COAST GUARD WILL EVALUATE SUITABILITY OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER FOR LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS SHIPS
NORTHERN STAR NATURAL GAS LLC ANNOUNCED INTENT TO BUILD AN IMPORT FACILITY IN BRADWOOD, OR PORTLAND, Ore.
– The Coast Guard received official notification of Northern Star
Natural Gas LLC’s plans on January 18, 2005. U.S. Coast Guard
Sector Portland will assess safety and security issues associated with
liquefied natural gas tankers traveling on the Columbia River in order
to make a recommendation to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) regarding Northern Star Natural Gas LLC’s proposal to build a
liquefied natural gas terminal in Bradwood, Oregon at Columbia River
mile 38.
“We plan to work very closely with local officials, our Ports and
Waterways Safety Committee and the Area Maritime Security Committee in
evaluating this proposal,” said Patrick G. Gerrity, Coast Guard Captain
of the Port at Portland, OR. “We will also be looking for
comments from the general public to ensure we have considered the full
range of issues associated with moving LNG tankers on the Columbia
River.”
FERC is responsible for authorizing the siting, construction, and
operation of onshore LNG facilities. Once FERC receives an
application for an LNG facility, it is required to complete an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), evaluating issues ranging from
air quality and biological impacts, to cultural and socioeconomic
impacts, as well as safety and security impacts. The Coast Guard will
serve as a cooperating agency for FERC’s Environmental Impact
Statement.
Northern Star Natural Gas LLC will provide the Coast Guard with a
safety and security assessment that identifies any navigational safety
hazards. They will also give potential safety threats along with
any recommendations on any mitigation measures and the resources
(federal, state, local and private sector) that will be needed to
provide an acceptable level of safety and security for the proposed LNG
operations. This assessment will be submitted to the Coast Guard
so that it can be reviewed and validated by key stakeholders at the
port, such as the Area Maritime Security Committee. Based on this
assessment, the Coast Guard Captain of the Port will evaluate the
suitability of the waterway for LNG marine traffic and provide his or
her findings to FERC for inclusion in its EIS.
The Coast Guard and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will hold
public meetings at Knappa High School on September 29, 2005.
Written comments should be submitted by October 6, 2005. Further
information on this proposal can be found in the Federal Register under
docket number CGD13-05-017.
### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America. |
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