Opinion ID: 1031060
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Maryland, the Corps, and FERC's Continued Review.

Text: On June 15, 2008, Maryland submitted comments to FERC regarding the Draft EIS, concerning a number of different aspects of the Project, including the creation of anoxic/hypoxic areas caused by the deep-dredging of the turning basin. [1] The Corps submitted comments on the Draft EIS as well. On December 5, 2008, FERC published for review and comment the final Environmental Impact Statement for the Project (the Final EIS). In official comments on the Final EIS directed to FERC, Maryland and the Corps repeated many of their earlier concerns regarding deficiencies in certain areas of information. On January 15, 2009, FERC adopted the Final EIS and issued its order approving the Project under the Natural Gas Act (the FERC Order). Issuance of the FERC Order, however, did not end the regulatory review process. By letter dated February 6, 2009, the Corps informed AES that, due to outstanding information about the ultimate disposal of the PDM, the final pipeline alignment and crossing methodologies, and the Project's impact on endangered species, the Corps was not in a position to finalize its review. The Corps also stated that based on information currently in the administrative record, it would be difficult for the project to receive a favorable determination from the Corps if the decision needs to be made within the designated Federal agency decision timeframe of 90 days from release of the FEIS ( i.e., by March 5, 2009). (J.A. 2288).