Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
Sabine Pass, LA -- Federal regulators have hit LNG operator Cheniere Energy with a $2.2 million fine over a dangerous gas leak from its Sabine Pass LNG facility in early 2018. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration determined that the leak was caused by “incorrect operations” and that the company knew the tank design was inadequate and allowed it to operate anyway.
The leak was discovered before anyone was harmed, but could have caused a devastating explosion and fire. The two tanks at the terminal that were leaking have been shut down since the incident because the company has still not met the conditions set by PHMSA to restart them.
In response, Sierra Club Senior Campaign Representative Roddy Hughes released the following statement:
“It’s good that regulators are holding Cheniere accountable for their failure to safely run their facility, but the best way to protect communities from explosive fracked gas would be not to permit these facilities in the first place. It’s clear that the massive expansion of gas export facilities proposed for the Gulf Coast would be a disaster for our communities and our climate. There’s no such thing as a safe fracked gas facility, and these projects should never be built.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.