Houston Company eyes $500 million investment in St. Mary Parish

St. Mary Parish Council
By: Howard J. Castay, Jr.

Franklin – The St. Mary Parish Council learned Henry Gas Storage of Houston is proposing a $500 million project in St. Mary Parish, creating 1,600 construction jobs and 20 permanent jobs.
The company, a subsidiary of Ranger Gas Storage LLC of Houston, wants to build an underground natural gas storage facility on Cote Blanche Island, according to Michael McCall, a spokesman with Henry Gas. The project will include 12 miles of new natural gas pipeline to connect with interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines in the area.

Parish Clerk Kim Pusateri presented a brief letter from McCall to the Council at their regular meeting last night. He was not present for the meeting, but indicated the company will hold an open house in the near future to share information about the project. Also, he said the company will launch a website.

“Henry Gas Storage is currently in the early stages of the project’s development, assessing market conditions, reviewing permit requirements and talking to all interested parties,” she said.

The company expects to complete permitting for the facility by the third quarter of 2009. Pending approval, construction of the gas storage facility will commence in 2009 and will be finished in 2012, with initial site operations beginning in 2012.

Pusateri said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will have the primary responsibility for overseeing the permitting and construction of the project.

She said that although Henry Gas has not filed a formal application with them, the federal government has begun an environmental study of the company’s plans. Parts of this process will include an opportunity for public comment from landowners, stakeholders and others.

In other business, the Council agreed to address a new policy on appointments to its various 44 parish wide boards, due to new citizens being appointed without applying for the jobs, most of which are unpaid. The new policy would be formed at their next meeting in November.

However, the Council did agree to relax the policy for already sitting members to continue serving, should they desire and there is no council opposition, without having to reapply.

Council Chairman Steve Bierhorst said that “I didn’t realize we were appointing persons without them filling out an application for the position.”

“That’s why we need to be in contact with our boards more often,” Amelia Councilman Chuck Walters said.

“A person should know when it is time to quit. A lot of these boards are really friendship gatherings,” Franklin Councilman Albert Foulcard said.

“I agree, but I would also like to add that some board members feel they are running their own business,” Four Corners Councilman Craig Matthews said.

“That’s because we sit up here and keep our mouths shut,” Foulcard replied to Matthews.

“Well I don’t,” Matthews retorted.