FERC moves three LNG projects closer to final approval

May 1, 2006
US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staffers gave favorable environmental reviews to three LNG projects, and final approval awaits a vote by the FERC commissioners.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 1 -- US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staffers gave favorable environmental reviews to three LNG projects, and final approval awaits a vote by the FERC commissioners.

In environmental reports issued Apr. 28, FERC staffers said that LNG projects proposed by subsidiaries of Dominion Resources Inc., BP PLC, and Sempra Energy would have little negative environmental impact if certain measures are followed during construction.

BP intends to build a terminal at Crown Landing in New Jersey, along the Delaware River. Its formalized risk assessment includes making the carrier berths deep enough for ships to land and unload safely at all tide levels.

Dominion's Cove Point LNG proposes expanding its existing LNG import terminal at Cove Point, Md.

Sempra Energy proposes to build a LNG terminal in Jefferson County, Tex., near the Texas-Louisiana border in two stages of 1.5 bcfd each (OGJ, Oct. 10, 2005, Newsletter).

FERC and the US Coast Guard are responsible for the permitting of the new terminals, with FERC having jurisdiction over onshore facilities and USCG having jurisdiction over offshore facilities.