Energy Law

FERC Denies Rehearing and Stay in Bradwood Landing LNG Proceeding

Posted on September 02, 2009
Yesterday FERC issued an order denying requests for a stay and for rehearing filed by the State of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). The State of Oregon requested a stay pending the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Oregon's appeal of the Commission's January 2009 rehearing order affirming its prior approval of the Bradwood Landing LNG import terminal...

FERC to Visit Oregon LNG and Pipeline Project Sites

Posted on September 02, 2009
Yesterday FERC announced its plans to visit a number of sites associated with the planned Oregon LNG import terminal and associated pipeline. FERC's announcement is available in the eLibrary under Docket No. CP09-6.

U.S. Coast Guard Defers to FERC on Request for Formal Consultation in Bradwood Landing LNG Proceeding

Posted on August 31, 2009
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) filed its response to a letter regarding formal consultation issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service early this month in the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal proceeding. In its response, available in the FERC eLibrary under Docket No...

Fall River Files Request for Reconsideration of U.S. Coast Guard?s LOR in Weaver's Cove LNG Proceeding

Posted on August 28, 2009
The City of Fall River (Mass.) has filed a request that the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port for Sector Southeastern New England, Raymond J. Perry, reconsider the findings of his Letter of Recommendation (LOR) in the Weaver's Cove LNG proceeding. The LOR, issued July 30, 2009, determined that the waterways associated with the planned Weaver's Cove LNG project are suitable for LNG vessel traffic...

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Cove Point Responds to WGL's Request for Rehearing in Pier Reinforcement Proceeding

Posted on August 28, 2009
Yesterday Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP filed an answer to Washington Gas Light Company's (WGL) request  for rehearing filed with FERC regarding its order authorizing Cove Point LNG's Pier Reinforcement Project. Citing U.S. Supreme Court precedent and other sources, Dominion emphasized that FERC repeatedly has ruled in other proceedings that there is a lack of causation between the Cove Point expansion and the proposed pier reinforcement project and any potential, speculative leaks that may occur on WGL's local distribution system...

FERC Approves Several Modifications to Weaver's Cove Onshore LNG Terminal Site Design

Posted on August 27, 2009
In a letter dated yesterday, FERC approved a number of proposed changes to the Weaver's Cove LNG project onshore site design. Such design modifications approved by the Commission include placement of dredging spoils, the location of the LNG storage tank, and the locations of several other pieces of infrastructure on the site...

Downeast LNG Files Supplemental Material with FERC on Project Purpose and Need

Posted on August 24, 2009
Last week Downeast LNG submitted supplemental material updating the Project Purpose and Need section of its LNG import terminal application filed more than two years ago. The filing provides natural gas market analysis for New England, which Downeast argues supports the need for the project and increased supplies of imported LNG...

FERC Authorizes Use of Alternative Access Road for Construction of Gulf LNG Send Out Pipeline

Posted on August 24, 2009
On Friday FERC authorized Gulf LNG Pipeline, LLC to use an existing alternative access road for purposes of constructing the Gulf LNG terminal's natural gas send out pipeline. The authorization is available in the FERC eLibrary under Docket No. CP06-13.

MARAD Releases Supplemental Material for Port Dolphin LNG FEIS

Posted on August 21, 2009
MARAD released supplemental material and corrections to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) it prepared for the Port Dolphin LNG deepwater port project. The supplemental material and corrections are available in today's Federal Register.

FERC Authorizes Simultaneous Vessel Unloading at Cameron LNG Terminal

Posted on August 20, 2009
Yesterday FERC granted Cameron LNG, LLC's request to allow simultaneously unloading from two LNG vessels at the Cameron LNG terminal. FERC's authorization is available in the Commission's eLibrary under Docket No. CP02-378.

Cove Point LNG Submits Environmental Conditions Implementation Plan for Pier Reinforcement Project

Posted on August 19, 2009
Yesterday Dominion Cove Point, LP submitted to FERC its Implementation Plan for the mitigation measures required under the Commission's order authorizing the Cove Point LNG Pier Reinforcement Project. The plan, available in the FERC eLibrary under Docket No...

National Park Service Responds to Weaver's Cove LNG Filing

Posted on August 18, 2009
In response to two recent filings made by Weaver's Cove Energy regarding the company's plans to mitigate effects from its LNG import project, the U.S. National Parks Service clarified that the project developer has not addressed all of its concerns, including those related to shoreline conditions at the proposed storage site, potential effects on a flounder spawning habitat in the Taunton River, and an ongoing review of the project's compatibility with the Taunton River's status as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System...

USCG Sets Safety Zones Around Neptune LNG Deepwater Port Submerged Turret-Loading Buoys

Posted on August 17, 2009
The U.S. Coast Guard announced in today's Federal Register that it has established two temporary safety zones extending 500 meters in all directions around the turret-loading buoys of the Neptune LNG deepwater port. The announcement notes that "all vessels, with the exception of deepwater port support vessels, are prohibited from entering into, remaining or moving within either of the safety zones...

Freeport LNG Files Application to Install NGL Extraction System

Posted on August 13, 2009
Yesterday FERC issued a Notice of Filing stating that Freeport LNG Development, LP and Freeport LNG Expansion, LP submitted to the Commission an application requesting authorization to construct and operate a natural gas liquids (NGL) extraction system at the Freeport LNG terminal...

FERC Schedules Annual Post-Certification Review of Sabine Pass LNG Facility

Posted on August 10, 2009
FERC has scheduled its annual post-certification review of the Sabine Pass LNG facility for September 15-16, 2009. The letter scheduling the review and requesting additional information is available in the FERC eLibrary under Docket No. CP04-47.

NMFS Responds to FERC's Request for Consultation in Bradwood Landing LNG Proceeding

Posted on August 05, 2009
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has responded to FERC's request for formal consultation in the Bradwood Landing LNG project regulatory proceeding, stating "Due to the scope and scale of the project and the amount of information provided for review, 30 days is insufficient time to allow the [NMFS] to make a definitive determination" regarding the findings of the project's Biological Assessment...

MARAD Receives Amended Application for TORP's Bienville LNG Deepwater Port Project

Posted on August 05, 2009
In today's Federal Register MARAD acknowledges that it has received from TORP Terminal LP an amended application for the planned Bienville LNG deepwater port. The amended application describes the project's new "closed-loop" regasification system. The U...

Weaver's Cove Updates FERC on Environmental Impact Mitigation Discussions

Posted on August 04, 2009
Weaver's Cove Energy, LLC submitted a letter to FERC yesterday updating the Commission on discussions with various federal and state agencies regarding the project's environmental impact mitigation plan. Specifically, the filing notes that a number of agencies involved in these discussions "took umbrage" with the updated mitigation plan submitted to FERC last month by Weaver's Cove, claiming that the filing mischaracterized the agencies' positions on certain aspects of the plan...

FERC Okays Construction of Gulf LNG Sendout Pipeline

Posted on August 04, 2009
Yesterday FERC approved Gulf LNG Pipeline, LLC's request to begin construction of a natural gas sendout pipeline associated with the Gulf LNG import project. The Commission's letter order is available in the FERC eLibrary under Docket No. CP06-13.

U.S. Coast Guard Issues Letter of Recommendation for Weaver's Cove LNG

Posted on July 31, 2009
Yesterday the U.S. Coast Guard issued a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) on the suitability of Narragansett Bay and Mt. Hope Bay for LNG vessel traffic associated with the planned Weaver's Cove LNG import terminal. The LOR states that the relevant portions of the waterways may be considered "suitable for the type and frequency of LNG marine traffic associated with [the] project," provided that Weaver's Cove Energy, LLC implements a number of risk management strategies and mitigation measures...

FERC Authorizes Commencement of Services at Cameron LNG

Posted on July 30, 2009
Yesterday FERC granted Cameron LNG, LLC's request to commence services at its LNG import terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. The authorization is available in the FERC eLibrary under Docket No. CP02-378.

FERC Issues Order on Petition for Waiver by North Baja, Shell, and Gazprom

Posted on July 27, 2009
On July 23, 2009, FERC issued an order granting in part a petition for a waiver of certain capacity release requirements filed by North Baja Pipeline, Shell Energy North America, and Gazprom. The petition specifically sought a waiver to permit Shell to release some of its firm transportation capacity on North Baja to Gazprom at Shell's negotiated rate...

Cameron LNG Seeks FERC Approval for Simultaneous Unloading of Vessels

Posted on July 23, 2009
Yesterday Cameron LNG, LLC requested that FERC authorize the company to incorporate a simultaneous unloading procedure into the terminal's standard operating procedures. Cameron LNG's request is available in the FERC eLibrary under Docket No. CP02-378.

FERC Authorizes Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline to Export Natural Gas to Canada

Posted on July 22, 2009
Yesterday FERC issued an order amending the Presidential Permit and Natural Gas Act section 3 authorization to allow Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, LLC to export natural gas from the United States to Canada. The Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline connects to the Brunswick Pipeline, which transports regasified LNG imported via the Canaport LNG terminal, at the Canadian border...

FERC Approves Pier Reinforcement Project for Cove Point LNG Terminal

Posted on July 17, 2009
Yesterday FERC authorized Dominion Cove Point LNG, L.P. to move forward on the company's Pier Reinforcement Project that will allow larger LNG vessels to service the terminal. In its order, FERC rejected the oft-repeated concerns of local utility Washington Gas Light that regasified LNG causes leakage in its distribution pipelines...

Canadian Ambassador Reaffirms Canada's Opposition to LNG Vessel Transit Associated with Downeast LNG

Posted on July 16, 2009
In a letter to FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, Canada's ambassador to the United States Michael Wilson reiterated Canada's position that the waters of Head Harbour Passage are internal waters of Canada and that Canada "maintains the right to control and regulate their use...

MARAD/USCG Announce Availability of FEIS for Port Dolphin LNG Proposed Offshore Florida

Posted on July 14, 2009
On July 13, 2009, MARAD and the U.S Coast Guard published notice in the Federal Register of the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement  (FEIS) for the Port Dolphin LNG Deepwater Port license application. The project proposes a deepwater port in the St...

FERC Approves Construction of Redesigned Storage Tanks at Gulf LNG

Posted on July 13, 2009
Late last week FERC approved for construction the modified designs of the storage tanks at the Gulf LNG import terminal. FERC's approval can be found in the eLibrary under Docket No. CP06-12.

FERC Requests Further Information Regarding Freeport LNG's Truck Delivery Procedures

Posted on July 10, 2009
Yesterday FERC requested additional information regarding emergency response procedures for Freeport LNG. Specifically, FERC is seeking information on the procedures associated with planned deliveries of LNG to the terminal via truck. FERC's request is available in the eLibrary under Docket No...

NMFS Seeking Additional Information Regarding Jordan Cove LNG Proposal

Posted on July 08, 2009
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has requested additional information regarding the potential effects of the Jordan Cove LNG import project on aquatic species in the region. Specifically, NMFS requests that FERC revise its Biological Assessment of the project to respond to 29 specific questions regarding possible impacts on endangered species and critical habitat...

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