2006 December 8
Save Passamaquoddy Bay 3-Nation Alliance (SPB), a coalition comprised of Americans, Passamaquoddys, and Canadians surrounding Passamaquoddy Bay, issued a trio of news releases on November 26 condemning the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on three LNG safety issues. SPB claims that the federal agency has been hiding liquefied natural gas (LNG) hazards from the public for nearly 30 years; has been disseminating misleading LNG safety information to the public, while encouraging LNG developers to do the same; and has been ignoring LNG-industry world standards.
The three news releases claim that FERC has known since 1978 that unconfined LNG vapors can explode, while at the same time claiming the vapors cannot explode; has been publishing misleading safety information regarding the cryogenic (freezing), asphyxiation, combustion and explosion hazards of LNG vapors; has implicitly encouraged LNG developers to similarly misrepresent safety information to the public; and has ignored an offer from the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) to assist FERC with safety issues. SIGTTO, whose membership consists of nearly the entire world's LNG industry, has over the past 30 years established safe practices standards used by that industry.
SPB claims that FERC has failed in its obligation to protect the public and public assets. The alliance also claims that the LNG terminals recently permitted by FERC may not have been licensed properly, since FERC failed to account for the true explosive nature of unconfined LNG vapors when evaluating each of those projects.
Since FERC is an independent federal agency, SPB is requesting that Congress conduct hearings to hold FERC accountable and suggests that Congress enact legislation to both correct the lack of oversight and to include a public safety advocate on FERC.
© 2006 The Quoddy Tides
Eastport, Maine
Article republished on Save Passamaquoddy Bay website with permission.