Commission Meeting Agenda Item No. 10
Presenter: James Murphy

Action
Grant of Pipeline Easement – Jefferson County
Approximately 15.9 Acres at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area
August 24, 2023

I.      Executive Summary: Sempra Energy (Sempra) requests an easement across the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for the construction and installation of a 42-inch liquid natural gas (LNG) pipeline as part of the Port Arthur Pipeline (PAPL) project.

II.     Discussion: The J.D. Murphree WMA consists of approximately 25,500 acres of coastal marsh and open water within the Texas Chenier Plain and is adjacent to the Sabine Neches Waterway. The J.D. Murphree WMA is adjacent to one existing LNG export facility and another that is under construction. It is divided into the Big Hill Unit and Salt Bayou Unit. Sempra requests an easement for the PAPL project, which will cross both units.

III.    Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the Resolution attached as Exhibit A.”

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission

Regarding the Granting of an Easement Covering

Approximately 15.9 Acres of Real Property in Jefferson County

for the Construction and Installation of a Liquid Natural Gas Pipeline

Resolution

      WHEREAS, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) owns and operates the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for a variety of recreation and conservation values; and,

      WHEREAS, Sempra Energy is seeking to construct a liquid natural gas pipeline crossing the WMA; and,

      WHEREAS, Sempra Energy requests a fifty-foot (50’) easement (Easement) across the WMA to construct and install a new forty-two-inch (42”) liquid natural gas pipeline; and,

      WHEREAS, TPWD staff finds it is in the best interest of the WMA and Sempra Energy to work together cooperatively; and

      WHEREAS, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) finds that as required by Texas Parks and Wildlife Code (PWC) chapter 26, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in newspapers of general circulation that are published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to the WMA in which such newspapers are published (The Beaumont Examiner), with the last day of publication being not less than one week or more than two weeks before the date of today’s hearing; and,

      WHEREAS, the Commission finds, in accordance with PWC chapter 26, that (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or taking of such land for the Easement; and (2) the program or project that requires the Easement includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the land; and,

       WHEREAS, the Commission finds that the grant of an Easement subject to conditions that will minimize harm of the Easement to the WMA is in accordance with PWC section 11.301; and,

       NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to negotiate terms and conditions under which an Easement may be granted, and to grant an Easement to Sempra Energy for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and, in the motion, approved in this Resolution.

      Adopted and approved this 24th day of August 2023.

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit B

Location Map for the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Jefferson County

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit C

Vicinity Map for the J.D. Murphree WMA Approximately 20 miles South of Beaumont

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit D

Location of Requested Easement Requested Easement in Orange J.D. Murphree WMA Outlined in Blue