LNG in Passamaquoddy - 9 Filings to FERC Opposing Downeast LNG Proposal

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The Latest Update to the Save Passamaquoddy Bay website:

FERC > LNG Project Review Process > eLibrary Dockets > Formal Filing Docket Comment Submissions >Downeast LNG — CP07-52, CP07-53, CP07-54, CP07-55 > 2013 May


May 20
Save Passamaquoddy Bay [Sarah and Paul Strickland] — The Stricklands oppose Downeast LNG due to negative impacts it would have on health, safety, environmental, and lifestyle.

Save Passamaquoddy Bay — Dr. James Venart's report on thermal radiation demonstrating DeLNG would violate the thermal radiation Exclusion Zone regulation may be delayed until after May 20, due to health and scheduling problems. Since FERC "deadlines" have been flexible throughout this permitting process, FERC should accept and fully consider the report filing.

Save Passamaquoddy Bay — Save Passamaquoddy Bay enumerates a long list of Downeast LNG regulation-compliance failings. Downeast LNG cannot meet those requirements. FERC must deny permits.

Susan Lambert — Passamaquoddy Bay is a nutrient pump that supports biodiversity in the Bay of Fundy, making the Downeast LNG development inappropriate.

Vaughn McIntyre Consulting — Vaughn McIntyre opposes Downeast LNG due to negative impacts it would have on tourism, especially cruise ships. The waterway's existing uses precludes LNG terminal siting here.

Huntsman Marine Science Centre — Huntsman relies on seawater from the Saint Croix River estuary. LNG terminal construction and operation would negatively impact the water's integrity, the local environment, and Huntsman Marine Science Centre's sustainability.

Nature Trust of New Brunswick — DeLNG is unnecessary and a threat to the area's natural beauty, and natural heritage.

Friends of Head Harbour Lightstation — LNG tankers would present a security risk to Campobello Island, visitors to the lightstation, and Head Harbour Lightstation itslef; and, Campobello Island would present a security risk to LNG tankers.

Town of St. Andrews, New Brunswick — Downeast LNG would have a detremental impact on St. Andrews economy. Existing uses of the bay preclude an LNG terminal, and St. Andrews is unprepared to deal with an emergency resulting from an LNG incident.

Robert Godfrey

Save Passamaquoddy Bay 3-Nation Alliance
www.SavePassamaquoddyBay.org

BREAKING NEWS: An important step forward in restoring alewives to the St. Croix river & More...

English: Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) Français : Achigan à petite bouche (Micropterus dolomieu) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) An important step forward in restoring alewives to the St. Croix river Posted: 27 Mar 2013 11:21 AM PDT An important step forward for restoring alewives to the St. Croix river Fishermen, environmentalists, anglers, representatives from the Passamaquoddy tribal government, federal agencies and the Canadian government have spoken: Alewives should be allowed to return to their native St. Croix river. At a legislative hearing Monday, speaker after speaker rose in support of a bill, L.D. 72, that would immediately open many fishways at the river's dams to Alewives. Our own Sean Mahoney, EVP & Director, CLF ME, testified in support of the bill, arguing, "L.D. 72 is simple, it does the right thing and its benefits – to the watershed, the ecosystem and the many whose livelihoods would be enhanced by a return of the alewives – would be relatively immediate." The legislature is currently considering three bills, and Mahoney was joined by the vast majority in supporting L.D. 72, an emergency bill sponsored by Passamaquoddy tribal Rep. Madonnah Soctomah, that would require the Grand Falls Dam fishway to be opened to the "unconstrained passage" of Alewives by May 1st, before the species' spring spawning season. The opening would give the fish immediate access to over 24,000 acres of habitat, compared to a sparse 1,174 open today. In all likelihood, this opening would lead to Canada's opening the fishway upstream at the Vanceboro dam, allowing access to thousands of additional acres. One researcher estimated that if spawning runs had access to the entire watershed, alewives could number more than 20 million, up from just over 31,000 now. The alternative Adaptive Management Plan, L.D. 584, calls for a more gradual, staged reintroduction of spawning Alewives to the river. Proposed by Governor Page's administration, this plan met overwhelming opposition at Monday's hearing, and was even condemned by one of its own co-authors. It falls far short of restoring alewives throughout the watershed.  It also would run afoul of federal law concerning the operating of dams such as the Vanceboro Dam, as well as the State's own water quality standards, as noted by Sean in his testimony. The LePage administration, along with fishing guides from Washington county, were alone in their concerns that reintroduction of Alewives may lead to a decline in smallmouth bass. The National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asserted that smallmouth bass, which were introduced into the St. Croix in 1877, have lived harmoniously with spawning Alewives in hundreds of Maine's lakes and rivers.  Mahoney's testimony, which you can read here, provides the legal arguments against L.D. 584. You can more about our work restoring the alewives to Maine's rivers here, or check out our latest blog posts about alewives here.