Louisiana regulators are currently assessing a proposed amendment to a coastal use permit that would enable Venture Global to expand its dredging operations along the Calcasieu Ship Channel. This area, located near the Gulf of Mexico, is vital to local commercial fishermen and shrimpers, who argue that the expansion could harm water quality significantly. The public comment period for this permit adjustment will remain open until January 14, 2026, according to a recent filing with the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy.
The proposed expansion is linked to the construction of Venture Global’s second liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility, known as CP2 LNG, situated on Monkey Island between the Calcasieu Ship Channel and Calcasieu Pass. If approved, this facility will feature two new berths for loading ships, which will be located adjacent to the company’s existing Calcasieu Pass plant.
Venture Global plans to transport dredged materials approximately 9.7 miles via an established pipeline route, with the intention of placing them in the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. The company’s existing Calcasieu Pass plant began producing LNG in January 2022 and spans a 1,000-acre site on the east bank of the Ship Channel, close to the Gulf’s entrance.
Opposition to the expansion is mounting, particularly from environmental groups and local fishermen. Two organizations, For a Better Bayou and Fishermen Involved in Sustaining our Heritage, have initiated legal action to halt the project, claiming that regulators have not adequately considered the cumulative environmental impacts when evaluating the new facility alongside existing and proposed LNG export terminals in the region. They argue that the dredging activities, often occurring daily during peak fishing seasons, can smother vital marine habitats with sediment.
In a recent incident, environmental groups and local fishermen raised concerns about a dredging spill that occurred in August 2025. They reported that mud from the dredging operations entered Big Lake, negatively impacting hundreds of acres of marsh. In September, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries validated these claims, confirming that the mud released affected local fisheries.
The legal challenges against Venture Global have continued to grow. In October 2025, multiple groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club, filed a lawsuit contesting the approval of the terminal and its associated feeder pipeline by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). They assert that the commission did not adequately assess the tangible harms posed to local industries and communities.
In another development, a Lake Charles restaurant called Salt Revival House has filed a lawsuit seeking less than $10,000 in damages from its oyster supplier, Pig & Rooster Oyster Farms. The supplier has also initiated a third-party demand against Venture Global, alleging that the dredging operations caused significant harm to its floating oyster cages. The oyster farm claims that the majority of the 5.2 million oysters harvested since the spill have been deemed unfit for sale or consumption. The farm is also seeking a court order to suspend Venture Global’s dredging operations until compliance with permits is achieved.
As the second-largest LNG exporter in both Louisiana and the United States, trailing only Cheniere Energy, Venture Global anticipates a production capacity exceeding 27 million tons annually by the end of 2026. The company recently launched its Plaquemines export terminal in December 2024. To further integrate its LNG supply chain, Venture Global has contracted with South Korean shipbuilders for the acquisition of nine LNG-powered tankers, all expected to be operational by the end of this year.
As the regulatory review progresses, the outcome will have significant implications not only for the environment but also for local industries that depend on the health of the Gulf’s waters.
