EPA criticizes pipeline to FPL plant
Agency says ‘alternative route’ needed to avoid environmentally sensitive areas, communities.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Monday it has environmental objections to significant portions of the proposed route of the $3.2 billion natural gas pipeline slated to traverse from Alabama through Georgia and North Florida to Florida Power & Light Co.’s Martin County plant.
The EPA said “an alternative route” should be selected to avoid affecting the Floridan Aquifer, environmentally sensitive wetlands, conservation areas and geologic formations as well as to certain com- munities.
“The EPA generally supports cleaner, alternative fossil fuels such as natural gas to replace coal-fired and oil-fired plants. However, considering the potential magnitude of the proposed project and its resulting greenhouse gas emissions, the EPA is requesting that a full life cycle analysis be conducted for the proposed pipeline,” the document states.
The Sabal Trail Transmission Project proposes 480 miles of pipeline. It is a joint venture of a subsidiary of FPL’s parent company, NextEra Energy Inc., and Houston-based Spectra Energy. The southern leg of 126 miles is proposed by Florida Southeast Connection, another NextEra subsidiary. If approved, it would transport natural gas from the Central Florida Hub to FPL’s plant near Indiantown, and then to its plants in Riviera Beach and Hollywood.
It would be the state’s third major natural gas pipeline. FPL uses natural gas to generate 68 percent of its electricity.
In a 30-page document addressed to Kimberly Bose, who heads the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, EPA regional official Christopher Militscher said the EPA has completed its review of the draft environmental impact statement for the project.
FERC, a federal agency funded by fees from the industry it regulates, must issue a permit before construction can begin. Sabal Trail officials have said the pipeline will be in service by May 2017.
Militscher asked that FERC have a more thorough probe and establish meaningful environmental metrics that allow for a full and informed comparison between the full range of reasonable and environmentally sound alternatives.
The EPA has “very significant concerns over the FERC’s process and full and objective compliance” with National Environmental Policy Act requirements, the statement said. The EPA also questioned whether concerns about the financial impact to Sabal Trail if contractual deadlines are not met influenced FERC’s process.