A draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for Floridian Natural Gas Storage Co. LLC’s (FGS) Floridian Natural Gas Storage project, prepared by FERC staff says if the proposed project is constructed and operated in accordance with FGS’ proposed minimization and mitigation measures, recommended mitigation measures, and applicable laws and regulations, the facilities would result in limited adverse environmental impacts.

Floridian filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the project in November (see NGI, Nov. 12, 2007; March 19, 2007). It would be Florida’s first LNG storage facility.

The peak-shaving facility would be sited on the 145-acre Florida Steel Superfund site near Indiantown in Martin County, FL. The project would consist of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage, liquefaction and vaporization facility; approximately 4.18 miles of new 12-inch diameter incoming pipeline and 24-inch diameter sendout pipeline extending from the storage facility to the Gulfstream Natural Gas System LLC and Florida Gas Transmission interstate pipeline systems; and a 2.75-acre metering and regulating station.

The draft EIS was prepared in coordination with cooperating agencies for the project, which included the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The primary reasons that FERC staff concluded that the proposed project would be an environmentally acceptable action are:

FERC commissioners will take into consideration the staff’s recommendations and the final EIS when they make a decision on the project. The deadline for filing comments is on or before May 5.

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