USCG Requires Calais LNG to Have Canadian Cooperation

The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port for Northern New England submitted his Waterway Suitability Analysis and Letter of Recommendation to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The Analysis concludes, in part:

"The development, by the applicant, of standard operating parameters approved by the U.S. Coast Guard and coordinated with the Government of Canada to enable the safe and secure movement of LNG tankers through Canadian and U.S. waters, taking into account the need for...."

...and...

"The most probable security regime should consist of a mix of U.S. and Canadian federal, state/provincial, and local law enforcement, which may require cost-sharing arrangements, as outlined in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. As mentioned previously, a major portion of the vessels’ route is initially through Canadian waters. Calais LNG must be able to adequately demonstrate that an effective security regime has been established during the Canadian portion of the vessels’ planned route prior to a loaded LNG vessel being allowed to transit to the facility."

Save Passamaquoddy Bay researcher Robert Godfrey responded to the news by saying, "The Government of Canada has repeatedly and firmly stated at the highest level that LNG transits are banned from Passamaquoddy Bay, indicating Canadian safety and security cooperation will not occur."

"All three of the LNG proposals for Passamaquoddy Bay have known of this reality since 2007," Godfrey concluded.

The Coast Guard filings to FERC can be accessed at: http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/File_list.asp?document_id=13850246