A proposed offshore crude-oil export terminal off Cameron Parish has cleared another federal permitting milestone, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposing two Clean Air Act permits for the Blue Marlin Offshore Port.

EPA announced October 1 that it is proposing a Prevention of Significant Deterioration preconstruction permit and a Title V operating permit for the project. The agency has opened a public-comment period through October 29 and scheduled an in-person hearing that evening in Cameron.

The proposed permits are not final approval to build or operate the entire project. EPA’s action covers air emissions, while Blue Marlin still requires approvals through the broader federal deepwater-port licensing process.

A Nearly Two-Million-Barrel-a-Day Export Concept

EPA says the project would modify an existing offshore platform in federal waters approximately 82 statute miles off Cameron Parish and allow direct loading of Very Large Crude Carriers and smaller tankers.

The proposed system is designed to move crude at up to 80,000 barrels per hour — approximately 1.92 million barrels per day at that maximum rate. EPA’s October 1 announcement described potential annual exports of roughly 605 million barrels.

Crude would originate at Energy Transfer’s Nederland Terminal in Jefferson County, Texas, travel through a new 42-inch pipeline and then use the existing 36-inch Stingray Mainline to reach the offshore platform complex.

Reusing Gulf Infrastructure

Blue Marlin’s project plan relies partly on repurposing existing offshore natural-gas infrastructure rather than constructing an entirely new offshore corridor. The company says direct offshore loading would allow large crude carriers to take on full cargoes without relying on smaller vessels to shuttle oil to ships anchored farther offshore.

EPA says the proposed air permits would require vapor-capture technology, including a dedicated collection system and combustion units. The agency expects the system described in the permit record to capture approximately 99 percent of vapors associated with transfer and loading operations.

That figure is a permit-design expectation, not a measured operating result because the facility has not been built and placed into service.

Public Hearing Set for Cameron

EPA will hold a public hearing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on October 29 at the Cameron Parish Police Jury West Annex, 148 Smith Circle in Cameron. Written comments are also due October 29 under EPA docket EPA-R06-OAR-2026-1323.

After the comment period closes, EPA must consider significant comments before deciding whether to issue, modify or deny the air permits.

Another Major Project in Southwest Louisiana’s Energy Corridor

Cameron Parish is already central to Louisiana’s LNG expansion, pipeline construction and Gulf Coast energy infrastructure. Blue Marlin would add a different piece of the export chain: a large offshore terminal designed around crude oil rather than LNG.

The project still has regulatory steps ahead, and EPA’s proposed permits should not be confused with final authorization. But moving the air permits into public review is a concrete step toward a federal decision on whether the offshore terminal can advance.

For Cameron Parish residents and Louisiana’s energy industry, October 29 is now the next important date.

Source Notes

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Oct. 1, 2026: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-proposes-action-unleash-american-energy-gulf-america

EPA Blue Marlin public notice and permit docket: https://www.epa.gov/caa-permitting/public-comment-and-hearing-opportunity-blue-marlin-offshore-port-llc-bmop-deepwater

Blue Marlin Offshore Port project information: https://bluemarlinport.com/the-project/