Request for Pipeline Easement – Jefferson County - Approximately 13 Acres at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area

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Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Presenter: Whitney Gann, Ph.D.

Action
Request for Pipeline Easement – Jefferson County
Approximately 13 Acres at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area
March 26, 2026

I.        Executive Summary: Staff seeks approval of an easement across the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for the construction and installation of a 42-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.

Mustang Express Pipeline, LLC requests an easement of 50 feet in width, crossing 11,352 feet (2.15 miles) of the WMA. The total easement area is approximately 13 acres. The proposed pipeline will use the horizontal directional drilling method.

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 and authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to grant an approximately 13-acre easement at the J. D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area.”

1. Exhibit A – Resolution
2. Exhibit B – Location Map
3. Exhibit C – Vicinity Map
4. Exhibit D – Area Map
5. Exhibit E – Location of Requested Easement

Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Regarding the Grant of an Easement Covering Approximately 13 Acres of Real Property
in Jefferson County for the Construction and Installation of a Natural Gas Pipeline

Resolution

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

     Whereas, Mustang Express Pipeline, LLC is seeking an easement for the construction and installation of a 42-inch diameter natural gas pipeline that will occupy approximately 13 acres (Easement); and

     Whereas, the proposed pipeline will use the horizontal directional drilling method; 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 that is published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to the WMA in which such newspaper is published (The Beaumont Enterprise), 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 WMA is in accordance with PWC Section 11.301; and,

     Whereas, the Commission finds that the granting of this easement is consistent with the coastal management program goals and policies (PWC Chapter 26 and 31 Texas Admin. Code Section 26.29).

     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 Mustang Express Pipeline, LLC for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approving this Resolution.

Adopted and approved this 26^th day of March, 2026.

Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit B

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

Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit C

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

Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit D

Area Map of the J.D. Murphree WMA

Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit E

Location of Requested Easement
WMA Outlined in Red
Requested Easement in Yellow