Washington, DC – April 9, 2024—Van Ness Feldman congratulates our client, Enterprise Products, on the issuance of a Deepwater Port Act License for their Sea Port Oil Terminal (SPOT). This significant milestone is the culmination of years of dedicated advisory services provided by the Van Ness Feldman team, comprised of former Senator Mary Landrieu, Tanner Johnson, Richard Agnew, Rachael Lipinski, and Michael Platner, who provided strategic counsel throughout the process.
SPOT, a deepwater port project designed to enhance the global market's access to safe and reliable crude oil export services, is poised to become a pivotal infrastructure facility. Located 30 nautical miles off the coast of Texas, SPOT is engineered to export up to 2 million barrels of crude oil daily, aligning with the highest standards of environmental and operational safety.
Rendering of proposed SPOT fixed-platform port marine terminal. Courtesy of Enterprise Partners.
The Deepwater Port Act of 1974, which governs the construction and operation of such significant infrastructure projects, sets stringent requirements for license applicants. These include ensuring minimal adverse impacts on the marine environment and comprehensive planning across all phases of the project's lifecycle. The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) plays a crucial role in this process, evaluating the financial and operational credentials of applicants and issuing the Deepwater Port Act License.
After lengthy and thorough environmental review and public scrutiny, the project's Record of Decision, issued by MARAD in November 2022, was upheld by the U.S. 5th Circuit of Appeals on April 4, 2024.
Currently, there is only one crude oil export deepwater port in the United States. The addition of SPOT will facilitate an efficient and safe export process that will reduce costs to shippers and help lower prices for consumers.
Schematic courtesy of Enterprise Partners.
“This win is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team,” said Mary Landrieu, Senior Policy Advisor with Van Ness Feldman. “The SPOT project represents not only a significant achievement for Enterprise Products but also showcases Van Ness Feldman's commitment to navigating complex regulatory environments and achieving our clients' strategic goals. We extend our congratulations to Enterprise Products and express our gratitude to the VNF team for their outstanding work. This success underscores our firm's position at the forefront of energy and infrastructure development, committed to fostering innovation and sustainable growth in the industry.”
The issuance of the MARAD permit clears the SPOT project for commercialization, with a goal of being operational by 2027.
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