January 2, 2007 Last day for Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to veto offshore LNG project Neptune proposed for 13 miles offshore of off Gloucester.
December 26, 2006 Last day for Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to veto offshore LNG project Northeast Gateway, 8 miles offshore from Gloucester.
If the Governor takes no action, the projects will automatically be approved, which could stymie the proposed Weaver’s Cove LNG terminal. In the past, Romney has said he favors offshore LNG over terminals on land but recently has said he is reserving final judgment until a public comment period is completed and a final state environmental review is released. To learn more: http://www.narragansettbaykeeper.blogspot.com/
December 11, 2006 Massachusetts public hearing on Chapter 91/Waterways License. Venus de Milo, Swansea, MA
December 2, 2006 Developers of Offshore LNG Project Neptune offer $23.5 million to compensate fishermen and the public for potential impacts over the life of the project. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/12/02/lng_firm_will_pay_235m_in_port_deal/
November 14, 2006 RI Department of Environmental Management Public Hearings on dredging application. Save The Bay’s Baykeeper John Torgan tesitifies that dredging could exacerbate periods of hypoxia in Mount Hope Bay, cutting off oxygen to fish and shellfish and asks that RIDEM consider the dredging work in Massachusetts when reviewing the companies’ application. RI Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch asks RIDEM to suspend its review of the application, citing companies’ failure to provide essential information about the potential negative impact on water quality and marine life.
What’s Ahead
To move forward, the proposed project must receive a certificate of waterway suitability from the U.S. Coast Guard and a permit to dredge by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The U.S. Coast Guard held hearings on the application this fall and is seeking additional information about the issue of tanker movements below the Brightman Street Bridge in Fall River. It is anticipated that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging permit hearings will be scheduled in the Spring 2007.
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