Commission Agenda Item 6
March 27, 2025

• Item Type: Action
• Presenter: Whitney Gann, Ph.D.

Grant of Pipeline Easement – Jefferson County – Approximately 10 Acres at J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area

I. Executive Summary:

Sabine Crossing, LLC requests an easement across the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for the construction and installation of a 48-inch diameter natural gas pipeline.

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 WMA is divided into three units: Hillebrandt, Big Hill, and Salt Bayou.

Sabine Crossing, LLC requests an easement of 50 feet in width, crossing the WMA’s Big Hill Unit from milepost 42.5 to 44.0 along the proposed pipeline route, and completed by two horizontal direction drills. The easement would be approximately 8,900 feet in length and total approximately 10 acres.

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.”

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Exhibit A – Commission Agenda Item No. 6

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding the Granting of an Easement Covering Approximately 10 Acres of Real Property in Jefferson County for Construction of a Natural Gas Pipeline

Resolution

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

      Whereas, Sabine Crossing, LLC is seeking to establish an approximate 10 acre easement (Easement) for a natural gas pipeline; and,

      Whereas, the project will also include temporary workspace and construction Surface Use Agreement; 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 a newspaper of general circulation which is published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to the Wildlife Management Area in which such newspaper is published (Beaumont County), 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; 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 Wildlife Management Area 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 Sabine Crossing, LLC for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approving this Resolution.

      Adopted and approved this 27th day of March 2025.

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Exhibit B – Commission Agenda Item No. 6

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

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Exhibit C – Commission Agenda Item No. 6

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

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Exhibit D – Commission Agenda Item No. 6

Area Map of the J.D. Murphree WMA
Hillebrandt Unit, Big Hill Unit, and Salt Bayou Unit

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Exhibit E – Commission Agenda Item No. 6

Location of Requested Easement
Requested Easement in Yellow
Big Hill Unit Outlined in Red