Sorry.
Posted on 04/18/2006 8:19:53 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
A new study shows that a release of liquefied natural gas from one of four proposed terminals off the Southern California coast could spread a fireball over several miles, but pose no threat on land because the facility would be more than a dozen miles offshore.
A sudden release of up to 200,000 cubic meters of fuel from two of three tanks of liquefied natural gas at a terminal moored between Malibu and Port Hueneme would result in an airborne vapor eruption spanning up to 6.3 miles - four times farther than originally thought, according to a revised draft environmental impact statement.
The "vapor cloud fire," which would cease about 5.7 miles from land, could disrupt shipping in the Santa Barbara Channel.
The gas-processing plant, called the Cabrillo Port project, would convert fuel shipped from across the Pacific Ocean for use in Los Angeles-area factories and power plants. The project is estimated to cost $500 million.
Critics, including local officials and conservationists, said safety and environmental concerns would only prompt more opposition to the project. BHP Billiton, the Australian energy company proposing it, said the floating facility can be safely managed.
"We take safety very seriously," said company spokeswoman Kathi Hann. "It's one of the reasons we decided to put Cabrillo Port as far offshore as it is."
The potential for terrorist attacks, sabotage and shipping collisions has led to increased scrutiny of security and safety measures for liquefied natural gas terminals proposed along the California coast. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security required BHP to prepare a security plan that includes a 1,640-foot security zone around the terminal and two tugboats to patrol surrounding waters.
Malibu Mayor Andy Stern said he would ask the City Council next month to appropriate at least $50,000 to help pay the legal costs for organizations working to defeat the project.
"The residents of Malibu should not be guinea pigs to some experimental project," Stern said. "My main priority is to fight this facility."
Other LNG projects have been proposed in Long Beach and off the coast of Oxnard and Malibu. The California Energy Commission estimates that the state demand for natural gas will steadily grow over the next 10 years, requiring an additional 200 billion cubic feet of the fossil fuel by 2013.
Now, that would make for a spectacular sight from shore. Uffda!
NIMBY strikes again.
Sorry.
LNG has the potential to displace other fossil fuels and make life productive for Americans.
Ergo-- it must be stopped by environmentalists who want to crush the US economy.
Oh, please. If Ca. puts up with Micheal Moore, then this shouldn't be any problem...
Ah yes, the Southern Lights ought to be a spectacular view.
The enviros who fight projects like these can come up with a lot of phony theories as to why their position is correct while living a life of ease because of past advances in science and technology to safely use our environment.
"The potential for terrorist attacks, sabotage..."
Sea-wiz..........
Anti-LNG critics find the most unlikely reasons to stop these off-shore projects. Meanwhile, NG users (homeowners and industry) pay more and more for scarce NG. The environmentalists won't be happy until the US economy tanks and we become a third world nation.
You say that as if it's a bad thing!
Why should the econazis have ANY say over what happens in essentially international waters? What is the "limit" to California government control offshore?
Everytime one of these maggots speaks out about energy issues their power, gas and water should be cut off. They should be forcibly removed from all modern transportation and made to walk wherever they go. If they light a kerosene lantern in their hovels a SWAT team should be sent to blow it out and confiscate it. These smarmy hypocrites should be forced to practice what they preach. Just like they are trying to force us to live their "pure" lifestyle.
If Alec Baldwin's gas releases haven't raised concerns with the residents of Malibu then why should they be concerned about a lousy LNG terminal? For that matter, they have welcomed all sorts of dangerous gas releases from the likes of Baba Streisand, Bill and Hillary Clinton, George Clooney, Michael Moore, etc.
LOL!!!
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