Posted on 04/11/2002 11:15:18 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
WASHINGTON – Despite opposition from environmentalists and Imperial County officials, federal regulators yesterday reaffirmed their approval of a natural gas pipeline to fuel new power plants in Mexicali.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said "no basis" exists for doing more environmental analysis of the Mexican plants. Opponents of the plants and the Environmental Protection Agency said FERC's initial analysis was flawed.
The commission also stood by its original conclusion that the pipeline will contribute to a reduction in air pollution in the Mexicali area by providing a source of clean-burning natural gas for residents and industries.
"The Commission has reviewed the issues raised by (the opponents) and . . . finds that these matters have been adequately addressed, and do not provide a basis for granting rehearing," FERC said in a draft order.
Steve Birdsall, director of the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, said he wasn't surprised by the agency's decision.
"We've been pretty disappointed in their response to the situation," he said.
Imperial County is awaiting a decision in response to its request to intervene in the government process, an action that is a necessary precursor to filing a lawsuit. Officials have not decided whether they will sue if the request is approved, Birdsall said.
"We're rapidly running out of options," he said.
FERC approved the North American portion of the 215-mile North Baja Pipeline, including a presidential permit required to extend it across the U.S.-Mexico border, in January. The pipeline is a joint venture of San Diego-based Sempra Energy, Próxima Gas of Mexico and a unit of PG&E Corp. of San Francisco.
The pipeline will fuel power plants being built by Sempra and Boston-based InterGen in Mexicali. The plants will provide electricity to customers on both sides of the border.
Foes say the plants will aggravate air pollution in the Imperial Valley-Mexicali region.
The energy firms deny that. Sempra says its plant will meet California air emission standards. But it says it will not implement offsets, required north of the border to balance the plant's emissions with reductions at other sources, such as city buses or local industries.
In approving the pipeline, FERC said it posed no major environmental problems. The commission also cited a limited Department of Energy study, concluding that the plants that will export electricity to the United States would not significantly increase air pollution on the U.S. side of the border.
The Energy Department made the conclusion when granting presidential permits for the construction of electrical transmission lines from the plants. Environmental groups are challenging that decision in court.
Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego, an outspoken critic of the plants, had asked FERC to reconsider the pipeline decision. He argued that FERC's environmental assessment was incomplete and that it "should review the huge air pollution impacts . . . on the residents of Imperial County."
The EPA raised similar questions about FERC's assessment.
Filner also contended that water used to cool the plants would ultimately lower water levels in the Salton Sea and harm endangered species there. But FERC, citing the Energy Department study, said "the potential environmental impact on these water resources would be minor."
Filner urged FERC to require power plants that use gas from the North Baja Pipeline to have strict emission controls. But FERC said that power plants in Mexico are not subject to its jurisdiction.
Megan Frey, a spokeswoman for PG&E National Energy Group, which is spearheading the American portion of the pipeline venture, said: "We applaud FERC's decision and appreciate the timeliness. There was an extensive and comprehensive environmental review of this project."
Staff writer Diane Lindquist contributed to this report.
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What?!? The ingrates are refusing to plant trees in Sacramento or convert some of their buildings to solar power?
I'm loving this. It's the start of a trend. Next will be the floating power plants 13 miles off the California coast...built by Japan.
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