Planner vows to fight for LNG site

The developer of a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal in Fall River that was rejected by the US Coast Guard last week says he's not giving up.

"I think there's a point where we will decide it's not worth it. But we're not there yet," said Gordon Shearer, chief executive of Weaver's Cove LNG. "We've done . . . the environmental analysis, permit filings - that's a lot of very expensive, time-consuming work. Now, it's just playing the cards out 'til the end of the game."

Opposed by the Fall River community, the project was turned down by the Coast Guard, which found the Taunton River to be unsuitable for frequent travel by large LNG tankers. This week, a congressional committee is hearing testimony on a bill that would mark the Taunton River a wild and scenic river - a designation that could further hinder the project by preventing the dredging needed for tanker travel.

Though the project has been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which has primary oversight, that approval was contingent upon the sign-off of the Coast Guard. And the Coast Guard issued a firm denial of the project, saying that it would not be safe.

Weaver's Cove is suing state agencies - including the Department of Environmental Protection and the Office of Coastal Zone Management - that have postponed permit decisions until hearing from the federal government.

Next, it is expected to either appeal the Coast Guard decision or revise its proposal.

"We are pressing ahead. We have not given up," Shearer said.

Stephanie Ebbert can be reached at ebbert@globe.com.