NOAA REVIEWS COMPANY MEASURES TO PROTECT MARINE MAMMALS
WHILE CONSTRUCTING NATURAL GAS TERMINAL, COMMENTS SOUGHT

NOAA Fisheries Service is seeking comments now through April 12, on a plan by Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge LLC, to protect marine mammals as it constructs and operates a liquefied natural gas port in federal waters off Massachusetts. The agency has preliminarily determined the activities would have a negligible impact on marine mammals and is prepared to issue a permit allowing the company to incidentally disrupt animal behavior, but it is soliciting public comment beforehand.

Northeast Gateway is proposing to construct, own and operate the Northeast Gateway Deepwater Port to import LNG into the New England region. The port will be located in Massachusetts Bay, and will consist of a submerged buoy system to dock specifically designed LNG carriers approximately 13 miles off of Massachusetts in federal waters.

This facility will deliver regasified LNG to onshore markets through new and existing pipeline facilities owned and operated by Algonquin. The noise generated by construction of the port and pipeline, and continuing operations during unloading LNG at the facility has the potential to disrupt the behavior patterns of marine mammals in the vicinity of the port. Because of this, an Incidental Harassment Authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act is warranted.

To reduce impacts on marine mammals, Northeast Gateway proposes to: (1) cease any construction vessel movement and/or stop any noise emitting activities that exceed 120 dB, if a North Atlantic right whale comes within 500 yards of any operating construction vessel, or if other marine mammals come within 100 yards of any operating construction vessel; (2) comply with standard reporting requirements while within the North Atlantic Right Whale Mandatory Ship Reporting Area; (3) use trained marine mammal/sea turtle observers onboard construction vessels; (4) train personnel onboard EBRVs on marine mammal sighting and reporting and vessel strike avoidance procedures; and (5) take appropriate actions to minimize the risk of striking whales, including reducing speeds to 10 knots or less in certain areas.

NOAA Fisheries Service will accept comments on the application and proposed authorization through April 12, 2007. Comments should be addressed to: Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, NOAA Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

A copy of the application and Federal Register notice may be obtained by contacting the same office, or online at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm

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