DeLauro Asserts Broadwater's Harmful National Security Risks at Congressional Field Hearing on LNG Terminals

Press Release

DeLauro Asserts Broadwater's Harmful National Security Risks at Congressional Field Hearing on LNG Terminals

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) participated in a Congressional hearing on the "Safety and Security of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)" held by the Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation in Long Island. The hearing used the Broadwater proposal to examine concerns about overextending the Coast Guard, as well as potentially adverse effects upon maritime traffic and safety. DeLauro joined Congressman Tim Bishop (NY-1) at the hearing where they heard from representatives of the U.S. Coast Guard, Government Accountability Office, Broadwater, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and local elected officials.

"We have come together today to discuss an issue of local and national importance - the sitting of LNG terminals. And we will address the specific example of the Broadwater proposal for the middle of Long Island Sound, one example which has many implications for the entire country. The issues it raises include: energy prices, our reliance on foreign energy (because LNG is indeed, a foreign fuel), security, environmental hazards, Coast Guard resources, and the impact on local first responders.

"With 28 million people living within 50 miles of its shores, Long Island Sound contributes more than $5 billion annually to our economy. It is the lifeblood providing environmental, recreational, and economic opportunity for many of our communities.

"And, as you may know, Long Island Sound is held for the citizens of Connecticut and New York under the Public Trust Doctrine. Over the years, both states have taken this responsibility seriously and acted to preserve and protect the Sound and its habitat for the benefit of the surrounding communities.

"I believe this project violates that public trust. Its approval would most certainly set a precedent for further industrialization of the Sound, as we have seen over the last several years with the approval of many projects, each larger than the last.

"Broadwater is just across the Connecticut - New York border in the Sound. It would affect our state as much as it would affect New York , yet Connecticut has no formal role in the decision to put this facility in the Sound. I believe Connecticut has a unique role in this discussion, and unique perspective to offer the debate.

"If Broadwater became a reality, we would install a floating vessel roughly the size of the Queen Mary Two, 10.2 miles off of the Connecticut coast, nine miles off of the Long Island coast. The proposal also calls for the installation of a 25-mile pipeline -- right in the middle of prime territory for both lobstering and fishing. This threat comes at a time when we have just now begun to see some signs of recovery in the lobstering industry.

"In addition to a new permanent 1,200-foot-by-180-foot vessel in our waters, the Broadwater proposal would establish so-called "exclusionary zones," prohibiting any vessels from coming within a certain distance of both the facility itself and the delivery tankers. It would take the entire security zone surrounding a moving tanker, 15 minutes to pass any given point, potentially causing major disruptions in maritime traffic every time these tankers enter the Sound to deliver international shipments of liquefied natural gas 2 to 3 times a week.

"We have an obligation to address grave concerns about security, safety, and the strains this project would put on the Coast Guard. And I do not believe a successful case has been made which addresses those concerns.

"In fact, the responsibility for enforcing these secure tanker zones would fall to a Coast Guard that is already stretched thin. Instead of managing our fisheries, conducting life-saving operations, and monitoring port security, it will be diverting resources to these new LNG tankers, which itself would pose a new security risk.

"I am also concerned about its potential impact on our first responders. To be sure, the Broadwater facility is not technically in Connecticut waters and it would be the Coast Guard's responsibility to respond to problems at the site. But the truth is that Connecticut 's first responders will, of course, respond to any emergency in the Sound to offer any assistance possible. Tankers entering and leaving the Sound will be in Connecticut waters from time to time and, should an emergency arise, our emergency personal will respond. Yet, few departments, if any, have the resources or personnel to handle this kind of emergency.

"Between Fiscal Years 2005 and 2006, Connecticut 's Homeland Security first responder state grants were cut by 28 percent - or $4.3 million. They have yet not fully recovered. By putting increased pressure on our first responders, Broadwater certainly would not help.

"So looking ahead, we must ask the hard questions about this facility's full impact on our regional and national security. We are already forcing the Coast Guard and our local first responders to do more with less - they are already dealing with the Groton submarine base, Millstone Nuclear, and international shipping traffic on a daily basis.

"We all understand the need for greater infrastructure and additional energy resources. On the national level, they play an integral role in our economic, environmental, and foreign policy. On the local level, they have a direct impact on the cost of doing business and our quality of life. These are important questions; however, I do not believe this Broadwater facility provides the right answer.

"Fishermen have worked these waters for generations. Thousands of residents and visitors spend their free time enjoying the quiet beauty of its waters and landscape every year. We know what it means to our communities on so many levels because it has always been at the very heart of our region's heritage. We have a responsibility to maintain that heritage - to step up as responsible stewards of our natural resources, keep our Coast Guard strong, support our first responders, and protect our communities."

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