Alaska LNG schedules open houses

Alaska LNG has scheduled 12 open houses across Alaska over the next few weeks to explain the project to the public, provide information and answer questions about the multibillion-dollar natural gas development that will span the length of the state.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission officials will attend the meetings as part of the agency’s effort that will include preparing an environmental impact statement for the project. FERC approval will be required to construct and operate the North Slope gas treatment plant, 800-mile pipeline, gas liquefaction plant and LNG shipping terminal at Nikiski that comprise the Alaska LNG project sponsored by ExxonMobil, BP, ConocoPhillips, TransCanada and the state of Alaska.

The Alaska LNG sponsors filed with FERC in September to start the agency’s environmental and safety review of the project.

The sponsors will run the open house meetings; FERC will attend as an observer.

The open house schedule, as of Oct. 21, included:

  • Oct. 28: Nikiski High School; 6 to 9 p.m.
  • Oct. 29: Tyonek Tribal Center; 3 to 5 p.m.
  • Oct. 30: Anchorage, Crowne Plaza Hotel; 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Nov. 5: Tri-Valley Community Center, Healy; 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Nov. 6: Mitchell A. Demientieff Tribal Hall, Nenana; 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Nov. 10: Minto Tribal Hall; 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Nov. 12: Fred Ipalook Elementary School, Barrow; 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Nov. 12: Westmark Hotel and Conference Center, Fairbanks; 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Nov. 13: Kisik Community Center, Nuiqsut; 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Nov. 18: Trapper Creek Elementary School; 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Nov. 19: Fire Station 61, 101 W. Swanson Ave., Wasilla; 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Nov. 20: Houston Middle School; 6 to 8 p.m.

Several open houses already have been held across the state, with additional open houses expected.

The project sponsors have said they plan to submit the first reports of their environmental data to FERC next year, looking toward a draft environmental impact statement in 2017 and the final in 2018, moving the project closer to an investment decision.