Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez has postponed closing the record in the case involving the Weaver’s Cove liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project for an additional 60 days to receive more information on the company’s consistency appeal under the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA).

While the CZMA required Gutierrez to close the record in the appeal of the Weaver’s Cove proposed terminal and associated pipeline on March 4, but it also gave him authorization to extend the deadline. The secretary has opted to stay the closure of the decision record until May 5 so he can “solicit supplemental and clarifying information” on the project.

Weaver’s Cove last summer asked the Department of Commerce to override Massachusetts’ objection to the federal consistency certification for its controversial LNG terminal facility proposed for Fall River, MA (see NGI, Sept. 17, 2007). Gutierrez can override a state’s objection if he determines that a proposed LNG facility is consistent with the objectives of the CZMA or it is necessary in the interest of national security.

Gutierrez took similar action last month with respect to the CZMA appeal of the AES Sparrows Point LNG project, staying closure of the record until April 14.

The Weaver’s Cove project, which FERC approved in mid-2005, has been the target of intense opposition by local, state and federal officials. If built, it would provide 800 MMcf/d of peak sendout capacity, 400 MMcf/d of baseload supply and 200,000 metric tons of LNG storage.

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