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2006	May	27	Government agencies identify LNG issues in FERC comments (May 26) Maritimes files LNG pipeline expansion proposal with FERC (May 26) Anadarko Petroleum's chief financial officer casts doubt on N.S. LNG terminal (May 26) Boat trip aims to sink LNG proposal Activists simulate LNG trip Utility rates among key topics in meeting with state reps BHP, Northernstar cite progress on LNG units (May 26) Surplus LNG cargoes offered to Asia amid weak US, European demand (May 26) Two more analysts call for US gas prices to crater this summer (May 25)
		25	Riley hints he may veto LNG US Needs Both Alaska Pipeline, LNG Terminals - FERC Warrenton leaders reveal Bradwood LNG safety worries (May 24) Gazprom, Sempra Energy to continue marketing Russian LNG in U.S. (May 24)
		24	Maine Politicians Eliminate Minutes From Council Meetings Because Of LNG Project - Diana Graettinger (May 23) Cheniere Withdraws from CLNG Proposed liquefied gas projects
		23	Panel hears testimony on LNG site Mass. warned not to count on Canadian gas LNG opponents hire attorney Riley to join public hearing on proposed L-N-G project
		22	All talk, no action on new LNG project [Editorial] LNG report ignores homes, developer says (May 19) Proposed LNG Terminal Undergoes Ongoing Review (May 21) LNG plant evacuated again Iowa Co. Hopes to Make Gasoline Obsolete (May 20)
		21	Ethanol's problems (May 17) Peak predictions (May 3) Look offshore for LNG site [Letter to the editor]
		20	LNG foes criticize R.I. deal Three appeal LNG decision (May 19) [LNG tanker truck] Crash snarls region's roads for 10 hours Federal report: LNG terminal would have minor impact on fishing industry LNG projects clear US FERC staff environment review (May 19) Platts 5th annual LNG conference (May 19) House votes to continue offshore drill ban (May 19)
		19	10 reasons to support Cutler energy initiative [Op-ed column] Island LNG measure is tabled in Senate FERC official criticizes political attempts to thwart U.S. LNG development (May 17) USCG and MARAD issue DEIS for Northeast Gateway LNG project (May 17) Meetings with U.S. agency on LNG terminal are set (May 18) LNG project veto illegal, Blanco warned The rough road to LNG (May 18)
		17	Finances at issue in LNG dispute LNG fight still on Canaport LNG awards EPC contracts State assails Valdez gas line idea Murkowski officials pan Alaska LNG idea (May 16) Strained U.S.-Russian Relations May Impact U.S. Involvement in Shtokman LNG developers plan to meet long-term energy needs despite decrease in imports
		16	Cutler eyed for LNG and tidal energy project (May 12) Court rules tribe's LNG meetings can remain closed (May 12) Emera to build C$350-mln LNG pipeline Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Connects Vital New LNG Supply [Press Release] Report: New England States Should Manage Region’s Gas Supply (May 15) Court orders FERC to explain LNG interruption decision in Virginia (May 15) Fishery group presses Shell
		15	Lord vows to continue opposition to Maine LNG LNG foes win battle in the RI State House
		14	N.B. premier urges U.S. to block proposed LNG terminal Eastern premiers hope ambassador can resolve U.S. passport issue (May 11) Energy chief mum on forum (May 12) Lawyer asks power supplier to withdraw LNG proposal (May 13) Blanco: La. must get cut of revenue (May 11) Gas Prices Tumble to Near One-Year Low (May 12) Company looking at tidal energy (May 12)
		11	State official questions LNG pier sites Cutler power project application submitted Tribe's lease agreement can remain secret Energy co. mulls LNG tanker explosion as a test Tanker may be blown up to test Harbor worst-case scenario House bill would block LNG tankers from R.I. waters BP using N.J. in suit, Del. says Closing the open loop [Editorial]
		9	Tribe's LNG meetings remain closed, court rules New emergency agency director prepares for future Down East (May 8) Bolivia oil and gas field seizures won't impact Repsol-Irving Oil LNG terminal (May 8) New England lawmakers fight LNG plan Fall River bridge targeted in LNG fight (May 8) LNG plan to be revised LNG Industry Defends Offshore Project Technology
		8	Court rejects newspapers' bid for tribal records on LNG project McMoRan says it will change LNG plans Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Issues Environmental Assessment for terminal expansion Sakhalin weighs environmental cost of Shell project (May 2)
		7	Regional LNG site review is a better approach [Editorial] One sunny April day near the LNG tank, a close call on Mystic Cold warrior, still: Putin's power to cast wide nyet (May 6)
		6	Canada expresses concern about Maine LNG projects Senate bill aims to clear way for Massachusetts LNG terminal Louisiana Blanco denies Freeport McMoran LNG application (May 5) Blanco vetoes McMoRan's proposed LNG project Riley says he supports Blanco veto of proposed LNG project Blanco vetoes natural gas port FERC issues environmental assessment for Sabine Pass LNG receiving terminal phase II expansion (May 5) LNG retrial set for June Alaska natgas pipeline may meet delays (May 4) LNG topic of meeting (May 5)
		4	Bangor Daily News pulls LNG Reporters? Minister sounds alarm Lawmakers urge regional approach to siting LNG terminals Kelliher Comments on Gas Composition and LNG Regional Siting Policy (Apr 25) Fight over gas terminal may go a bridge too far Bad news for LNG [Opinion] LNG requirements, conditions should be worked on now, speaker says (May 3) Lloyd's Register to class world's largest LNG ships (Apr 24)
		3	Tidal power, LNG floated for Cutler LNG Makes For Snarky Selectmen's Meeting In Perry (May 2) LNG issues incite infighting on Perry panel (Apr 27) Suit claims tribe's land lease poses risk to endangered whales (Apr 28) Residents sound off to FERC on LNG pros, cons (Apr 28) FERC hears views on LNG: Residents speak out (Apr 14) FERC hears views on LNG: Robbinston split (Apr 14) Wind Blow Back [Op-ed column] (Apr 27) FERC Establishes LNG Compliance Branch Irving, Repsol Seek Financing for LNG Project (Apr 28) Parker Brothers, Kaefer link up for work on LNG projects Project’s siting up for discussion Man sets up squatter camp on LNG lot (May 1) Our View: Gas prices just the beginning [Op-ed column] (May 1) FERC staff OKs three LNG projects FERC Issues FEIS for Cove Point Expansion (Apr 28) Blumenthal Opposes LNG in Long Island Sound AES to Hold Public Meetings on Sparrows Point LNG Plan (May 1) Crown Landing FEIS Released (Apr 28) Feds give go ahead for LNG plant (Apr 29) USCG to Prepare EIS for Offshore Alabama LNG Project (May 2) Governor running out of time to decide on LNG project Blanco may veto LNG; Brinkley rips Nagin; Vehicle sales slump Natural Gas Prices Impacting Louisiana FERC Issues FEIS for Port Arthur Terminal (Apr 28) Opponents want LNG battle fought here (Apr 28) Public comment period open for proposed LNG water permit Op-eds: Americans Should Manage LNG Operations (May 1) Tidelands taps offshore-technology firm to help develop California terminal LBUSD questions port's LNG plan (Apr 27) New partner emerges for Clearwater Port (Apr 28) US gas prices may fall to parity with coal this summer: analyst (Apr 27) Demand Reduction May Lead to Mexican Gas Exports to U.S. Prime Minister of Jamaica eyes LNG deal

In engineering terms, the Cutler site has excellent characteristics for the placement of an LNG terminal and connectivity to an existing pipeline.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Engineer Normand Laberge's LNG proposal demonstrates that both Dean Girdis of Downeast LNG and Brian Smith of Quoddy Bay LLC were lying when they stated that the water at Cutler is too shallow for an LNG terminal.

FERC official criticizes political attempts to thwart U.S. LNG development — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC

[FERC's Director of the Office of Energy Projects Mark Robinson] cited as a recent example the attempt by Massachusetts politicians to scuttle the Weaver’s Cove LNG project by inserting a provision in a federal transportation bill that would impede the passage of LNG vessels en route to the facility proposed for Fall River, Mass. (May 17)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The Fall River LNG proposal violates world-class SIGTTO LNG-industry safety standards. Robinson's remarks prove that FERC is less interested in embracing safety than in flexing its muscles. When will Congress wake up and require FERC to observe SIGTTO standards?

The early June meetings are designed to allow residents to comment on how the project could affect such things as recreation, wildlife and transportation. (May 18)

The rough road to LNG — Ventura County Reporter, Ventura, CA

According to the EDC, the second draft of the report failed to effectively prove that this gas reserve was even necessary and underestimated or completely ignored an “adequate range” of energy alternatives, such as more environmentally-sound options like energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy as a solution to a potential energy shortage in the state. Further, according to the EDC, the revised report overlooked safer technologies related to liquid natural gas than those outlined in the project. (May 18)

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17 May 2006

Finances at issue in LNG dispute — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME

A financial dispute between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and an Oklahoma-based developer of a proposed liquefied natural gas facility on tribal land may lead to arbitration, officials on both sides said Tuesday.

Passamaquoddy officials say Quoddy Bay LLC owes the tribe $350,000 in lease payments dating back to last December.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Quoddy Bay LLC's house of cards appears to be collapsing!

State assails Valdez gas line idea — Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, AK

Liquefied natural gas shipped down a pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez would be worth less than the gas from Gov. Frank Murkowski's favored Alaska Highway pipeline route, state officials said Tuesday.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: "Liquified natural gas" in the above AP article is undoubtedly a misnomer, since there are no lenghty cryogenic LNG pipelines outside of LNG facilities. The article's author must have meant "natural gas," possibly regasified from LNG.

Murkowski officials pan Alaska LNG idea — KTVA-TV, Anchorage, AK

Gas shipped down an all-Alaska pipeline would be worth less than the gas of a pipeline proposed by the state's three largest producers. That's the conclusion of state petroleum economist Roger Marks and consultant Pedro van Meurs. (May 16)

LNG developers plan to meet long-term energy needs despite decrease in imports — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC

The Wall Street Journal says that despite a drop in LNG spot cargoes reaching the United States in recent months due to a mild winter and excess stored supply that may adequately fulfill peak consumer demand this summer, LNG developers intend to participate in all aspects of the supply chain to accommodate long-term energy needs.

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16 May 2006

Emera to build C$350-mln LNG pipeline — Reuters

Canadian energy firm Emera Inc. said on Tuesday it will invest around C$350 million to build a pipeline linking the planned Canaport liquified natural gas import terminal near Saint John, New Brunswick to markets in Canada and the U.S. Northeast.

The report deals specifically with the difficulties of siting LNG facilities, detailing community opposition in Massachusetts and Maine and concluding that until there is a "coordinated way for federal, state and local officials to consider all the infrastructure proposals within the region and decide collectively which are most appropriate given regional needs and community concerns ... the region will continue to find it difficult to build sufficient capacity." (May 15)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The study overlooks the fact that LNG infrastructure required to fulfill New England's energy needs are already being met by existing and permitted LNG facilities.

FERC must explain why it decided not to award Virginia Natural Gas Inc. a financial remedy for the alleged harm caused by a malfunction in February 2003 of an LNG plant in Chesapeake, Va., owned by Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said in a May 12 ruling. (May 15)

Today, representatives from the Gumbo Alliance for Safe LNG will appear before Royal Dutch Shell PLC's shareholders at the company's annual meeting in The Hague, Netherlands. They will voice their concerns over Shell's plans to build an open-loop LNG port off Louisiana's coast.

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15 May 2006

Lord vows to continue opposition to Maine LNG — Telegraph Journal, Saint John, NB

The premier of New Brunswick says he won't give up efforts to block a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal on the Maine side of Passamaquoddy Bay.

Bernard Lord was hoping for a face-to-face meeting with Maine Governor John Baldacci over the weekend in Rhode Island, but the governor had to cancel.

Instead, Mr. Lord says he stated his case to other Maine officials who did attend the meeting of the Eastern premiers and New England governors.

Opponents of a plan to bring an LNG terminal to Fall River won what one said is a "huge" victory Wednesday afternoon, when the Rhode Island House of Representatives voted 55 to 0 in favor of a bill that would effectively forbid massive LNG tankers from most sections of Narragansett Bay.

The bill, proposed by Rep. Raymond Gallison Jr., must still pass the Senate and be approved by the governor. But Rep. Gallison said the house's overwhelming vote sends a message and bodes well for its ultimate passage.

Under United States Coast Guard regulations, states have the right to protect certain resources — people, piers, wharves, docks, bulkheads, waterfront facilities, flammable materials and the like — inside federally established "exclusion zones." [Bold emphasis added.]

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14 May 2006

Bernard Lord was hoping for a face-to-face meeting with Maine Governor John Baldacci this weekend in Rhode Island, but the governor had to cancel.

Lord says he's not opposed to other LNG projects further down the Maine coast, just the one on Passamaquoddy Bay, which would require huge tankers to pass through Canadian waters and near tourism-dependent communities like St. Andrews, N.B.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Does anyone else notice that every time Gov. Baldacci learns that he will be attending a meeting where he'll be facing opposition to LNG in Passamaquoddy Bay, he fails to show up?

Eastern premiers hope ambassador can resolve U.S. passport issue — 680 News, Toronto, ON

The Canadian government has voiced opposition to U.S. proposals for liquefied natural gas terminals along the Maine coast of Passamaquoddy Bay.

New Brunswick and federal officials say they will refuse to allow the huge tankers to pass through Canadian waters to reach the location.

"If the state of Maine wants LNG terminals further south, we have no issues with that," said Premier Bernard Lord.

"It's their right, same as we have an LNG terminal being built in Saint John. But Passamaquoddy Bay is simply not an appropriate site for an LNG terminal."

Lord said he would talk with Maine Gov. John Baldacci about the issue. (May 11)

After meeting with New England congressmen who asked him to hold a regional summit on the siting of liquefied natural gas facilities last week, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman wouldn’t commit Thursday to organizing such a forum. (May 12)

Lawyer asks power supplier to withdraw LNG proposal — Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, MD

An international trade and investment lawyer who has agreed to represent eastern Baltimore County residents opposed to a proposed liquefied natural gas facility on Sparrows Point yesterday asked the company that wants to build the $400 million facility to withdraw its plan. (May 13)

Gov. Kathleen Blanco has put the energy industry on notice that any liquefied natural gas terminals permitted offshore in the Gulf of Mexico could have to give Louisiana a share of the revenue they generate.

The state receives 27 percent of royalties from wells between 3 miles and 6 miles offshore, but nothing beyond 6 miles. Last year, the federal government banked $5.7 billion in offshore royalties.

Blanco said there has simply been too much wear and tear on the state’s coastline over the decades. (May 11)

Natural gas futures declined to their lowest level in almost a year on Friday amid soaring inventories of the mostly domestic fuel used to heat homes and produce electricity.

Analysts said the price of natural gas could fall even further in the months ahead, given relatively weak demand and expectations of rising supplies, though they cautioned that production in the Gulf of Mexico remains hindered by damage from last year's powerful hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"Unless we have a repeat of last summer's hurricane season, we're going to have so much (natural) gas in storage by September that we won't have anywhere to put it," said Daniel Lippe of Petral Worldwide Consulting in Houston. [Bold emphasis added] (May 12)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: A Houston natural gas industry consultant announces a weak demand for natural gas, rising natural gas supplies, and nowhere to store it. That's good indication that the Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LLC proposals are redundant and unnecessary. It's also good indication that FERC must initiate regional LNG siting procedures, rather than fostering the current and divisive LNG terminal free-for-all.

Green Coast Related		Company looking at tidal energy — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has narrowed its search to eight sites with maximum potential power from tidal for the province estimated to be 90 megawatts. (May 12)

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11 May 2006

State official questions LNG pier sites — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME

Dan Prichard, supervisor of the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands' submerged lands program, raised his concerns about proposals from Quoddy Bay LNG and Downeast LNG in letters filed last week with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The letters are available for public viewing on the Internet, at www.ferc.gov, in the Web site's eLibrary system.

"Given the length of Maine's coastline and the shallow depth and narrow waterway at the proposed terminal site relative to the navigation and berthing requirements for LNG vessels, it is difficult to imagine that the proposed site is the most suitable," Prichard wrote in each letter.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: This is a solid indication that numerous other locations along the Maine coast are eminently better suited to LNG importation than Passamaquoddy Bay. The Passamaquoddy Bay developers have "fudged" their decision-making process to make it seem like their proposed sites are best, but their "fudge" has a really bad taste, and will be thrown out.

The project, if eventually approved, likely would include a tidal power facility in Little Machias Bay and an LNG terminal on the eastern shore of Machias Bay, according to Laberge. Because tidal-power generation levels can be inconsistent, natural gas imported at the LNG terminal would be used to supplement power generation at the site, he has said.

Despite the ruling, many of the records related to the agreement have since been released to the public, said Craig Francis, who represented the tribe. He said although the tribe does not believe it is subject to the FOAA — to which the court agreed in this case — it did not initially release the records because the tribe was still in negotiations with the Oklahoma developer.

"It was not an issue of them not wanting to give up the records," he said, adding that "part of it was a matter of timing."

The unnamed company floated an idea to drop a missile on a gas filled tanker in a remote area.

The fiery experiment was recently proposed to U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, a Somerville Democrat who is keenly interested since many of his constituents live in Boston-area neighborhoods that could be affected in a Hub LNG attack or accident.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Note that such an event would not be an "experiment," but would merely be a "demonstration," since experiments require performing multiple tests under scientifically manipulated variables. To be an actual experiment, they'd need to perform this same excercise on multiple vessels, each under different, controlled conditions. Without true scientific experimentation, the event could provide nearly any kind of results.

If the unnamed company isn't attempting to merely create a public relations LNG-safety smoke screen, but truly wants to learn the range of potential results, then it should utilize a universally-recognized neutral scientific organization to conduct the study on multiple ships and under true experimental conditions.

If the company doesn't want to spend the money required to perform an actual experiment, then it could help to avoid criticism by utilizing the universally-recognized neutral scientific organization to create a worst-case scenario demonstration (complete loss of LNG cargo via explosive attack). It would also need to be prepared to measure the results; however, since such an event hasn't taken place, it might not anticipate all the data contingencies. Once that demonstration is completed, scientists would then know more about what to prepare for in an actual LNG-ship scientific experiment.

The House unanimously approved legislation that would, in effect, block LNG tankers from sailing through Rhode Island waters to get to the terminal. Sponsored by Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr., D-Bristol, the bill would prevent any tanker from coming within 1,000 yards of any residences, piers, docks, wharves or waterfront facilities.

A tanker sailing to Fall River would have to pass within 600 yards of Fort Wetherill in Jamestown, 700 yards of Fort Adams, 400 yards of Sandy Point lighthouse on Prudence Island, 700 yards of the Prudence Island ferry dock and 500 yards of Arnold's Point in Portsmouth.

The federal Waterfront Safety Act specifies that states can prescribe "higher safety equipment requirements or safety standards than those which may be prescribed by" federal law. [Bold emphasis added.]

But now that the fight over the LNG terminal project has been assigned to a Maine attorney serving as a Supreme Court-appointed fact-finder, BP continues to control New Jersey's legal tactics, Delaware attorneys argued.

Delaware attorneys in their papers cited new evidence that "gives rise to the possibility that BP, with New Jersey's knowledge, refrained from filing its own litigation precisely so that New Jersey could represent to the court that there was no pending [private] action" involving the interstate agreement.

If Gov. Kathleen Blanco had any doubts about whether it was a good idea to veto a proposed liquefied natural gas port off Louisiana's coast, the reaction of the applicant, McMoRan Exploration Co., should have laid them to rest.

Days after she vetoed Main Pass Energy Hub, the company suddenly decided that it is willing to use a more expensive method of rewarming the liquefied natural gas, one that doesn't pose a threat to fish eggs and larvae.

The Main Pass project would have sucked in 49 billion gallons of seawater annually, and there's no way to know how many fish eggs and larvae would be killed in the process.

"Closed doors and withheld records always raise suspicions," [said Bernard Kubetz, the Bangor attorney who argued on behalf of the Bangor Daily News], "and if the process was clean, then there should have been no withholding of records or locking of doors in the first place."

[The tribe's attorney, Craig Francis of Portland] countered that "tribal meetings all are open to the tribal public."

"We have public access, but it's limited to tribal members," he said Monday. "I think that for purposes of making comparisons of tribal governments to municipalities, it's difficult. It's not easy just to make an across-the-board comparison between a municipality and a sovereign Indian tribe."

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: And yet, the Tribal Constitution guarantees freedom of the press, which would allow, without special permission from Tribal Government, any tribal member in attendance at those tribal LNG meetings to publish or report the proceedings to the at-large press. That's hardly a "closed doors" situation, despite the court's decision regarding the Maine's Freedom of Access Act as it relates to Maine tribes.

And flu isn't the only thing on Hinerman's mind. He also is mindful of developers' plans to possibly build four liquefied natural gas terminals in Washington County.

Most notably, Quoddy Bay has to decide what it must do to get people out of Eastport in the event of a mishap, especially considering the close proximity of an elementary school, church and housing at Pleasant Point where they hope to build a site.

"I am involved with the LNG Coast Guard safety review," Hinerman said. "That's the large group that's doing the transportation and landing safety for FERC." (May 8)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: For the record, this webmaster is also a member of the mentioned Coast Guard "safety review," officially known as the "Waterway Suitability Study." The complete purpose of this study is to determine the safety, security, and environmental implications of using the waterway for the purpose of LNG transport and terminal(s), and to make a recommendation to FERC either for or against the use of the waterway for that purpose.

The article mentions civilian assets in Pleasant Point, and mentions Eastport; however, schools, medical facilities, fire and police facilities, elderly housing facilities, elderly care facilities, commercial, fishing, and residential "assets" would be in harm's way from thermal radiation in the following communities: Campobello Island, Eastport, Sipayik, Deer Island, Perry, and Robbinston.

Repsol YPF SA, Spain's largest oil company, has invested more than $1 billion in Bolivia since 1997 and employs 3,000 workers there.

"The Bolivia gas is exported to Argentina and Brazil and it's not even part of our LNG project," said Mr. Duncan. "As we've said in the past, possible sources of where we could bring in LNG could be anywhere from Algeria to Peru, to Iran, to Trinidad and Tobago. (May 8)

Last Friday. Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., introduced legislation to repeal McGovern's ban on demolishing the bridge.

Three days later Thomas was urged to back down by a coalition of Democrats, including Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Sens. John F. Kerry and Edward M. Kennedy, both Massachusetts Democrats, the Fall River (Mass.) Herald News reported Tuesday.

"Siting an LNG facility in the middle of an urban area is a dumb idea, and we will continue to fight it," [US Representative Jame McGovern] said. (May 8)

Blanco said in her veto Friday that she would support closed-loop systems. McMoRan's decision is almost guaranteed to end opposition to plans for the Main Pass Energy Hub, as well as set a precedent for other proposed LNG terminals in the Gulf of Mexico. Three others are awaiting permits.

The Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG) steadfastly supports the use of open-loop vaporization (OLV) systems proposed in LNG terminals in the Gulf of Mexico, calling it a proven and environmentally sound technology predominately used in more than 40 LNG import terminals throughout the world. (May 8)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: What the LNG industry really means is that using open-loop regasification is more profitable, despite the environmental consequences.

In meeting behind closed doors to consider whether to lease tribal land to Quoddy Bay LLC, the reservation was engaged in a profit-making business rather than municipal governance, the court said.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The "closed doors" statement is puzzling, since the meetings to which the newspapers are wanting access haven't been in camera sessions, but have been open to the tribal public without restriction. The tribal constitution even seems to contradict the court's decision, allowing any Sipayik member to report Tribal Council proceedings to the public at large, which would include the non-tribal press.

Article IV - Individual Rights
Section 1 - Civil Rights
The government of the Pleasant Point Reservation shall not:

1. make or enforce any law prohibiting the face exercise of religion, or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition for a redress of grievances;

Section 4 - Access to Governmental Records and Proceedings
Records of official governmental actions shall be open to inspection by Sipayik tribal members except particular records that:

1. are expressly made confidential by a tribal ordinance duly enacted to give reasonable protection to personal privacy or business or trade secrets of the tribe or reservation, or
2. are expressly made confidential by applicable federal or state law, or
3. would be confidential if such records were records of the federal government.

Meetings of official bodies of the Pleasant Point tribal government shall be open to Sipayik tribal members, provided however that discussions may be held in closed session as authorized by this Constitution, by a tribal ordinance duly enacted or by applicable federal or state law, as long as any decision is made in open session. Any Sipayik tribal member shall be entitled to attend any meeting of the Pleasant Point Governor and Council, and or any other official committee or body of the Pleasant Point tribal government, except as otherwise provided herein. Any minutes of such meetings shall be prepared promptly and shall be open to inspection by any Sipayik tribal member.

McMoRan says it will now use a closed loop system, which uses gas to reheat the liquefied gas. The original plans for the Main Pass Energy Hub called for an open loop design, which uses seawater to reheat the gas. Blanco vetoed McMoRan's plans Friday night, over concerns that the open loop system would kill fish eggs and larvae, damaging the environment and the commercial fishing industry.

Cheniere Energy, Inc. has reported that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued an Environmental Assessment for the expansion of Cheniere's Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal which is currently under construction in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

[S]ome people on the island north of Japan now fear the environmental costs of the $20 billion project may leave them worse off than before. (May 2)

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7 May 2006

Regional LNG site review is a better approach [Editorial] — Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, ME

We wouldn't build a new highway system without a comprehensive review of regional transportation needs, nor a new electrical grid without an assessment of projected future demand. Why should LNG infrastructure, including pipelines, be any different?

New England lawmakers and conservation groups have asked federal officials to take the broader view before, but the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has denied formal requests to do so. The current approach simply pits one community against another, with the risk that the selection will be based on politics rather than merit.

The government is shirking its responsibility if it does not conduct a regional study that considers the entire coast of New England to identify and rate potential onshore LNG sites.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: While it's refreshing to read a turn-about in the Portland newspaper's position on LNG terminal siting, they still haven't quite got the full picture.

1. They state that there are four LNG terminals in the United States. There are actually five in the contiguous 48 states:

• SUEZ/Tractebel-DOMAC at Everett, MA;
• Dominion Cove Point LNG at Cove Point, MD;
• El Paso-Southern LNG at Elba Island, GA;
• Southern Union-Trunkline LNG at Lake Charles, LA; and
• Excelerate Energy's Gulf Gateway Energy Bridge in the Gulf of Mexico, 116 miles offshore from Louisiana.

There's also an LNG receiving terminal in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, as well as an LNG liquifaction/export terminal in Alaska.

Two additional offshore terminals have been approved by the US Coast Guard:

• Chevron Texaco's Port Pelican terminal 40 miles offshore from Texas in the Gulf of Mexico; and
• Shell's Gulf Landing terminal 38 miles offshore from Louisiana.

Eleven additional terminals have been approved by FERC:

• Southern Union -Trunkline LNG at Lake Charles;
• Sempra Energy's Cameron LNG at Hackberry, LA;
• AES Ocean Express in the Bahamas;
• Calypso Tractebel LNG terminal in the Bahamas;
• Cheniere/Freeport LNG Dev. at Freeport, TX;
• Cheniere LNG at Sabine, LA;
• Cheniere LNG's terminal at Corpus Christi, TX;
• ExxonMobil's Vista Del Sol at Corpus Christi, TX;
• Hess LNG's Weaver's Cove Energy terminal at Fall River, MA;
• ExxonMobil's Golden Pass terminal at Sabine, TX; and
• Occidental Energy Ventures' Ingleside Energy terminal at Corpus Christi, TX.

Canada has approved two LNG import terminals in the Maritime Provinces:

• Irving Oil's Canaport terminal at St. John, NB;
• Anadarko's Bear Head LNG terminal at Point Tupper, NS.

Mexico has also approved three LNG terminals:

• Shell/Total/Mitsui terminal at Altamira, Tamulipas;
• Sempra's Energy Costa Azul terminal in Baja California; and
• Chevron Texaco's terminal offshore from Baja California.

2. The Maine Sunday Telegram seems to think that only on-shore potential LNG terminal sites need to be considered and studied on a regional basis.

Since offshore submerged-buoy LNG terminals provide the most safety to the general public, have the fewest security risks, have been time tested for over a decade in the North Sea, and are cheaper to construct, they should be considered as the first priority for LNG terminal siting in New England.

No one disputes that the pilot-guided Hato had drifted off course, to the opposite side of the Mystic River, about a half-mile away from its intended dock at the Boston Autoport in Charlestown.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: What happened is called "harbor pilot error." It demonstrates that harbor pilots are not gods, and that even with pilot training, a serious accident can occur. That's why SIGTTO LNG terminal siting and operation standards must be adopted and followed by FERC — even though they are refusing to do it! Following SIGTTO standards would preclude siting any LNG terminals in Passamaquoddy Bay, and would improve LNG and US energy security.

Political events cascading out of Ukraine in December of 2005 may ultimately have a greater impact on U.S. energy supply and security than did the devastation of Kat-Rita. Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to reassert control in his near-abroad, Ukraine, may do more to change long-term energy pricing structures in the U.S.United States than events in either the Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Mexico.

Natural gas is the most liquid physically traded commodity in the world after oil. But, Putin, you might know that by now, from your Gazprom representatives reviewing potential deals/takeovers in Houston over the last several months. (May 6)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has indicated in no uncertain terms that there are to be no freelance statements by officials of his newly formed government, so it’s likely Wilson is speaking for the government.

A Republican senator from Wyoming on Friday introduced legislation into the US Senate designed to help reduce fuel prices in the US, and would also clear away a substantial obstacle for a liquefied natural gas import proposal in Massachusetts.

The bill also seeks to establish grants for an Environmental Protection Agency program to reduce methane emissions from the gas and oil industry and would require EPA workshops for state officials on methane emission reduction techniques. (May 5)

As she has consistently stated over the past two years, Louisiana stands ready to encourage the development of this growing industry. However, we must have sound scientific evidence to show that these emerging technologies will not seriously harm our already fragile Gulf ecosystem or the fisheries that are so crucial to our fishing industry. (May 5)

Another terminal, Shell's Gulf Landing, received its federal license last year but has not been built. Environmental groups have sued to stop construction.

In a statement, Riley said he had discussed the project with Blanco and said, "We're both in agreement."

Riley said he strongly supports her veto and commended Blanco for the decision.

"Our concern is not with the company but rather the open loop technology it plans to use. In Alabama, we continue to support the development of LNG, but not at the expense of our marine resources and our coastal environment," Riley said.

As stewards of the public trust, this office and our state agencies and executive departments, have both a constitutional and a statutory duty to preserve and protect Louisiana's coastal and offshore marine environment, ecosystem, and fisheries for the benefit of our current and future citizens. The approval of the pending license application, without sufficient persuasive data in support, would be inconsistent with this public trust doctrine," Blanco wrote in her letter of opposition to the federal Maritime Administration.

The port would have been the third such facility in Louisiana. The first was approved by former Gov. Mike Foster.

Blanco approved Shell's Gulf Landing LNG terminal, which relies on the open loop system, off Louisiana's coast and had previously declared that the state was "open for business" to the LNG industry. But she was quickly criticized by fisheries experts and environmentalists for her action.

Blanco's move could be repeated by governors of Mississippi and Alabama, who also are allowed to comment on the LNG port because it is near their coasts. Both have said they also oppose the LNG terminals using open loop systems.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Even this LNG-friendly governor in an LNG-friendly state can oppose inappropriate LNG technology. It's also interesting to note that the governors of neighboring states oppose the hazards that the McMorRan LNG project would present to their own states — akin to the situation in Passamaquoddy Bay, where Canadian communities object to hazards that would be presented to New Brunswick, Canada from Maine LNG projects. The Louisiana-Mississippi-Alabama Governors' rejection of the McMorRan LNG project solidly demonstrates that it isn't "un-American" to oppose energy projects that would damage our — and our neighbor's — resources and fishing industries.

Cheniere Energy announced Friday the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued an Environmental Assessment for the expansion of Cheniere’s Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas receiving terminal which is currently under construction in Cameron Parish. (May 5)

Ellisor’s double-edged ruling stated that the city council and the wharves board, which oversees Port of Galveston operations, violated the Texas Open Meetings Act in posting notices of meetings in January 2004 to discuss the issue.

U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Joseph Kelliher said Thursday the Alaska natural gas pipeline would be delayed by many years if the Alaskan state legislature rejects the proposed project in its current session.

[Kelliher] added that gas policies, most of which were established 10 to 15 years ago, still work. "There is no need for a revolution in gas policy," he said. (May 4)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Kelliher continues to keep his head in the sand, ignoring SIGTTO world-class LNG-industry terminal siting and safety standards, thereby putting American citizens, the LNG industry, and America's energy security at risk.

Kelliher is, in effect, also stating that FERC intends to continue its official policy that would allow Osama bin Laden or Adolf Hitler to operate an LNG terminal in the United States. If that doesn't deserve a "revolution in gas policy," what would?

Rory Cox, lead coordinator of the Ratepayers for Affordable Clean Energy coalition, will speak about alternatives to the California-driven LNG and pipeline proposal and why Oregonians should oppose LNG terminals and the Pacific connector. His talk will include information on natural gas supply, demand and pricing, international impacts of LNG and global warming, according to a press release. (May 5)

On Monday, I [Art MacKay] traveled to Bangor at the invitation of the Bangor Daily News Publisher for the purpose of informing the editorial staff about the high value of the Canadian portion of the Quoddy Region and to provide some background that seemed to be needed.

Within hours of returning home, I was informed that an Editor had pulled Dianna Graetinger and Catherine Cassidy from the LNG file. I really don't think that it was anything I said that day (he said tongue in cheek), but this is a startling and retrogressive move on the part of the paper.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Perhaps it was Brian Smith's announcement to the Sunrise County Economic Council that Quoddy Bay LLC would be a "major source of noxious emissions," and the Bangor Daily News [BDN] reporting it to the world — that has upset the LNG developers into intimidating the BDN. (apparently, Smith meant "NOx" emissions. Even so, by definition, NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions are "noxious," and — according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — are an unmitigated source of several types of pollution, like ozone inversions, smog, and acid rain.

We understand that LNG is now being treated exclusively as a "business" issue by the BDN, and not a "local" issue; therefore, coverage will no longer appear in that newspaper's Downeast section. Reporting will now be based totally out of Bangor, where it will be closer and easier for LNG developers' PR guns to feed their tripe to BDN business reporters.

Let's be clear: we have no problem with BDN's business reporters reporting balanced business news; however, the LNG developers have been lying frequently to the public now for some time. How will business reporters in Bangor sort out actual facts downeast from LNG-developer crapola? No longer will "in the trenches" reporters who live and work in the communities affected by the LNG projects be sniffing out LNG news where it's happening. No longer will a reporter be just a short drive from the immediate news. It seems that if one is looking for "real," local-issues journalism on LNG in downeast Maine, one must look elsewhere.

"It is a newspaper's duty to print the news and raise hell," said William Storey in 1861, of the Chicago Times' purpose.The BDN is cowering under pressure from LNG developers, and isn't living up to journalism's historic, democratic, and professional duty. With a meek and fettered press, heaven help us all!

While the LNG terminal is in a remote area, it is near an industrialized area that runs for several kilometres on the coast. The area is home to a maze of aluminum pipes twisting along the roads, a petrochemical plant, massive oil storage tanks, fabrication yards and lots of heavy equipment.

"The current process is broken, costly and just plain dumb," said U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass.

The current approval process is conducted in "essentially a random fashion" by federal agencies with little regard to regional energy needs, Frank said.

"There's no coordination, there's no overall plan," said Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

"The fact that we have a fragmented, hodgepodge approval system for LNG without looking at it in the context of our overall energy needs really, to me, is quite startling," said Kennedy. "I am going to do everything I can to defeat LNG from coming up Narragansett Bay."

Kelliher stated that a rulemaking setting national standards for gas quality and interchangeability "presupposes a national problem," which Kelliher said he does not believe exists.

Kelliher also offered comments challenging arguments that there should be a regional siting policy for LNG terminals. He likened a regional approach to LNG siting to the unsuccessful regional siting approach that was attempted for low-level waste disposal projects in the early 1980s. Referencing the proposed Weaver's Cove and KeySpan LNG terminals, Kelliher noted that even with a regional approach, "Providence and Fall River wouldn't have come out any differently." (Apr 25)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Kelliher's offhand dismissal of establishing national gas quality and interchangability standards is beyond comprehension. It's common knowledge that LNG quality varies from source to source, and that import terminals must adjust the gas to conform to pipeline company requirements. Having a plethora of pipeline company standards, with no national standard, invites problems.

Kelliher diverts attention from the need for regional LNG terminal siting by his comparing LNG siting to nuclear waste disposal. Kelliher's Washington political lawyering experience provides no demonstration of LNG vs nuclear scientific and safety knowledge or experience. LNG and nuclear waste are different hazardous materials, with completely different physical properties, different handling requirements, and different safety concerns.

Further, Kelliher's comment about the Providence and Fall River projects demonstrates his ignorance of, or covert dismissal of SIGTTO worldwide LNG-industry safe practices standards — standards that FERC refuses to observe.

Mershon said that Massachusetts members realize the state and region could use more natural gas but that the delegation thinks the terminals should be built offshore, away from population centers. The terminal could undermine economic development plans along the riverfront, Mershon said.

“You can do this in a way not planted right down in the middle of a city,” he said.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Once again, if FERC had observed world-wide LNG-industry safety standards developed by SIGTTO, the above LNG project would never have been approved.

The consultant says it's unlikely any of the proposed U.S. or Canadian West Coast LNG receiving terminals will be built, contrary to reports from advocates of the Alaska project. The consultants, in their study released last month, rated the likelihood of construction of any of the terminals in the next decade at poor to negligible, based on environmental, community, permitting, financing and market issues.

If the city of Warrenton wants to set requirements or conditions for any future liquefied natural gas facility, they should start doing so now, Boston attorney Dianne Phillips, who worked for an LNG facility in Everett, Mass., told a joint work session of the Warrenton City Commission and Planning Commission Tuesday evening. (May 3)

They will be twin-skeg, driven by two diesel engines and fitted with re-liquefaction plant. They will transport gas from Qatar to the US. Three of the ships will be built at Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), with a cargo capacity of 266,000 cubic metres, and the other three at Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) with a cargo capacity of 263,000 cubic metres. [Bold emphasis added.] (Apr 24)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Even larger, more-polluting diesel-powered LNG ships.

"The prime objective is to build a tidal power project," Laberge, an environmental compliance officer at the Navy facility, said Monday evening. The tidal power project would be in Little Machias Bay, just east of the Navy's antenna array, and the LNG terminal would be on the western side of the military-owned peninsula, facing larger Machias Bay, he said.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Some events defy comment.

Perry Selectman Dick Adams added, "The town voted that the Indians could not have it [LNG] on annexed land. We did not vote against LNG in this town, itself. It was on annexed land."

Selectwoman Guisinger jumped in. "So you're saying the Indians can't have it but it's okay for us to have it?" (May 2)

"If the town meeting authorizes the expenditure, a court would likely find that that vote cures any deficiencies in the application itself," the staff attorney said. "Perhaps this would be a best of both worlds scenario as the grant would ultimately be received, but the dissenting selectmen would not have to sign onto statements in the application with which they disagree." (Apr 27)

The lawsuit alleges that the BIA did not consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service, the agency with the primary responsibility to protect whales, when it authorized the LNG ground lease. Passamaquoddy Bay and surrounding waters are home to endangered and threatened whales species, and the Endangered Species Act requires federal agencies to consider impacts on protected species associated with any decision, by consulting with the federal agency with responsibility for species protection. (Apr 28)

The Bayside Port Corporation expressed concern about the effect that the Quoddy Bay LNG project, with 180 ships per year, would have on shipping entering and leaving Passamaquoddy Bay. The increased traffic in a confined area would create safety concerns. The port corporation felt that the Downeast LNG project would have less impact on shipping. St. Croix Stevedores and Affiliates opposes an LNG terminal in the bay, since other ship traffic would be stopped while LNG ships are entering and leaving the bay. (Apr 28)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The proposed LNG projects would likewise interfere with vessel activity related to the Port of Eastport.

Art MacKay of the St. Croix Estuary Project and an opponent of LNG, drew the largest applause during the forum. He said, "I am not a paid environmentalist. I am for development, the development of our area here, which has enormous resources in marine species and a great diversity of sea creatures." MacKay also told FERC, "From a Canadian perspective, these species are at risk from the tanker route through Head Harbour, and some serious research needs to be carried out in this area." MacKay also was concerned about ferry service interruption and lost tourism dollars. (Apr 14)

Roger Fleming, senior attorney at the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), presented comments on aspects of the proposal. Fleming said CLF recognizes the importance of expanding the natural gas supply in New England, in view of the benefits of natural gas over other fossil fuels in reducing harmful air emissions. "This project presents several significant public safety and marine and coastal environmental issues, and CLF asks FERC to undertake a thorough analysis of these issues as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) it is initiating." (Apr 14)

The last-minute maneuver, which would give the governor of Massachusetts veto power over the project, is also in opposition to Congress' stand that the federal government, not the states, will have the final say on siting another source of energy, liquefied natural gas facilities. The amendment must be stripped from the Coast Guard authorization bill. (Apr 27)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Maine's U.S. Rep. Allen confirms that he favors FERC — rather than state government — having siting authority over LNG facilities in Maine. That's the same FERC that is ignoring well-established SIGTTO LNG-industry safe practices standards for LNG terminal siting and operation; the same FERC that doesn't care if LNG developers lie to the public; and, the same FERC that has on multiple occasions confirmed to the public that they'd allow Adolf Hitler, Charles Manson, or — by extension — Osama bin Laden to build an LNG terminal in the U.S.

SIGTTO = Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators

FERC Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher yesterday announced the creation of the Liquefied Natural Gas Compliance Branch, a new division within the Commission established to oversee safety inspections and general oversight of currently operational U.S. LNG import and peak-shaving facilities. According to the news release, the staff of the Compliance Branch and the existing Engineering Branch will collaborate with other federal, state and local regulators to ensure that safety issues at LNG facilities are identified and addressed. "This restructuring will better position the Commission as its inspection and compliance workload grows with the increase in LNG import capacity," Kelliher said.

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: FERC is spending the money and energy on a completely new branch in order to improve safety, but won't observe the proven SIGTTO LNG-industry safety standards. In fact, since FERC has ignored the 2003 offer of assistance from SIGTTO, and since the US Coast Guard and NOAA weren't aware of SIGTTO standards until the last month or so, it would appear that FERC may actually be attempting to hide the existence of SIGTTO standards.

Is FERC so power hungry that they unnecessarily risk human safety, energy asset safety, and U.S. energy security? We'd like to know why FERC continues to ignore the existence of world-class LNG-industry SIGTTO standards, and why FERC won't observe them.

Repsol has said that securing financing will not affect the project’s schedule. (Apr 28)

A Halifax contracting company has teamed up with a German multinational to tap into Atlantic Canada’s newly emerging liquefied natural gas business and the energy industry.

"This wouldn’t have happened if this was seen as an opportunity to complain about Hess," Frank said. "The idea is to have bipartisan members of Congress at the meeting to discuss this, and from what I’m told the Maine members of the delegation are for the proposal up there." [Bold red emphasis added. NOTE: The Herald News does not archive stories beyond a few days.]

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Exactly what Frank meant is unclear. Did he mean that the Maine delegation are for the Fall River proposal, or did he mean that the delegation are for the multiple proposals in Maine?

The site falls within the exclusion zone for the proposed LNG facility, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has said the company must "provide evidence of its ability to exercise legal control over activities" on the lot. (May 1)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Since there's a lawsuit against the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of the Interior disputing the Split Rock site ground lease to Quoddy Bay LLC, FERC should similarly require that Quoddy Bay LLC prove that they have undisputed control over that land.

We’ve been running this country and our homes and cars on borrowed energy for a long time. No longer can we expect a miracle to save us. (May 1)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Unfortunately, the writer of this op-ed column doesn't understand the financial and hazard realities of nuclear waste — those problems haven't been solved, making nuclear energy more costly in the long run than conventionally-generated electricity. The writer certainly is correct, though, in the analysis that we must develop alternatives to hydrocarbons.

BP intends to build a terminal at Crown Landing in New Jersey, along the Delaware River. Dominion`s Cove Point LNG proposes expanding its existing LNG import terminal at Cove Point, Md. And Sempra Energy proposes to build a LNG terminal in Jefferson County, Texas, near the Texas-Louisiana border in two stages.

FERC commissioners must vote on the three recommendations.

FERC Issues FEIS for Cove Point Expansion — LNG Law Blog; Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan; Washington, DC

Today FERC issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Dominion’s proposed expansion of the Cove Point LNG terminal on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and the associated pipeline expansions. (Apr 28)

Although there are many reasons he is against the LNG terminal proposed by Broadwater (formed by TransCanada Corp. and Shell) his major objections include the huge size (about 12 stories high and the size of four football fields), the serious security risks for such a facility and its scheduled placement on the New York side of Long Island Sound instead of Connecticut.

AES to Hold Public Meetings on Sparrows Point LNG Plan — Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, MD

LNG PLANT // A meeting to discuss a proposal to build a liquefied natural gas plant at Sparrows Point will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Harford Community College, 401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air. There also will be a meeting on the plan from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday at Northeast High School, 1121 Duvall Highway, Pasadena. The meetings are organized by AES Corp., the Virginia company that wants to build the plant. (May 1) [Note: Since the page linked to on the Baltimore Sun's website doesn't contain "anchors," you'll need to search the page for "LNG Plant".]

Crown Landing FEIS Released — LNG Law Blog; Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan; Washington, DC

[T]he final EIS addresses the coastal jurisdictional dispute, now before the United States Supreme Court, between New Jersey and Delaware. FERC Staff recommends that Crown Landing and Texas Eastern document federal consistency concurrence under the coastal programs of both New Jersey and Delaware before beginning construction, though Staff also notes that the Supreme Court's decision could impact this recommendation. (Apr 28)

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, in its final environmental impact statement, predicted that with certain qualifications the project would carry "limited adverse impacts." The plan still requires full approval from the commission. (Apr 29)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: FERC again ignores well-established SIGTTO LNG-industry safety standards, to the peril of citizens, LNG facilities, and U.S. energy security.

Further, the proposed LNG terminal project owner is BP, the scourge of corporate safety culture that is being investigated for criminal anti-safety activity related to their deadly Texas City, TX, explosion in 2005, and their recent leaky pipeline in Alaska. FERC has publicly stated more than once that they don't care if LNG project companies are genocidal criminals or not.

Congress "enables" FERC's negligence by giving FERC authority over LNG terminal siting. How did your Congressional delegates vote on the 2005 Energy Policy Act?

USCG to Prepare EIS for Offshore Alabama LNG Project — LNG Law Blog; Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan; Washington, DC

According to Norway's TORP Technology, the U.S. Coast Guard acknowledged receipt of the company's complete application to develop Bienville Offshore Energy Terminal 63 miles south of Alabama. (May 2)

Governor running out of time to decide on LNG project — KATC-TV, Lafayette, LA

Several other ports are proposed off Louisiana's coast. Although Blanco openly backed the projects initially, she has since voiced concern about environmental effects.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco may veto a liquefied natural gas terminal being proposed near the mouth of the Mississippi River, because of concerns the project could kill fish eggs and hurt the fishing industry, The Times-Picayune reports. Several more LNG terminals are being proposed for the state, so Blanco's action will have ripple effects.

[O]nly 3% of U.S. natural gas consumption is supplied by imports of LNG from countries where gas is significantly cheaper than in the U.S., contributing to sustained high natural gas prices in the United States.

FERC Issues FEIS for Port Arthur Terminal — LNG Law Blog; Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan; Washington, DC

FERC today issued the final Environmental Impact Statement for Sempra's proposed Port Arthur LNG terminal, concluding that the project would have limited adverse environmental impact if certain mitigating measures are implemented. (Apr 28)

The state land-use court, which occasionally holds hearings outside of the capital, had proposed holding the hearing in Warrenton, VandenHeuvel said. But he said he received a letter from LUBA saying that executives of Skipanon Natural Gas, the potential developer of the LNG facility who are defending the rezoning decision at the hearing, didn’t want to have the meeting in Warrenton. (Apr 28)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week opened the public comment period on a water permit application for discharges from the proposed Cabrillo Port liquefied natural gas facility, which would be located off the Malibu coast.

Op-eds: Americans Should Manage LNG Operations — LNG Law Blog; Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan; Washington, DC

An Oxnard, Calif. resident argues that LNG vessels en route to the United States should be operated by Americans to minimize potential homeland security threats. (May 1)

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Like the foreign-operated ports scandal, FERC has publicly stated that they'll allow anybody — even the likes of Adolf Hitler or Osama bin Laden — to operate LNG terminals in the U.S.

The unit, called a TORP HiLoad LNG Regas, is a floating L-shaped mechanism that docks directly onto a vessel carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG). After attaching to an LNG tanker at sea, the HiLoad unit converts the liquefied natural gas into vapor and injects it into underwater pipelines that supply the gas to markets on shore. TORP's approach eliminates the need for large marine storage structures or above-ground storage tanks at the ports.

LBUSD questions port's LNG plan — Press-Telegram, Long Beach, CA

"We cannot complete a meaningful review without additional information as requested in this letter," wrote Carri M. Matsumoto, executive director of the facilities development and planning branch of the LBUSD [Long Beach Unified School District].

"Moreover, we believe that the (draft report) has not disclosed impacts that we believe to be significant, including potential impacts to 47 LBUSD schools and more than 42,000 students within a six-mile radius for the proposed LNG terminal," she added. (Apr 27)

A new player — or an old player in a new uniform — has come on the scene to revive the dormant plans for the Clearwater Port LNG facility. In recent weeks, officials from Northern Star Natural Gas, the Houston-based holding company that controls the project, have been circulating calling cards and meeting with business leaders from throughout Ventura County to tout its revival. The company even purchased advertising space during a major presentation on the state of the regional economy, which was highlighted by an appearance from U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. (Apr 28)

US gas prices may fall to parity with coal this summer: analyst — Platts [Free subscription required]

[D]emand among industrial consumers, which still represent the largest users of gas, has declined 20% since 2000 as prices have risen dramatically. (Apr 27)

A combination of factors such as increased domestic natural gas production, anticipated LNG imports, and a significant decline in consumer demand could produce an excess supply of natural gas in Mexico. Such over-supply could lead to a situation where Mexico becomes an exporter of gas to the United States in the next two years. 

Prime Minister of Jamaica eyes LNG deal — Jamaica Gleaner, Kingston, Jamaica

The disclosure of the pending new deal comes on the heels of a natural gas agreement which was sealed late last month between Jamaica and Caribbean Community partners, Trinidad and Tobago, where the latter pledged to provide Jamaica with a long-term supply of natural gas.

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