Kean Miller LLP Team Secures Important Lease for Cameron Parish LNG Terminal

A five-judge panel of the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal has issued an important ruling in favor of Kean Miller LLP client Cameron LNG and its lessor, the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District ("Lake Charles Port"), in a lawsuit brought by the West Cameron Port, Harbor and Terminal District ("West Cameron Port"). West Cameron Port had challenged the legality of Cameron LNG's lease from Lake Charles Port of 218 acres of property in Cameron Parish upon which Cameron LNG constructed and is operating a $900 million dollar liquefied natural gas receipt terminal. West Cameron Port alleged that the lease of the property in the territorial jurisdiction of the West Cameron Port exceeded Lake Charles Port’s authority under both its enabling statutes and as Local Sponsor of the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

In a 3-2 decision, the third circuit reversed the trial court that had enjoined Lake Charles Port from acting as lessor of the property and had transferred the property and the lease to West Cameron Port. The third circuit's ruling secures Cameron LNG's lease and its LNG terminal operations.

The Cameron LNG receipt terminal and associated facilities were built in Cameron, Louisiana, which is located approximately 148 miles east of Houston, Texas, and 230 miles west of New Orleans, Louisiana. The terminal is capable of processing up to 1.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas per day, and the site can accommodate expansion up to 2.65 Bcf per day. Commercial operations began July 2009. The receipt facility is only 35 miles from a major pipeline hub that serves nearly two-thirds of all U.S. natural gas markets.

The Kean Miller LLP team was led by partners Linda S. Akchin, and Lana D. Crump.