Officials with the Department of the Interior are requesting that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission postpone approval of AES’ proposed LNG plant in Chesapeake Bay. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was expected to give AES permission to proceed with the plant, but the DOI wants to wait until an additional wildlife study is finished and analyzed.

According to the Baltimore Examiner, the proposed construction would include the following:

FERC staff and U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez already have recommended approval of AES’ plans, which call for two ship berths, three storage tanks and a vaporization system, as well as administration and security offices.

FERC on Thursday is also expected to approve construction of an 88-mile pipeline from the plant, through Harford County and into southern Pennsylvania.

However, people opposing the project fear that the necessary dredging and other disruptions will harm wildlife, including endangered species. In the DOI’s request for postponement, Willie Taylor, director of the department’s Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, wrote, "There are unanswered questions related to federally listed, endangered and threatened species that may be affected by this project."