The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) on the natural gas facilities proposed by Crown Landing L.L.C. and Texas Eastern Transmission, LP in the above-referenced dockets. Crown Landing proposes to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Gloucester County, New Jersey with the pier being mostly in New Castle County, Delaware. Texas Eastern's Logan Lateral proposal is to construct 11 miles of 30-inch diameter natural gas pipeline in New Jersey and Pennsylvania from the terminal site to Texas Eastern's existing facilities in Brookhaven, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the Crown Landing LNG and Logan Lateral Projects is to deliver new gas supplies to the Mid-Atlantic region.
The final EIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE); the Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); and the U.S. Coast Guard have participated as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS.
Staff concludes that if the project is found to be in the public interest and is constructed and operated in accordance with Crown Landing's and Texas Eastern's proposed mitigation and our recommended mitigation measures, the proposed facilities would have limited adverse impacts.
The primary reasons for our decision are:
- The additional LNG ship traffic in the Delaware Bay and River that would result from the operation of the LNG import terminal would utilize an existing shipping channel.
- Texas Eastern would implement several measures to minimize construction-related impacts on residences and other structures located within 50 feet of the construction right-of-way, including the preparation of site-specific residential construction mitigation plans.
- Crown Landing and Texas Eastern would implement the FERC's Plan and Procedures to minimize impacts on soils, wetlands, and waterbodies.
- Sensitive waterbodies, such as Birch Creek, Raccoon Creek, Chester Creek, and the Delaware River would be crossed by the construction of Texas Eastern's pipeline using directional drill methodology.
- Noise impacts resulting from the LNG terminal operation can be adequately mitigated with our recommended measures.
- Appropriate consultations with the FWS, the COE, NOAA, state historic preservation officers, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection would be required before Crown Landing and Texas Eastern would be allowed to begin construction.
- Crown Landing and Texas Eastern are subject to a federal Coastal Zone Consistency Review for New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania as affected by the projects, but New Jersey claims that the Compact of 1905 between New Jersey and Delaware gives New Jersey exclusive riparian jurisdiction of every kind and nature on its side of the Delaware River and a case is presently pending before the Supreme Court on this claim.
- Safety features would be incorporated into the design and operation of the LNG import terminal and LNG vessels.
- If the Coast Guard issues a LOR finding the waterway to be suitable for LNG marine traffic, the operational controls that would be imposed by the Coast Guard to direct the movement of LNG ships and security provisions would deter attacks by any potential terrorists.
- The environmental and engineering inspection and mitigation monitoring program for this project would ensure compliance with all mitigation measures that become conditions of any FERC authorization.
- All federal, state and local authorizations would be required prior to project construction (see tables 1.3-1 and 1.3-2 of the final EIS).
FERC Commissioners will take into consideration staff's recommendations and the final EIS when they make a decision on the projects.
Note: Maps and figures that contain Non-Internet Public information are not included in above electronic files.