The following letter was forwarded to The Bay Net. It was originally sent to Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen [D-District 8] by the acting chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Monday, Dec. 16. The letter is in regards to FERC’s pending decision about the Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plant expansion project in Calvert County.
Dear Congressman Van Hollen:
Thank you for your Dec. 3, 2013 letter regarding Dominion Cove LNG, LP’s (Dominion) Cove Point Liquefaction Project in Calvert County, Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties, Virginia (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Docket No. CP13-113-000).
The environmental assessment (EA) that is under preparation will address all substantive issues raised by stakeholders. This will include consideration of comments from your constituents and agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. At a minimum, the EA will include an evaluation of the project impact on water resources, residential areas, geology, soils, wildlife and vegetation, threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, air, noise and visual quality, and public safety. As always, the EA will also consider reasonable alternatives to the project as well as cumulative impacts.
The commission will consider the environmental document and the comments when it makes a decision on whether the project is in the public interest. I can assure you that the commission’s decision on whether to authorize this project will be based on a careful review of the issues and will be rooted in the law, facts and science.
I hope this information has been helpful. If I can be of any further assistance in this or any other commission matter, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Cheryl A. LaFleur
FERC Acting Chairman
