Date : Tue, 31 Mar 2015 11:38:20 -0400
For Immediate Release
March 25, 2015
Contact Jeff Tittel 609-558-9100
Coast Guard Stops Port Liberty LNG for Now
Yesterday, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) made a letter to Liberty Natural Gas public that stated that they are taking the substantial public and government comments into consideration and will respond to them before moving forward. The project proposed by Liberty is Port Ambrose, which would be located near the entrance to the NY Harbor, in two active Coast Guard training areas, and among several fishing areas and wildlife migration routes. The port would discharge 3.5 million gallons of chemically-treated seawater used for pipe tests, generate significant underwater noise pollution, and dredge up over 20 miles of seafloor.
"The announcement by the USCG to put the Port Ambrose /Liberty on hold is a victory for the environment. Anytime an agency like the Coast Guard stops a project like this, it is a big win. The Coast Guard looked like they were trying push this damaging project through and now it's on hold; this is huge. The USCG has now raised some of the same issues we raised on air pollution impacts, environmental damage from the pipeline, and many others. By being wary of Liberty's finances, the USCG has agreed with us on the lack of need for Port Ambrose. With natural gas already in the United States, why would we need imports? Importing natural gas is like Boston importing snow this winter. We believe turnout at public hearings by hundreds of people and all the letters got the USCG to finally listen. This is the wrong project in the wrong place at the wrong time. We believe this project is environmentally damaging and will add to climate impacts. We hope that the Coast Guard will deny this project, but we take this victory for now," said Jeff Tittel Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
LNG is non-conventional compressed natural gas, super-chilled to 260 degrees and 1/600th its original volume. It is extremely volatile and having this off our coast would present serious environmental and public health and safety challenges.
As part of the letter, the USGC has asked for further information on Liberty's financial responsibility if a disaster were to occur. In addition, Clean Air Act compliance is also being analyzed.
"We need to stop this fossil foolishness. LNG not only adds to greenhouse gas and hurts the environment, it is dangerous. Even worse it is being used to undermine energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Port Ambrose project would be sited in an ideal location for offshore wind. We have a clear choice between clean energy and carbon fuels. We could have windmills off our coast or LNG terminals and oil rigs. That future is up to us and that is these hearings are so important," said Tittel. "If the Coast Guard won't protect our coast by stopping it, we need the Legislature and Gov. Christie to stand up and do it."
Changes in federal policy could allow this port to become an export facility. The ships they will use have the technology to do both. Last year Congress passed a law amending port licenses to allow both imports and exports.
"The Coast Guard is doing its job by protecting our coast from this dangerous project. Stopping this project for now is a big win that we hope becomes permanent soon," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.