also found that five of the seven LNG terminals exceeded their water pollution control permits over this period, dumping into waterways illegal amounts of suspended solids, bacteria, zinc, copper, oil and grease, among other pollutants, according to public records.
“Given the LNG industry’s poor compliance record, state and federal agencies should be slowing down and more carefully scrutinizing new permit applications instead of speeding up permit reviews,” said Jen Duggan, Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project. “There is no ‘energy emergency,’ and fast-tracking approvals for LNG terminals puts the health of local communities, ecosystems, and the climate at risk.”
Since taking office in January, President Trump has aggressively promoted the LNG industry, including by directing agencies to fast-track certain approvals for new export terminals and by threatening foreign countries with steep tariffs if they do not buy American LNG.
In the first six months of 2025, LNG companies announced plans to build two new LNG export terminals and expand three along the Gulf Coast. Those are on top of four new LNG terminals and an expansion already under construction and 23 projects planned before Trump took office. If all 33 projects are built, U.S. LNG exports could triple over the next decade.
The risks caused by inadequate oversight of the LNG industry can be seen in the harm to Gulf Coast communities profiled in the EIP report, including a fire and explosion that shut down the Freeport LNG terminal in Texas in 2022 and disruption to local residents and shrimpers near the Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LNG terminal in Cameron, Louisiana.
In addition, the rapid growth of the LNG industry is likely to hurt consumers. A study published by the Department of Energy concluded that increased LNG exports will increase domestic natural gas prices for Americans by over 30 percent. Many LNG projects are also supported by hundreds of millions of dollars in local tax breaks, meaning that public schools and local services will be deprived of the taxpayer funding they need.
Among the findings of EIP’s report:
- The five LNG terminals operating along the Gulf Coast at the end of 2024 reported 425 pollution release malfunctions or “upset” incidents since their openings that released 14,155 tons of air pollution, including benzene, a carcinogen.
- All seven of the LNG terminals violated their air pollution control permits at least once in the last five years. States and EPA have issued 15 air enforcement actions that have resulted in a total of about $1 million in penalties. While these penalties may sound like a lot, it’s a drop in the bucket when compared to the maximum penalties allowed under the law and the revenues of LNG companies.
- Instead of fining polluters, states sometimes amend the permits for LNG terminals to allow them to legally release more air pollution. After violations at the Sabine Pass, Calcasieu Pass, and Corpus Christi terminals, Texas and Louisiana relaxed their Clean Air Act permits to allow them to emit five million tons per year more greenhouse gases and 3,500 tons more health-damaging “criteria” air pollutants per year.
- The seven LNG terminals operating in 2023 reported releasing 18.2 million tons of greenhouse gases that year, which was as much as 3.9 million cars and trucks driven for a year, and 15,733 tons of health-damaging “criteria” air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
- If just 22 of the 33 proposed LNG terminals and expansion projects with available records are built, they could emit nearly 80 million more tons of greenhouse gases – as much as 17 million cars and trucks – and nearly 100,000 tons of health-damaging air pollution every year.
- In the last five years, five of the seven LNG terminals violated their water pollution control permit limits at least once, collectively exceeding limits 69 times for pollutants including oil and grease, suspended solids, zinc, copper, and bacteria.
The LNG terminals that emitted the most air pollution in the most recent available year (2023) are the following, according to federal and state records examined for EIP’s report and EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database:
- The Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in southwest Louisiana, which emitted 6.9 million tons of greenhouse gases and 8,780 tons of health-damaging “criteria” air pollutants in 2023, the most of any U.S. LNG terminal. Sabine Pass LNG has been in noncompliance with the Clean Air Act every quarter for the last three years and has had eight water pollution violations the last five years. Despite this record, the terminal is planning a major expansion.
- Corpus Christi LNG on the Texas Gulf Coast, which released 3.3 million tons of greenhouse gases and 2,945 tons of health-damaging air pollutants in 2023, second most of any terminal. The terminal has been in noncompliance with the Clean Air Act three out of the last 12 quarters and had nine water pollution violations over the last five years. Despite this record, it is also planning a major expansion.
- Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LNG in Cameron, Louisiana, which released 3.1 million tons of greenhouse gases and 987 tons of health-damaging air pollutants in 2023. It has been in noncompliance with the Clean Air Act every quarter for the last three years, with the company reporting 233 permit “deviations” just between 2022 and 2024 (and each deviation potentially representing multiple violations of the Clean Air Act.) The terminal also had a water pollution violation in 2022. Despite this record, Venture Global is planning to build two new LNG terminals in Cameron.
- The Cameron LNG Terminal in southwest Louisiana, which released 2.9 million tons of greenhouse gases and 2,170 tons of criteria air pollutants in 2023. It has been in noncompliance with the Clean Air Act for 11 out of the past 12 quarters. The violations include at least 89 pollution release incidents between January 2019 and May 2025 that emitted thousands of pounds of benzene, a carcinogen. Despite this record, it is planning a major expansion.
ADDITIONAL QUOTES:
Melanie Oldham, Director of the Texas-based Better Brazoria, said: “The Freeport LNG terminal had a terrible vapor cloud explosion and fire on June 8, 2022, that frightened the residents of Freeport and about a hundred or so beachgoers near the terminal. The investigation report showed us how there is a shortage of safety inspectors and not enough oversight of these risky, explosive LNG terminals, which release toxic emissions that can cause serious health issues in our communities.”
Anne Rolfes, Director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, said: “With its emissions, fires, and tanker traffic, the gas export industry is destroying fishing here in Louisiana. Fishing families are seeing their livelihoods decimated. Our culture is being destroyed, too. After all, what is Louisiana without seafood? It’s long past time to stop this industry from expanding.”
Rhiannon Scott, Executive Director of the Texas-based Coastal Watch Association said: “I live and work in the Coastal Bend region, and like many residents, I’ve witnessed firsthand how the sky lights up from LNG flares that burn day and night. Corpus Christi LNG has become one of the largest polluters in South Texas, with dozens of air and water violations over the past five years—and yet the state continues to reward them with expanded permits. Texas should say no to more LNG expansions until companies can follow the air pollution limits they already have.”
James Hiatt, Executive Director of For a Better Bayou, said: “The LNG industry has proven it cannot operate responsibly. Its record is one of constant pollution, harm, and broken promises. Instead of rewarding these repeat violators with more permits, regulators should follow their mandate and enforce the law, hold them accountable, and protect the people whose lives and livelihoods are being destroyed.”
Alexandra Shaykevich, research manager for the Environmental Integrity Project and author of the report, said that state and federal authorities should ensure that permit limits for LNG export terminals meet the requirements of the Clean Air and Clean Water acts then vigorously enforce them. “Communities deserve meaningful and protective pollution limits, and they deserve to have them backed up with significant penalties for pollution violations and strong enforcement actions that will protect public health,” Shaykevich said.
For a copy of the report, click here.
For a data spreadsheet on all the LNG terminals, please click here.
Media contact: Tom Pelton, Environmental Integrity Project, (443) 510-2574 or tpelton@environmentalintegrity.org
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The Environmental Integrity Project is America’s environmental watchdog. We hold polluters and governments accountable to protect public health and the environment.
Photo Credit: Carlos Silva of for the Louisiana Bucket Brigade.
