admin
09-18-2003, 03:37 PM
The National Marine Fisheries Service is threatening to go straight to the top to block the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from constructing a new pipeline stretching from the Bahamas to Florida. The Fisheries are prepared to take their fight to President Bush for review. They contend that FERC reports on a low impact on marine and wildlife are diluted at best.
“The Bush administration generally has supported big energy projects, such as the expansion of oil and gas drilling in Alaska and the Rocky Mountains. But the administration has also shown great sensitivity to environmental concerns in Florida, a crucial state for the 2004 presidential election.”
The Service is lobbying for tighter safety regulations to ensure protection of at risk marine life, and the waters that house them. One of the aspects of its proposal is better planning for a storm situation where construction equipment could break and damage coral reefs. The President’s Council On Environmental Quality has the final say in matters of environmental concerns over government regulations.
“Don Bartlett, project manager for AES, said the company has already responded to many of the fisheries service's concerns and that the documents with the energy commission don't reflect this yet. AES has agreed to hold to a stricter turbidity standard to protect the reefs. The company has prepared a storm plan to prevent harm to the reefs from construction equipment.”
To learn more go to: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cpipeline17sep17,0,5738795.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
“The Bush administration generally has supported big energy projects, such as the expansion of oil and gas drilling in Alaska and the Rocky Mountains. But the administration has also shown great sensitivity to environmental concerns in Florida, a crucial state for the 2004 presidential election.”
The Service is lobbying for tighter safety regulations to ensure protection of at risk marine life, and the waters that house them. One of the aspects of its proposal is better planning for a storm situation where construction equipment could break and damage coral reefs. The President’s Council On Environmental Quality has the final say in matters of environmental concerns over government regulations.
“Don Bartlett, project manager for AES, said the company has already responded to many of the fisheries service's concerns and that the documents with the energy commission don't reflect this yet. AES has agreed to hold to a stricter turbidity standard to protect the reefs. The company has prepared a storm plan to prevent harm to the reefs from construction equipment.”
To learn more go to: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cpipeline17sep17,0,5738795.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines