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Angelini and Rible Introduce Resolution to Prevents LNG Facilities
TRENTON, NJ - Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and Assemblyman Dave Rible
introduced a resolution urging federal agencies to deny applications for
construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities off the coast of New Jersey. LNG is a natural gas that has been cooled to
a liquefied state so it can be easily transported. In this state, it is more dangerous than
domestic natural gas as it is extrememely combustible.
“The proposed LNG facilities pose safety hazards that
threaten marine life, the environment, and our residents,” said Angelini. “We must work to prevent any of these projects
from being located off our coasts.”
In the past, there have been several attempts to construct
LNG terminals in and around New
Jersey. The
most recent attempts include two LNG facilities that are being proposed off the
coast of Monmouth County. One of the ports is being proposed by the Atlantic
Sea Island Group who plans to build a man-made island to house a LNG terminal
and industrial complex called a “Safe-Harbor” 19 miles off the coast of Sea
Bright. The second project is a floating
LNG terminal proposed by Exxon Mobil being called “Blue Ocean Energy” located 20
miles off the coast of Manasquan. These facilities are for a foreign fossil
fuel.
“The LNG ports are environmental hazards that could put the Jersey Shore
at risk,” said Rible. “One accident has
the potential to jeopardize the water quality that the shore area has worked so
hard to improve and depends upon for recreational activities and tourism. Other alternatives must be looked into as
this is clearly not the best answer to alleviate our energy problems.”
The offshore oil and gas facilities are extremely susceptible
to flameless explosions, flammable vapor clouds, and pool fires which cause thermal
radiation that could threaten properties and residents. For these reasons, exclusion zones would have
to be enforced to ensure no boats or tankers come within a certain distance of
the sites.
Angelini said, “I urge the Governor the take action to fight
these LNG facilities. These proposed
projects are so dangerous because they have not yet been tested under potential
shipping accidents or major storms that could lead to serious safety and
environmental hazards for New Jersey.”
Since the events of September 11th, the concern
that terrorists will attack an LNG facility has grown and some experts suggest
attacks against offshore energy platforms have recently increased in countries
with a history of terrorist activity.
Rible stated, “These facilities would pose unnecessary
threats to our area as they are vulnerable to these terroristic attacks due to
their visibility, isolated locations, and low levels of security.”
The assembly resolution works to deny all applications to build
LNG terminals off the coast of New
Jersey due to the potential harm they would pose to
the local community, coastline, ocean, and economy.
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