News January-March 2004
News Release: February 11, 2004 | View Printable PDF Version |
Commission, Coast Guard, DOT Sign Interagency Agreement
to Coordinate Review of LNG Terminal Safety, Security
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Coast Guard and Department
of Transportation today announced an interagency agreement to provide
for the comprehensive and coordinated review of land and marine
safety and security issues at the nation's liquefied natural gas
(LNG) import terminals.
The agreement was signed by FERC Chairman Pat Wood III, Samuel Bonasso,
Deputy Administrator of the Department of Transportation's Research
and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), and Admiral Thomas Collins,
Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
The agreement clearly delineates the roles and responsibilities
of each agency relative to LNG terminals and LNG tanker operations,
and stipulates that the agencies identify issues early and quickly
resolve them. The agreement also states that the FERC will be the
lead agency for environmental review under the National Environmental
Policy Act and will coordinate its review with RSPA and USCG.
The agreement reinforces the agencies' longstanding working relations
in coordinating the seamless review of safety and security issues
that may arise from the movement of LNG tankers, the transfer of
the LNG to the terminal, and terminal operations. Further, the agencies
agree to build a consensus on any hazard studies or other documents
that may include safety and security analyses.
Currently, the FERC, in cooperation with RSPA and USCG, is conducting
a study to evaluate the hazards associated with LNG spills on water
for the purpose of developing a model for calculating vapor and
thermal hazards associated with such spills. The results of the
study are due at the end of March 2004.
The interagency
agreement is effective immediately. A copy may be found
on the FERC's website, www.ferc.gov.
R-04-3
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