Save Passamaquoddy Bay
3-Nation Alliance

Alliance to Protect the Quoddy Region
from LNG Development

Time to act on LNG, meeting told — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB

[Clifford Goudey] spoke about the dangers of an explosion from LNG. Both the terminals and the tankers represent large amounts of LNG, said Goudey, and from a public safety standpoint, you need to think long and hard before you store that amount of concentrated energy near the public.

The danger zone ... extends almost four miles from the terminal site and a spill from a tanker could extend out to one-and-a-half miles and that could happen anywhere along the approach. Goudey said there would be lots of impact on Canadians if there [were] an accident. (Sep 1)

Premier will act on LNG issue — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB

This week, Premier Lord said that he spoke with his officials in the province's department of justice on areas of jurisdiction when Huntjens first informed him of the possibility of the LNG terminals while the two were in St. Andrews about a year and a half ago. (Sep 1)

LNG panel to meet next week — Dundalk Eagle, Dundalk, MD

The first official meeting of the state-sanctioned LNG task force is set for Sept. 5 in Annapolis even though a chairman and four members had not been selected by early this week, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

The task force was created as Senate Bill 996 - written in part by State Sen. Norman Stone (6th District) - back in April and signed by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. in June.

The panel is to be comprised of 20 community members and state officials who will examine the possibility of a liquefied natural gas plant on the Sparrows Point peninsula.

Authority approves gas import plan — Reuters UK

Excelerate Energy's offshore "Energy Bridge" technology — keeping LNG terminals safely away from people — is spreading.

Authority in LNG safety zones clarified — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME

On August 15 the U.S. Coast Guard issued an overview of regulations regarding safety and security zones around liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers and indicated that harbor pilots aboard LNG vessels do not have any authority to make decisions regarding other vessels — including fishing vessels, ferries and other boats — within such zones. According to the Coast Guard, only the Coast Guard, and in Maine, the Maine Marine Patrol, legally has that authority. [Bold red emphasis added.] (Aug 25)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Don Smith's video-recorded statements at a 2005 Sipayik Tribal Council meeting claimed that his LNG project would have no negative effect on fishing — that the LNG vessel's pilot would radio any fishing boat within the LNG vessel's safety/security zone that the pilot recognized; then, if the fisherman answered the pilot's questions to the pilot's satisfaction, the fisherman would be allowed to keep on fishing in the safety/security zone.The Coast Guard's notice of authority is testimony to just one more of Smith's lies.

Smith's false claim was even adamantly repeated by a local harbor pilot during the 2006 July 13 FERC Quoddy Bay LLC Site Visit, confirming that local pilots have been hoodwinked by Smiths' lack of honesty.

Once again, Quoddy Bay LLC has proven their lack of character, and that they'll say anything at all to obtain public support for their project.

Quoddy Bay LNG poised for FERC filing [— NOT!] — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME

FERC requires that Resource Report 13 be submitted at least 90 days prior to the final filing of a formal application to FERC. Quoddy Bay LNG has said it intends to have all permits for construction by the fall of 2007 and begin operations in the winter of 2009. (Aug 25)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Quoddy Bay LNG's "poise" has resulted in an embarrassing "stumble." Since the above article was published, FERC has notified Quoddy Bay LNG that their Resource Reports contain an abundance of missing and incomplete material, pushing back the date that they can file for an application until November, December, or later, making their project even more futile.

"This administration has decided that of course it will accept the prior administration’s decision to adopt LNG as a part of our economy," Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson told The Bahama Journal. "In other words, it means that wherever applicants actually satisfy the conditions of our LNG policy we will entertain applications [from] them and possibly enter into heads of agreement with those particular applicants. We’re now in the process of negotiating a heads of agreement with AES."

AES intends to construct an LNG regasification terminal on Ocean Cay, near Cat Cay and Bimini, and run [a natural gas] pipeline to South Florida to help meet that state’s growing demand for energy.

Minister Miller has said an LNG facility will assist with economic diversification by providing income of approximately $25 million per annum for lease and license fees, plus an additional $50 million to $70 million per annum in throughput fees based on current prices and projected demand.

This amount is expected to be supplemented by an additional $500,000 annually which will be contributed to training and environment protection, and community projects. [Bold emphasis added.] (Jul 26)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Compare the AES Ocean LNG project with Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LLC.

Bill to rank LNG plans shunted to committee — Ventura County Star, Ventura, CA

The bill, SB426, fell just short of success on the final night of last year's legislative session. It passed the Assembly late that night, but the Senate adjourned for the year before the measure could be ferried a few hundred feet across the Capitol for a final vote that would have sent it to the governor.

LNG attack could ignite firestorm — Daily Item, Flynn, MA

An explosion followed by a rash of fires spreading out for a mile in all directions is the worst possible scenario that could occur in the event of a terror attack on the waterfront liquid natural gas tank in Lynn.

That possible disaster zone would stretch from the waterfront past Western Avenue, over the General Edwards Bridge, encompassing downtown and much of West Lynn and extending halfway across the Nahant Causeway.

A local fire chief involved in emergency response to terror attacks on area utilities offered that grim scenario Wednesday as state and Keyspan energy workers sought to locate two people who climbed the LNG tank last Wednesday.

"It would be a catastrophic release if the tank were breached. The liquid would vaporize, expand quickly, seek an ignition point and then, if there was a flashback, you would have a firestorm," Revere Chief Eugene Doherty said.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Note: the emergency response personnel of the Lynn area have been trained to deal with an LNG "event," but the Revere Fire Chief still categorizes what could happen as a "firestorm."

This event should raise the hackles on everyones' necks, for two reasons: (1) It took five days for Keyspan to report the incident; and, (2) although it might have been committed by juveniles, terrorists could have been conducting a "practice run."

It begs the question: "With such a serious breach in security — terrorists could have easily created a disaster — how can the public believe FERC and LNG developers when they tell the public that new LNG facilities will be operated safely?"

Houlton native Robert Somerville, a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, now chairman and CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping, fully understands Maine's economic development needs and is well qualified indeed to suggest that the benefits for Maine of assuming its natural role as one of the nation's most important energy transshipment points outweigh by far some mis-perceived risks. [NOTE: The Banfor Daily News online letters page contains no link to take you directly to a particular letter. To find the letter using the above link, search the page for "Maine's energy role".]

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Robert Somerville apparently failed to read the Whole Bay Study and the LNG industry's world standards.

The Whole Bay Study does a more objective job of "understanding Maine's economic development needs" than a spokesman-advocate for the shipping industry.

The Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO, with over 90% of the world's LNG capacity as members) has developed LNG-industry world-class standards — that warn against siting an LNG terminal under the conditions in Passamaquoddy Bay. Somerville's and the letter writer's "mis-perceived risks" apparently are real-world risks in the eyes of the LNG industry's standards-making body.

BP says halts work on Tx. Gulf Coast LNG terminal — Reuters

BP Plc. said on Tuesday it was halting work on a proposed $600 million, 1.2 billion cubic foot per day (bcfd) liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal planned for Pelican Island, just north of Galveston, Texas, after an "assessment of the project's economics."

BP told Galveston city officials last week it would not go forward with the Bay Crossing LNG terminal and regasification plant project because of the glut of similar projects planned for the U.S. Gulf Coast, according to the Galveston County Daily News. [Bold emphasis added.]

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The glut of LNG projects has caused BP to back out of the Pelican Island project. That's one more LNG-industry member that's indicated an over-abundance of LNG projects, even more proof that Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LLC are moot or otherwise doomed to financial failure.

LNG: ‘fuel of the future,’ Castine audience told — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME

The Harpswell decision was based on fear, he said: fear of the product, the method of transporting it, fear that it might attract a terrorist attack and fear of its impact on traditional ways, [according to Bob Somerville,, chairman of the American Bureau of Shipping]. (Aug 18)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Somerville obviously didn't read the Harpswell Yellow Wood Report. If he had, he'd have known that an LNG terminal at Harpswell would have resulted in a net loss of revenue and jobs.

Woodside in LNG pitch to California — Australian, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia

Woodside has designed OceanWay to avoid community concerns that a land or platform-based gas receival terminal could affect property values. OceanWay involves two delivery buoys more than 32km offshore from Los Angeles International Airport, with twin underwater pipelines to deliver gas to shore.

LNG will be turned back into gaseous form on a specially equipped ship before being piped directly to shore, avoiding the need to construct a permanent plant. When not required for ship unloading, the buoys will rest on the sea floor. (Aug 21)

State agencies want voice in Bradwood Landing LNG — Clatskanie Chief, Clatskanie, OR

A meeting called by Clatsop County, six state agencies, plus two federal agencies, left no doubt that they want their say over issues related to the proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and the 34 mile bi-state pipeline through portions of Clatsop, Columbia and Cowlitz counties. (Aug 13)

Who has say over siting LNG terminal? — Oregonian, Portland, OR

Attorneys for Bradwood Landing, about 38 miles inland from Astoria, recently filed legal papers asking the commission to set deadlines for local and state agencies to process the site's permit applications. The papers argue that those agencies' insistence that the project meet local zoning requirements before state air and water permits are considered "threatens to frustrate and to unlawfully delay" federal permitting.

The state, in turn, is refusing to consider the LNG facility's applications for air and water permits complete until the county has verified that the project meets land-use and zoning requirements. The Department of Environmental Quality on July 13 notified the project's developers that such verification is required under state law. (Aug 12)

Gazprom establishes subsidiaries in US and France — LNG Express

Gazprom Marketing & Trading Ltd. (GMT Ltd.), OAO Gazpromís LNG and gas trading business unit, in June registered two overseas subsidiaries ñ Houston-based Gazprom Marketing & Trading USA (GMT USA) and Paris-based Gazprom Marketing & Trading France (GMTF).

GMT USA will be engaged in LNG and natural gas marketing operations aimed at long-run penetration of gas markets in the US. (Aug 14)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Swell. Perhaps FERC will explain to Americans how a Russian gas monopoly controlling energy in the U.S. is a step toward U.S. energy security.

Quoddy Bay Announces Start of Open Season for Pipeline Capacity — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC

Quoddy Bay Pipeline yesterday launched an open season offering firm and interruptible transportation capacity for up to 2 Bcf/d on a pipeline connecting the proposed Quoddy Bay LNG terminal to the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline. The open season is slated to end August 31. (Aug 10)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: "Interruptible transportation" includes the probability that Quoddy Bay LLC's lease agreement with the Passamaquoddy Tribe will be nullified in Federal Court. A lawsuit by Nulankeyutomonen Nkihtahkomikumon against the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Department of the Interior, for violating statutory Indian Trust obligations with respect to Quoddy Bay LLC's lease. As stated in the complaint, it "seeks injunctive relief that will set aside the BIA’s approval of the lease." The case is due to be heard by the court in September.

Some background regarding the BIA: They're deeply embroiled in another Indian Trust violation lawsuit that's been going on for over 10 years. Due to the BIA's negligence regarding their trust obligations, the courts forced the BIA to shut down their website and email years ago. The BIA has a long and shameful record of ongoing negligence related to Indian Trusts.

With the possibility of the Nulankeyutomonen Nkihtahkomikumon lawsuit lasting for 10 years, or more, and then ending in a nullified lease, what is the possibility that anyone will want to commit to business with Quoddy Bay LLC, Quoddy Bay LNG, Quoddy Bay Pipeline, or any other company name that they spawn? They're are all doomed to failure.

Last Gas: Can natural gas reserves keep up with soaring consumption? — Dominion, Montréal, QC

Natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel than oil or coal, but the environmental benefits of this will only be felt if natural gas replaces more polluting fossil fuel. If, on the other hand, natural gas is used in addition to other fuels, the environmental impacts will only worsen. According to Thompson, consumption trends indicate that the latter will be true. “What seems to be happening is that the natural gas won't displace other fuels, but just increase consumption,” explains Thompson.

“The bigger trend is disturbing in that it postpones the real grappling with our energy and climate change issues,” continues Harvey. Rather than pouring resources into LNG terminals, communities should be focusing on how to decrease energy consumption and how to harness cleaner renewable sources of energy, like wind and solar, she says.

“This is a catastrophic waste of money,” says Darley. “It’s a huge investment in something that's going to run out.” (Aug 10)

Quoddy Bay LNG helps [Letter to the editor by Brian Smith] — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME

Yellow Wood Associates specializes in working against economic development and have no background in LNG or energy facilities. They were commissioned by an anti-economic development organization to seek out any potential negative impacts of a generic LNG terminal, leading to an incorrect and misleading "Whole Bay Study" essay.

Quoddy Bay LNG has stated that any increased costs to local governments relating to the safety and security of the Quoddy facility will be funded by Quoddy Bay. [NOTE: The Bangor Daily News online letters page contains no link to take you directly to a particular letter. To find the letter using the above link, search the page for "Quoddy Bay LNG helps".]

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Quoddy Bay LLC's Project Manager Brian Smith needs to look himself in the mirror. Smith and his father, Donald Mitchell Smith, themselves, have no background in LNG facilities.

If Smith had looked at Yellow Wood Associates' record before he wrote his letter, he'd have learned that — contrary to his assertion — Yellow Wood Associates is all about economic development. That's what they do.

Just like young Smith's father insisted to the press that some large Canadian corporation was pouring tens of thousands of dollars into Save Passamaquoddy Bay's coffers, son Brian — because he can't come up with fact-based criticism — makes illogical and unproven statements about Save Passamaquoddy Bay's intent. Unlike Quoddy Bay LLC, Save Passamaquoddy Bay believes in developing safe, sustainable economic development that won't destroy the natural assets of this area or its existing economy. We commissioned the Whole Bay Study, since Maine State Government should have done it, but didn't.

At the July 13 FERC Site Visit to Quoddy Bay LLC's proposed project, as Smith again states in his letter above, Smith insisted that Quoddy Bay would pay for all safety and security expenses that local governments would incur. When challenged by those present, because Quoddy Bay LLC has offered no contract to that effect to any surrounding town or city government, Smith stated that FERC requires such payments. Smith referred the issue to the FERC project director, Robert Kopka, who was present for the Site Visit.

When FERC representative Kopka was questioned about payments to communities to finance their LNG-related safety and security measures, Kopka admitted that what Brian Smith said is untrue. Neither the Energy Policy Act nor FERC require LNG developers or operators to pay safety and security expenses related to surrounding areas and communities.

Reading the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the end of Sec. 311 shows that LNG facilities must provide a plan to "share" costs — but not necessarily pay any particular percentage or sum — for safety and security related only to the facility proper and vessels that serve the facility, but not the expenses that surrounding communities would incur.

Following is a direct quote from the Energy Policy Act, Sec. 311, under "State and Local Safety Considerations," Sec. 3A, on the requirements for safety and security financing (bold emphasis has been added below):

‘‘(e)(1) In any order authorizing an LNG terminal the Commission shall require the LNG terminal operator to develop an Emergency Response Plan. The Emergency Response Plan shall be prepared in consultation with the United States Coast Guard and State and local agencies and be approved by the Commission prior to any final approval to begin construction. The Plan shall include a cost-sharing plan.

‘‘(2) A cost-sharing plan developed under paragraph (1) shall include a description of any direct cost reimbursements that the applicant agrees to provide to any State and local agencies with responsibility for security and safety—

‘‘(A) at the LNG terminal; and

‘‘(B) in proximity to vessels that serve the facility.’’.

The Energy Policy Act doesn't require the developer to take any responsibility for expenses outside the LNG terminal and vessles that serve it.

Brian Smith's letter is just more evidence that Quoddy Bay LLC lacks the integrity and competence required to build and operate an LNG facility.

Paranoia or prophecy? [Editorial] — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) spectre is rearing its head again, as protesters in Canada start to up the tempo with a new letter writing campaign and awareness activities designed to stir a generally apathetic public to action.

We've got to stop seeing ourselves as somehow apart from the planet. Many ancient cultures realized the connection, something that our wondrous western civilization seems to have forgotten.

Whether it's Alaska or Passamaquoddy Bay, we've got to do a better job of protecting what we have. It's a perfect opportunity to act locally on an issue of global importance. (Aug 8)

Another BP question surfaces — Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX

The court documents outline a litany of similar allegations in which [Flint Hills Resources] claims BP hid rampant safety, environmental and operational problems at the plant.

Even as BP is offering assurances that it will fix its lax culture of safety and environmental compliance, the allegations in the lawsuit underscore the potential pervasiveness of the company's problems across its North American operations.

Flint Hills' claims related to the chemical operations in Joliet fit a pattern of BP's problems that stretches from the refinery blast in Texas City that killed 15 workers last year to the pipeline leak in Alaska that's the subject of a criminal investigation. [Bold emphasis added.] (Aug 5)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: BP has an abominable record of safety and environmental violations, and is being criminally investigated in multiple cases. And yet, FERC welcomes BP in the LNG permitting process, as if BP were a saint. FERC is supposed to be watching out for the public's interests, not enabling corporations of below-standard character to own or operate facilities that could cause the demise of thousands of people.

FERC's attitude regarding BP isn't surprising, since FERC representatives have announced in the Passamaquoddy Bay area that FERC would even grant LNG permits to the criminally-antisocial likes of Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, and Charles Manson, so long as these monsters followed FERC's permitting rules.

Congress — including Sen. Snowe, Sen. Collins, and Rep. Michaud — bears the responsibility for allowing this travesty to continue.

LNG fleet overbuilt — Edmonton Journal, Edmonton, AB [Paid subscription]

Excess capacity in the global fleet of liquefied natural gas carriers will be at its highest this decade in 2008, as a growing worldwide fleet results in lower utilization rates, according to Wood Mackenzie Consultants Ltd.

Perry selectmen accept petition to hold vote on recall ordinance — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME

At the Perry selectmen's meeting on July 24, Town Clerk Janice Scanlon reported her findings to town selectmen regarding a petition circulated by some Perry residents to enact a recall ordinance to eventually oust two selectmen, David Turner and Dick Adams, from the Perry board. The petition that was submitted about two weeks ago to her office was examined by Scanlon, who stated, "Of the 145 signatures on the list, five were invalid. I had received numerous phone calls from people who had signed the petition and didn't know what it was really about."

Immediately following her report, the meeting exploded into chaos. (Jul 28)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: This is just one example of strife that the LNG developers have brought to the area.

Dozens of RCMP officers sent to Grand Manan — CBC News New Brunswick

More than 70 RCMP officers have been sent to Grand Manan after police learned there could be another riot on the New Brunswick island. [Bold emphasis added.]

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: FERC and the U.S. Coast Guard must be doing some serious thinking about the poor siting choice — and the additional safety and security problems — for the LNG terminals proposed for Passamaquoddy Bay. The project investors must be kicking themselves for not selecting more appropriate sites.

N.B. police appeal for calm on Grand Manan following riot last month — CanadaEast.com

A sign posted near the island's ferry terminal made it clear some residents feel the violence was justified. It simply says: "Free Our Heroes." [Bold emphasis added.]

We must cut energy costs by conserving — Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME

Among the public, the location of an LNG terminal has been deeply divisive; residents of Harpswell fought about the wisdom of building it there and eventually rejected a proposal to do so. Then developers went Down East -- and a proposal to locate a terminal on Passamaquoddy land has led to painful dissent among that tribe's members as well as their neighbors along that part of the coastline. (Aug 1)