Maintaining LNG safety is a top priority for several federal
and state agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard's jurisdiction
includes the ship as it is in transit in the Chesapeake Bay and docked at the
offshore platform, the equipment and piping on the offshore platform, and the
piping leading from the platform to the tanks onshore.
Even before the ship enters the Virginia capes, the Coast
Guard closely supervises the ship's voyage up the Chesapeake Bay. During the
trip to Dominion Cove Point, the Coast Guard continuously maintains a safety
zone around the ship. The Coast Guard also continually enforces a safety zone
around the offshore platform, even when a ship is not present. Ultimately, the
Coast Guard conducts thorough inspections of everything under its jurisdiction.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Pipeline
Safety is another key agency. Its jurisdiction begins where the Coast
Guard jurisdiction ends and includes the tanks, the facility process equipment
and the pipeline. The OPS routinely conducts safety inspections and audits.
Finally, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which
approved the reactivation of Dominion Cove Point, is monitoring the facility.
There were multiple conditions that FERC had to approve before
the reactivated facility could begin service.
Dominion's Commitment to a Safe and Secure Cove Point
Dominion's overall outstanding corporate safety record provides
reasons for public confidence in the company's ability to operate Dominion Cove
Point in a safe and secure manner.
For example, Dominion oversees one of the nation's largest
and safest nuclear energy programs, with reactors in Surry and North Anna, Virginia,
and Millstone, Connecticut. The company safely operates more than 7,600 miles
of natural gas transmission lines. In 2001, Dominion Exploration and Production,
one of the industry's major offshore producers in the Gulf of Mexico, received
the prestigious National Safety Award for Excellence from the U.S. Department
of Interior's Minerals Management Service.
Before reactivating the Dominion Cove Point facility, a thorough
inspection of all facility components was conducted by the company, including
both visual inspection and pressure testing. Dominion upgraded equipment wherever
such improvements were needed.
Dominion has conducted a thorough security review of the facility
and has implemented a plan that will provide for more than adequate security.
The plan includes appropriate measures in light of the post-September 11, 2001,
environment.
As with all of its facilities, Dominion will work closely
to coordinate its emergency response plans with local agencies.
