The potential hazard of re-activating the Cove Point liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility so near to a nuclear facility, which came under attack in the Senate last week, already has been reviewed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a Williams spokeswoman said.

“This is not a new issue,” noted spokeswoman Cindy Ivey, adding that the issue was addressed as part of the Commission’s environmental assessment (EA) on the Williams’ project that was issued at the end of July. The EA, she said, concluded the “input parameters” of the proposed re-opening of the Cove Point LNG loading facility and capacity expansion “were within the bounds of [a] 1993 hazards analysis,” which found that Cove Point posed no threat to the safety of the Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant in Maryland.

The Cove Point facility is located in Lusby, MD, which is within four miles of the nuclear plant owned by Constellation Energy.

“We’re more than willing to do what it takes to ensure the safe operation of the plant,” Ivey said. She noted Williams contacted Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s (D-MD) office last week “to answer any questions her staff may have” about potential dangers that could stem from the close proximity of the two facilities.

From the Senate floor, Mikulski last week denounced FERC’s post-Sept. 11 decision to approve the planned re-opening and expansion of the Cove Point LNG plant because, she said, it would permit “flammable” LNG to “come up the Chesapeake Bay and dock three-and-a-half miles down” from the nuclear plant. She demanded that FERC Chairman Pat Wood review the agency’s decision, which FERC has agreed to do. The Commission has called for parties to file comments this week addressing the “national security implications” of the Cove Point project, and plans to hold a technical conference on Friday.

“We certainly hope” that FERC allows Williams to retain the project certificate, Ivey said, adding that she was “not aware” of the Commission ever taking away a certificate that it had issued.

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