LAKE CHARLES, La. — The Coast Guard provided a letter of recommendation to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission March 19, 2019, on the Calcasieu Ship Channel’s suitability to support Liquefied Natural Gas marine traffic associated with the proposed Commonwealth LNG project.
Since the applicant’s letter of intent issued to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port of Port Arthur in July 2017, Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles has worked with the applicant, port stakeholders and emergency responders to assess the safety and security measures needed to facilitate increased LNG carrier vessel traffic on the Calcasieu Ship Channel. After a thorough review of Commonwealth’s Waterway Suitability Assessment and stakeholder consultation, the Coast Guard COTP of Port Arthur is recommending that the applicable portions of the waterway are currently suitable for the LNG marine traffic associated with this project.
“We applaud the efforts of the local officials and Port Community of Southwest Louisiana for their participation throughout the Waterway Suitability Assessment process for the proposed Commonwealth LNG terminal,” said Cmdr. Dan Cost, Coast Guard Commanding Officer at MSU Lake Charles.
FERC is responsible for authorizing the siting, construction, and operation of onshore LNG facilities. Once FERC completes their review of an application for an LNG facility, FERC is required to complete an Environmental Impact Statement. The Coast Guard will serve as a cooperating agency for FERC’s EIS.
