FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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BALTIMORE, MD – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today co-led a coalition of 9 attorneys general opposing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) efforts to allow the construction and expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants without notice and consultation with affected state and local entities.
In a comment letter filed with FERC, the attorneys general oppose the use of a “blanket” permit to allow the construction of new and expanded LNG plants without meaningful review of the applications by FERC and consultation with state and local emergency management authorities, as is required under the Natural Gas Act (NGA). The NGA requires LNG developers to coordinate with state and local emergency management agencies before beginning construction of major LNG facilities that could jeopardize the public’s safety or strain the community’s emergency response capabilities. These provisions ensure that appropriate safety systems are in place and an emergency response plan is developed with input from state and local leaders that know their communities best before FERC can approve these applications under the NGA.
FERC maintains jurisdiction over a wide variety of LNG operations, from large-scale LNG import and export terminals to LNG storage facilities, some of which liquefy natural gas on site while others only receive shipments of already-liquefied natural gas. FERC’s Notice of Inquiry fails to specify which facilities might be impacted and the attorneys general urge FERC to clarify this important threshold question before proceeding.
The letter also highlights the public transparency and environmental concerns already present surrounding LNG plants, with details concerning facility costs and safety measures precluded from public disclosure in many FERC filings, that would be exacerbated by any blanket permit program. The attorneys general urge FERC to produce the information necessary for the public to understand the potential scope and impacts of this rulemaking before releasing a proposed rule.
Attorney General Brown co-led the letter with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. They were joined by the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
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