Quoddy Bay seeks pre-hearing delay -- The Quoddy Tides, Eastport, Maine

Quoddy Bay LNG has asked the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) for additional time to prepare for a pre-hearing conference. Quoddy Bay now is requesting a June pre-hearing date. "The primary purpose in its need for continued time to prepare for the public hearing lies in the fact that results of ongoing discussions with liquified natural gas (LNG) suppliers can yield changes to the project's design," according to a March 14 update status report sent to the BEP. Quoddy Bay Project Manager Brian Smith says developments over the past several months within the world LNG market have created an environment that may allow Quoddy Bay to eliminate or reduce the nitrogen mitigation that could result in corresponding reductions to the project's environmental impact.

Tamara Young-Allen, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) spokesperson, says there is no action necessary on FERC's part at this time. The status reports are provided every few months to the BEP.

According to Smith, "FERC is considering the revised tariff of Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline on gas quality specifications and otherwise considering the impact of LNG on pipeline gas quality, including issues such as maximum nitrogen content. These issues may have an impact on our facility, and we believe that monitoring these issues will require additional time before a final position is possible."

According to Marylee Hanley, spokesperson for Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline, the company has not submitted any revised tariff requests to FERC.