The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the U.S. Coast Guard last week announced that a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) is available for Calypso LNG LLC’s proposed deepwater port off the southeastern coast of Florida.

A notice announcing the FEIS availability was published in the Federal Register, and is in a 45-day period during which state and federal agencies can comment on the FEIS and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist can either approve or reject the project. MARAD said it will issue a record of decision on Calypso’s application 90 days after a public hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Calypso LNG, a subsidiary of Houston-based SUEZ Energy North America, plans to build its 1 Bcf/d liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater port approximately 10 miles offshore from Port Everglades, FL. The project, which was proposed after an LNG project in the Bahamas stalled, will consist of a marine offloading buoy and anchoring system that will reside approximately 150 feet below the ocean surface when not in use.

Construction of the deepwater port would take approximately three years after a license is issued, the agencies said. It would connect to a proposed undersea pipeline to be operated by another SUEZ subsidiary, Calypso U.S. Pipeline LLC. The pipeline would have the capacity to transport approximately 800 MMcf/d to customers in Florida (see NGI, May 14, 2007).

The Calypso port is similar to one currently under development by another SUEZ subsidiary, Neptune LNG LLC (see NGI, Aug. 13, 2007). The Neptune Deepwater Port will be located off the coast of Massachusetts to serve Boston and the greater New England market. Development of this offshore installation is within schedule and is targeted to be up and running in 2009.

SUEZ owns and operates LNG facilities on each side of the Atlantic Ocean — at Everett, MA, serving the New England market, and at Zeebrugge, Belgium, serving the central European market.

Comments on the Calypso LNG project are due by Sept. 2. They should bear the docket number USCG-2006-26009, and be addressed to the Department of Transportation, Docket Management Facility, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Comments also can be electronically sent to www.regulations.gov. For further information, call (202) 366-9329.

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