FERC Creates LNG Division

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has created a new division to handle the growth in LNG infrastructure proposals.

The new Division of LNG Facility Review and Inspection, headquartered in Washington, D.C., will house 20 existing LNG staff members. It will also add eight full-time employees to occupy a Houston, Texas-based regional office.

Responsibilities of the new division include executing the existing duties of FERC with respect to project proposal review, oversight during construction and compliance monitoring for the life of the LNG facility. These duties will be shared the two staffs in Washington, D.C. and Houston, said Tamara Young-Allen, a representative with FERC’s division of media relations.

“As the demand for U.S. LNG and the number and complexity of project applications has grown, the Commission has experienced a similar growth in the need for FERC to expand its oversight in this program area,” said FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee. “Much of the work related to these LNG projects, and the expertise it requires, is based in and around Houston, the so-called ‘Energy Capital of the World.’ For that reason, after careful research and evaluation, the Commission has determined we should direct our newest efforts to recruiting staff in the area to build upon the good work already being done on these issues at our D.C. headquarters.”

FERC is coordinating with the U.S. General Services Administration to identify and secure office space in Houston, Young-Allen said. Once a location has been selected, FERC will start searching for employees. Job announcements will be available on FERC’s website and on www.usajobs.gov.