Rhode Island State Rep. Bruce J. Long and Rep. Joseph N. Amaral are asking the governor to create a task force to study a Providence-based Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal and are calling for more public hearings for an extended by 30 days.
“There are a number of safety and security issues related to this project that have yet to be addressed,” wrote Representatives Long (R-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) and Amaral (R-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth) in a letter to Gov. Donald L. Carcieri. “Public officials at all levels of government have been speaking out on the LNG proposals to a federal agency that doesn’t seem to listen.”
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KeySpan is planning a $100 million expansion to its Field’s Point facility in Providence, which would allow it to receive LNG supertankers that would travel up Narragansett Bay.
The task force, which the representatives say would “unify the voice of Rhode Islander’s ” would study the proposed facility as well as the transportation route along the shipping channel and recommend a unified strategic course of action. Ideally the task force would consist of federal, state and local officials.
Representatives Long and Amaral would also like four more public hearings held on the project: one at a location near the proposed facility, one in Middletown, and two others in communities along the shipping channel.
They also want the public comment period on the draft Environmental Impact Statement extended for at least 30 days past its present cut-off date of Jan. 24, 2005. Because of the holiday season, they feel it would be appropriate to allow more time for residents, businesses and public officials to share their concerns and become more informed about the proposal.
They made their requests in a letter sent to Patrick H. Wood of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), released December 1, FERC said it did not foresee any major environmental problems posed by the Field’s Point facility. “Many concerns have been expressed to us regarding the proposed facility as well as the transportation route along the shipping channel,” they wrote. “The chief concern is the security and safety of our citizens. We don’t believe the issue has been adequately addressed.”
