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Governor Rell: FERC Decision ‘A Travesty’
‘We Will Fight This Reckless Decision Every Step of the Way’
Governor M. Jodi Rell today utterly rejected the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s environmental impact study of the proposed Broadwater liquefied natural gas facility, saying FERC’s conclusion that the project would have little effect on the Long Island Sound is ludicrous. “We will challenge this absurd and indefensible agency decision in court,” Governor Rell said.
“The Broadwater project would be a travesty – the complete
desecration of
“An enormous and potentially flammable industrial facility floating in the middle of Long Island Sound would be as shockingly out of place as a steel plant in a state park,” the Governor said.
FERC announced today that it had completed an environmental impact study (EIS) and that its staff believed the project was likely to have “limited adverse environmental impacts.”
“I cannot see how any reasonable person or government agency can come to that conclusion,” Governor Rell said. “We are talking about building and operating a massive, possibly hazardous industrial facility in the middle of an important estuary with sensitive natural resources. We are taking about a platform as large as an ocean liner, requiring an unprecedented and untested 950-acre safety and security zone, as well as moving security zones around incoming tankers. Let’s not kid ourselves: All of this will change Long Island Sound forever.”
Under federal environmental laws, the FERC must wait at least 30 days after releasing an EIS before issuing any permits for a facility.
“Connecticut will fight this reckless decision every step of the way,” Governor Rell said. “Today I am directing the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to go over this EIS with a fine-toothed comb, identifying every flaw and faulty conclusion. I know the Attorney General’s office will be happy to support us in this endeavor.”
Connecticut will also coordinate efforts with New York, which is responsible for several permits ncessary for the Broadwater project to proceed.
The Broadwater project will require a coastal consistency determination – in keeping with the federal Coastal Zone Management Act – from the New York Department of State as well as a number of permits from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
“We were heartened by the DEC’s December 21 letter to
Broadwater, which was severely critical of plans for the project,”
Governor Rell said. “The letter said the permit applications were
incomplete and said current plans for the project would have several
significant adverse environmental impacts. We believe this letter is a
strong signal of where
On
Although FERC attempted to address some of those issues in its final EIS, the project will still have significant impact on aquatic life, benthic habitat and recreational and commercial use of the Sound.
Governor Rell said FERC has only given cursory attention to alternatives to Broadwater.
“Recent proposals for offshore liquefied natural gas (
“There simply has to be a better way. I call upon FERC and the rest of the federal government to work with the states on a comprehensive approach to national and regional energy planning.”
Governor Rell has successfully battled previous efforts by FERC to impose higher electric rates on customers in portions of the state – a strategy known as Locational Installed Capacity, or LICAP – and clashed with the agency over its refusal to include Conecticut in Broadwater siting discussions, despite the fact that half of the Sound is Connecticut territory. Content Last Modified on 1/11/2008 11:58:16 AM |