Gulf Coast Marine Terminal Environmental Permitting and Compliance

Our environmental, air and water quality permitting and compliance services for a $300 million high-capacity marine terminal on the Houston Ship Channel, enabled long-term operational success.

Location

Texas, USA

Client

Confidential Oil and Gas Client

Project Status

Complete

Permit approval speed

USACE Individual Permit approved 11 months ahead of schedule.

To support the development of a $300-million bulk storage marine terminal along the Houston Ship Channel, our team delivered comprehensive environmental, air and water quality permitting services. The 188-acre terminal includes over 80 bulk storage tanks, four ship/barge berthing areas and a total storage capacity of 10.5 million barrels.

Navigating complex regulations

Our team prepared and submitted permit applications to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enabling the project to meet aggressive construction timelines while maintaining full compliance.

For the USACE Individual Permit, we conducted wetland delineations, performed threatened and endangered species assessments, oversaw cultural resource consultations and developed a dredge placement plan. These coordinated efforts resulted in permit approval 11 months ahead of schedule.

Bulk storage tanks

80

Terminal acreage

188

Ship/barge berthing areas

4

Total barrel storage capacity

10,500,000

Hydrotest and water use permitting

To ensure the mechanical integrity of the terminal’s tanks and piping, we supported hydrotest permitting by evaluating regulatory requirements and preparing discharge plans. Our team conducted sampling of the hydrotest water source and coordinated notifications to TCEQ and other agencies. We conducted Clean Water Act permitting and wetland delineations, ensuring compliance with federal and state water quality standards.

In anticipation of future crude oil storage, we prepared an EPA Wastewater Discharge Permit application for hydrotest water discharges. We secured temporary and permanent water use permits for withdrawals from the Houston Ship Channel, which granted rights for hydrostatic and fire system test water use.

Integrated environmental services

Throughout the development of the Gulf Coast Marine Terminal, our team delivered a full suite of environmental services tailored to meet regulatory requirements and support the client’s operational goals.

We prepared emissions inventories, evaluated control technologies and completed Title V and nonattainment New Source Review permitting to help the project meet stringent air quality regulations in the Houston area.

We also developed and implemented a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, provided waste characterization services and evaluated water source alternatives to support hydrotest and fire system testing. These efforts ensured all environmental aspects of the project were addressed with precision and efficiency.