11-R184

2011 -- S 0456

Enacted 04/06/11

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED WEAVER'S COVE OFFSHORE BERTH FOR LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS

Introduced By: Senators Felag, Sosnowski, Paiva Weed, and DiPalma

Date Introduced: March 10, 2011

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Senate Task force on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) was

established on January 15, 2010, to address the serious questions that require research about the

proposed Weaver’s Cove Energy Offshore Berth in Mount Hope Bay and the potential impact on

the state’s safety, economy, and environment; and

     WHEREAS, A summary report was issued by the Rhode Island Senate Task Force on

LNG that recommended actions, described the hearing process, detailed the individuals and

organizations that provided verbal testimony, listed the individuals that sent written or electronic

correspondence to the Task Force, and listed the volumes of documents and letters the Task Force

received regarding the proposed project in Mount Hope Bay; and

     WHEREAS, An overwhelming amount of the information received by the Senate Task

Force on LNG was in opposition to the project; and

     WHEREAS, Concerns about the project included environmental degradation, public

safety, conflicting uses of Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay waterways, and legal and

regulatory authority regarding the proposed project; and

     WHEREAS, There are no fewer than seventeen of the state’s thirty-nine municipalities

located on Narragansett Bay, making the transit of LNG tankers quite literally in the backyard of

the entire state; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, In the unfortunate event that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

approves the project, the Rhode Island Senate Task Force strongly recommends and respectfully

requests that any approval provide a specific condition for Weaver’s Cove Energy to document

that it has received concurrence from the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council

that the project is consistent with the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Program

(CRMP) as authorized by the federal Coastal Zone Management Act; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Task Force strongly believes that this program should be

respected during any possible federal permitting process given the economic and environmental

value these resources offer Rhode Island. If this project is not subject to the CRMP then it sets a

dangerous precedent for all other federal projects that might locate in Rhode Island’s waters; and

be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Rhode Island Senate Task Force on Liquefied Natural Gas

respectfully requests the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to deny the necessary approvals

for the Weaver’s Cove Energy Offshore Berth in Mount Hope Bay as presented in Docket

number CP04-36. This request is based on a comprehensive public hearing process undertaken by

the Task Force in February, March, and April of 2010; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Charles Schneider, Executive Director of the

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.

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LC01399

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