Congress of The United States: Amendment to Delay Shell Broadwater Energy Project

EXTRACT: Broadwater Energy is a joint venture between TransCanada Pipeline and Royal Dutch Shell.  Broadwater seeks to import fossil fuel from Nigeria to be stored in an almost quarter-mile long LNG barge on the Long Island Sound.

WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Tim Bishop (NY-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Joe Courtney (CT-02) sought to restrict the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission (FERC) from using funds to continue the application review process of the Broadwater Energy proposal for one year in order to allow for completion of ongoing security studies by offering an amendment today to the Fiscal Year 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. 

Even though the measure failed [146-285-1], Representatives Bishop, DeLauro and Courtney will continue their efforts to delay the proposal to ensure all safety concerns are addressed.

Earlier this year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released an independent study raising serious questions pertaining to the security and safety of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers servicing floating storage and regasification units like Broadwater.  The report identified multiple safety concerns related to a gas release or major fire on a LNG tanker, caused by a natural disaster or terrorist attack.  Additionally, the GAO study raises questions about the findings of the Sandia National Laboratory study, which Broadwater officials routinely cite as the safety standard for their proposal. GAO’s expert panel recommended that the Department of Energy further study these vulnerabilities.

The Department of Energy is in the process of completing additional studies to address the unanswered questions in the GAO study. However, FERC, a separate government body whose members are appointed by President Bush, is expediting the approval process for Broadwater before these critical studies can be completed.

 “We need to apply brakes to the runaway train that is the FERC approval process,” said Congressman Bishop. “There are so many unanswered questions about Broadwater’s proposal to industrialize the Long Island Sound that will have long-term economic, environmental and security consequences for the region.  FERC’s rush to judgment before we know all the facts regarding security vulnerabilities, the Coast Guard’s role, and the burden on local public services is simply bad public policy.”

“The full implications of the Broadwater proposal have yet to be fully taken into account and as such this amendment would have prevented this disastrous proposal from moving any farther forward,” said DeLauro.  “We have a responsibility to step up as stewards of our natural resources, keep our Coast Guard strong, support our first responders, and protect our communities – this effort to delay the proposal ensures we fulfill this duty.”

“My objective is to preserve the integrity of the Long Island Sound and protect the surrounding communities,” stated Congressman Joe Courtney.  “ Eastern Connecticut and the nation need to develop a sustainable energy future, not one that continues down the path of dependence on foreign sources of fossil fuels while desecrating our most precious natural resource, as Broadwater would do.”

Broadwater Energy is a joint venture between TransCanada Pipeline and Royal Dutch Shell.  Broadwater seeks to import fossil fuel from Nigeria to be stored in an almost quarter-mile long LNG barge on the Long Island Sound.

Numerous environmental and advocacy groups have spoken out against the project, and Broadwater has drawn nearly unanimous opposition from elected officials on both sides of the Long Island Sound.

Contact:

Adriana Surfas (DeLauro), (202) 225-3661

Will Jenkins (Bishop), (202) 225-3826

Brian Farber (Courtney), (202) 225-2105  

Reps. Bishop, Courtney and DeLauro Offer Amendment to Delay Broadwater Energy Project

Cross Sound coalition works to ensure completion of security studies before LNG barge approval   

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 20, 2007  

www.house.gov/delauro

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2007/June/Broadwater_Amdt_06_20_07.html

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