First LNG Import Terminal on the West Coast of the U.S.

Print PDFNorthernStar Natural Gas
September 1, 2008

Serving as project counsel, Van Ness Feldman lawyers helped NorthernStar Natural Gas secure Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorization to build the first liquefied natural gas import terminal on the west coast of the United States.  The Bradwood Landing terminal, when operational, and associated pipeline will deliver up to 1.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day into the Pacific Northwest regional gas system.  The presence of LNG in the Northwest will help ensure that reliable and affordable energy is available to consumers in the region.

FERC awarded the project and certificate in September, 2008, concluding a pre-filing process that began in 2005.  Van Ness Feldman helped provide information so that FERC could conduct an extensive review of all technical, environmental, and legal aspects of the project.  The written record consisted of more than 50,000 pages.  

In addition to serving as FERC counsel, the firm provided federal legislative and policy representation to NorthernStar on issues related to large scale energy project development, as well as on federal and state environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act and Coastal Zone Management Act, permitting and tariff reviews, the local-state-federal facility siting law interplay.