Fall River, Mass., Steps Up Opposition to Proposed Natural Gas Facility
miami.com
By Jessica Resnick-Ault, Providence Journal, R.I. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Feb. 3--FALL RIVER, Mass. - The city administration stepped into the ring Friday in its latest attempt to prevent Weaver's Cove Energy from building a liquefied natural gas import facility on the waterfront.
But the developer says it will fight to build on the city's waterfront.
And, if Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr. does not stand down from this round, Gordon Shearer, CEO of Weaver's Cove, said his company will become a fiercer fighter.
On Friday, Lambert filed a "motion to intervene," which would allow the city to receive continuous updates on the project, and have as much input as possible into the licensing process.
But Shearer said the city's fight will make his company less willing to provide in-kind donations to the city and to discuss possible benefits with the administration.
Similar facilities have been proposed for Fields Point in Providence, and Brayton Point in Somerset, where municipal officials have embraced the terminals.
In Fall River, though, the fight to keep an import terminal out of the densely populated city has been through multiple rounds.
"We have been trying to work with the city for over two and a half years, most specifically the mayor," Weaver's Cove spokesman James A. Grasso said. "There's only so much of a pie that we can spread around. And so, unless the city starts to have open discussions with us, we can't offer any mitigation."
Lambert categorized similar comments as "economic threats." He said the company was attempting to "abridge our right to have our voices heard during this process."
Lambert was among 21 people who filed motions to intervene with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the government agency that licenses LNG import facilities. The other motions came primarily from businesses that have interest in the project.
Most motions to intervene are granted, according to regulatory commission spokeswoman Tamara Young-Allen. She said the motion will be granted automatically, unless the company or another person files a request to specifically exclude the city.
Weaver's Cove has not said whether it plans to object to including Lambert as an intervener, but has criticized him for fighting the development.
Lambert's motion includes an eight-page list of more than 25 issues he hopes the regulatory commission will examine. The list includes public safety, economic and environmental questions.
Lambert's public safety concerns include the risk of having large ships pass up the Taunton River, to the proposed import site. The cargo they carry, stored at 260 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, is highly flammable, and could threaten the coastline if an accident or planned attack occurred. Lambert asks the regulatory commission to identify the exact impact of an "incident" in the shipping channel.
He points out the terminal's proximity to housing developments and schools, and questions the safety of the land-side storage facility, and the appropriateness of siting the facility within a mile of about 9,000 residents.
But Weaver's Cove said it would not answer Lambert's questions yesterday.
"It's not up to us to address his concerns," Grasso said in a telephone interview. "It's up to the agencies that regulate and have the knowledge and experience and background to address his issues."
Generally, the regulatory commission's evaluation of a project takes a year or more, according to Young-Allen. She said the next step will be to draft an Environmental Impact Statement for the project, and revise it following a public comment period.
Throughout this procedure, Lambert said his administration will stay involved, despite threats from Weaver's Cove.
"We will not stay silent, however, about a project of such great impact on our community."
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© 2004, Providence Journal, R.I. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
---------------- related story ---------
Fall River plan a pain in the gas: Mayor: LNG site will hurt economy, safety
business.bostonherald.com
By Jon Chesto
Wednesday, February 4, 2004
Critics of a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal in Fall River say that it threatens the city's economic development and the safety of thousands of people who live near the Weaver's Cove site.
Fall River Mayor Ed Lambert, a vocal opponent of the proposed $250 million LNG unloading station, wants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to let the city participate in a formal review.
His request aims to give the city the right to appeal FERC's decision, which isn't expected for nearly a year.
Weaver's Cove Energy LLC's LNG project would be the second place in New England - after an Everett site - where tankers can unload their supercooled cargo.
Terminals also have been suggested for sites in nearby Somerset and Providence. Another is moving forward in Harpswell, Maine.
Lambert said an accidental fire could endanger the 9,000 residents who live within a mile of Weaver's Cove.
He said he worries about the likely closing of bridges over the Taunton River - including an Interstate 95 bridge - as tankers pass beneath them.
``I don't think you can accept on faith that there's zero risk with these facilities,'' Lambert said.
Despite $3 million in new taxes, Lambert said the project would be a step back for the city's economy and could harm a nascent cruise ship industry.
William Whitty, Fall River city council president, asked FERC to require Weaver's Cove to pay a one-time sum of $100,000 to the city, and $250,000 annually for the city's public safety costs.
But Lambert prefers steadfast opposition over negotiations.
Weaver's Cove spokesman James Grasso said the tankers are a safe way of shipping natural gas and the project would boost the city's economy by re-using the site, a disused oil storage depot.
``This mayor is looking at turning down a facility in an industry with a proven track record and turning down $3 million a year,'' Grasso said. ``I can't understand it.'' |
