All US LNG Export Terminals Breach Pollution Laws, New Report Finds

Every fully operational liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in the United States has violated federal air or water pollution laws in recent years, according to a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP). The findings come as the Trump administration accelerates approvals for new LNG export facilities to expand US fossil fuel exports.

The analysis of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state data found that all seven operating LNG terminals - located across Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, and Georgia - breached the Clean Air Act at least once between October 2022 and July 2025. Five of those terminals also violated the Clean Water Act during the same period, with some repeatedly discharging illegal levels of bacteria, zinc, and oil into waterways or failing to submit required monitoring reports.

“The LNG industry portrays itself as environmentally friendly, but companies do not consistently comply with air and water pollution control laws,” said Jen Duggan, EIP’s executive director, calling for stricter oversight rather than accelerated permitting.

Louisiana’s Sabine Pass and Calcasieu Pass terminals emerged as the worst offenders, remaining out of air-quality compliance for nearly three years. Texas’s Freeport LNG terminal faced the highest penalties - nearly $670,000 - following a 2022 explosion and subsequent pollution violations.

Despite this widespread noncompliance, companies behind several of the most polluting sites are seeking to expand operations. Venture Global, which runs the frequently noncompliant Calcasieu Pass terminal, plans two new terminals nearby. Likewise, Sabine Pass, Cameron LNG, and Corpus Christi LNG are pursuing major expansions, even as they remain under active environmental scrutiny.

The EIP report warns that this unchecked growth - with four new terminals already under construction and nearly 30 additional projects proposed - could raise US LNG exports by 60% annually and drive up domestic energy prices. A Department of Energy study cited in the report projects natural gas prices for Americans could rise by more than 30% due to increased exports.

Environmental groups argue that LNG’s climate impact is far worse than claimed. Recent research from Cornell University found that, when accounting for transportation emissions, LNG can be even more damaging to the climate than coal.

“In a sane world, we would stop permitting any more gas export facilities right now,” said Anne Rolfes of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade. “These violations show just how sloppy - and dangerous - this industry has become.”

Systematic compliance breaches across US LNG terminals raise significant liability risk for operators and their offtakers - and they change how EU-CSDDD and the Methane Regulation interact with US LNG imports. Our sustainability-due-diligence teams help clients evaluate what these compliance findings mean for LNG-sector positioning and disclosure narrative.