Weaver’s Cove Says Rhode Island Agencies Are Stalling Review of LNG Proposal
In a June 22 filing with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Weaver’s Cove Energy alleges that two Rhode Island agencies are delaying their review of the developer’s dredging application, which the company says it submitted two years ago, in an attempt to block its LNG terminal proposal in Fall River, Mass. However, the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council continues to argue that it cannot review the company’s plans to dredge Mount Hope Bay until the company submits a water quality certification from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, which Weaver’s Cove asserts also is purposely delaying review. In the June 22 filing,Weaver’s Cove requests that Commerce rule that Rhode Island’s approval of the dredging application is presumed due to the RICRMC’s failure to review the application within the required six-month deadline. The RICRMC maintains that the six-month time period starts only after the application is complete, which includes the filing of the DEM water quality certification. The Providence Journal has the story. The Dept. of Commerce filing may be found in the FERC e-Libraryin CP04-36.