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Press Release |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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January 07, 2009
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or Ted O’Meara - 207-791-1461
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U.S. Coast Guard Issues “Suitable” Waterway Determination For Downeast LNG
The decision represents a major step forward in the federal approval process. |
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ROBBINSTON, Maine – Dean Girdis, president and founder of Downeast LNG, said today that he was very pleased that the U.S. Coast Guard has issued a favorable Waterway Suitability Report (WSR) and Letter of Recommendation (LOR) for the company’s proposed LNG import terminal in Washington County, Maine, and that the conditions for ship travel to and from the facility outlined in the report appear to be very reasonable.
“The release of the WSR and the LOR are very significant milestones in the federal approval process and gives our project substantial momentum as we begin this new year,” said Girdis. “We know that the Coast Guard and other federal agencies have given intense scrutiny to everything in the report, and we are pleased it has been completed and released.
In a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Captain J. B. McPherson, Captain of the Port for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector Northern New England said:
“After reviewing the information in the applicant's LOI and completing an independent evaluation of the waterway in consultation with a variety of local port stakeholders, I have determined that the Passamaquoddy Bay Waterway is suitable for the type and frequency of marine traffic associated with this proposed project, provided that all of the recommended risk mitigation measures outlined in Section 4.6 of the attached Waterway Suitability Report (WSR) are fully implemented by the applicant.”
Girdis noted that the proposed transit route is one that has been used by thousands of large ships over the years, adding, “Our waterway plan was designed to ensure that all LNG ship transits will be safe and secure, and we are very pleased that the Coast Guard has found it to be suitable. We are fully prepared to meet the conditions outlined in the report.”
Girdis said that the Coast Guard report is a key element in finalizing the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) that FERC is preparing. The DEIS, which is expected to be released in the near term, is especially important because it provides a review of how the federal government views the project’s engineering, environmental and socioeconomic details and identifies any issues that need to be addressed before final approval can be given.
Once the DEIS is released, FERC will initiate a public comment period and hold a public meeting in the local community for the purpose of receiving public comments on the DEIS. After receiving public comments, FERC will issue a final environmental impact statement.
Girdis also said the release of the WSR, LOR and DEIS will be helpful to Downeast LNG as the company prepares to file new state permit applications. He expressed his personal thanks to the many people, including numerous local stakeholders, who were involved in the review process and the decision announced today.
“Downeast LNG a is a safe, environmentally responsible project that will increase Maine’s supply of natural gas and provide good paying jobs to the people of Washington County,” said Girdis. “Both are badly needed. We are already at work addressing the Coast Guard’s recommendations as reflected in the WSR, and we are pushing full speed ahead with our plans to get this project approved and built.”
About the Downeast LNG project
Downeast LNG is proposing to build an LNG import terminal at Mill Cove in Robbinston, Maine, on an 80-acre site on Passamaquoddy Bay. The proposed facility will consist of two storage tanks, a re-gasification plant, and a pier to receive LNG carriers. The project also includes a natural gas send-out pipeline that will connect the facility to the existing Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline that runs from Nova Scotia, Canada, through Maine to southern New England. The terminal will have a storage capacity of 320,000 cubic meters, with an output capacity of 500 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) and peaking capacity of 625 mmscfd. The Robbinston site was selected by Downeast LNG after carefully evaluating more than 27 different sites in New England. In January of 2006, the people of Robbinston voted 227 to 83 in support of the Downeast LNG project in a special town election. The project subsequently received approval of its land use permit applications from the Robbinston Planning Board.
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Downeast LNG | P.O. Box 147 | Robbinston, ME 04671 | info@downeastlng.com | (207) 454-3925
Copyright 2008-2010 © Downeast LNG. All Rights Reserved. |
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