USCG Addresses Canadian Sovereignty, Other Issues, in Downeast LNG WSR
The Letter of Recommendation (LOR) and Waterway Suitability Report (WSR) prepared by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for the proposed Downeast LNG regasification terminal project are now available. The documents require Downeast to implement a number of risk mitigation measures, including developing “standard operating parameters approved by the USCG and coordinated with the Government of Canada to enable the safe and secure movement of LNG tankers through Canadian and U.S. waters.” The WSR addresses the use of adequate tugboat escorts for transiting LNG vessels and the potential cumulative effects of increased deep draft vessel traffic if the Downeast LNG, Quoddy Bay LNG, and Calais LNG projects eventually come online.
Canadian sovereignty concerns also are raised in the report; the WSR acknowledges that “a significant portion of the transit route” to Downeast is contained within Canadian waters and “[t]he eventual involvement and cooperation of Canada’s maritime, environmental, and public safety authorities are paramount to ensure the safety and security of the waterway.” The LOR and WSR are available in the FERC eLibrary under Docket No. CP07-52. See the Bangor Daily News for additional coverage of the USCG’s issuance.