Federal and state agencies have accepted as complete Clearwater Port's application for a deepwater port license to build, own and operate a liquefied natural gas import terminal on a converted offshore oil production platform off the Oxnard, California, coast.
The project's owner, Houston-based NorthernStar Natural Gas, said the California State Lands Commission, the US Coast Guard and US Maritime Administration have deemed the application complete. This triggers the preparation of a joint draft environmental impact statement/environmental impact report, a comprehensive, independent assessment of the project that state and federal law requires.
The project calls for construction of a 1.2 Bcf/d LNG receiving and regasification terminal atop Platform Grace, an inactive oil platform. Clearwater Port expects the DEIS/EIR report to be issued in spring 2008 for public comment, with project completion scheduled in 2011.
"We believe our innovative approach to converting an existing offshore oil platform into a safe, modern LNG receiving terminal conforms to the California Coastal Act's principle of reusing existing infrastructure," said NorthernStar CEO William Garrett. He added the project will use ambient air vaporizers "to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
Notice of the application will be published this week in the Federal Register.
Earlier this year, Clearwater Port pledged to hold itself to a higher standard than required under state and county air-quality rules.
Clearwater Port will comply with the Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board air-quality standards, which include using best-available control technology to reduce emissions and compliance with a board rule that requires offsets for emissions, NorthernStar said.
The project's owner, Houston-based NorthernStar Natural Gas, said the California State Lands Commission, the US Coast Guard and US Maritime Administration have deemed the application complete. This triggers the preparation of a joint draft environmental impact statement/environmental impact report, a comprehensive, independent assessment of the project that state and federal law requires.
The project calls for construction of a 1.2 Bcf/d LNG receiving and regasification terminal atop Platform Grace, an inactive oil platform. Clearwater Port expects the DEIS/EIR report to be issued in spring 2008 for public comment, with project completion scheduled in 2011.
"We believe our innovative approach to converting an existing offshore oil platform into a safe, modern LNG receiving terminal conforms to the California Coastal Act's principle of reusing existing infrastructure," said NorthernStar CEO William Garrett. He added the project will use ambient air vaporizers "to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
Notice of the application will be published this week in the Federal Register.
Earlier this year, Clearwater Port pledged to hold itself to a higher standard than required under state and county air-quality rules.
Clearwater Port will comply with the Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board air-quality standards, which include using best-available control technology to reduce emissions and compliance with a board rule that requires offsets for emissions, NorthernStar said.
