Reps. Israel, DeLauro, Bishop Announce Expanded LNG Tanker Safety

Press Release

REPS. ISRAEL, DELAURO, BISHOP ANNOUNCE EXPANDED LNG TANKER SAFETY STUDY AT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

On Thursday, U.S. Representatives Steve Israel (D-NY), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Tim Bishop (D-NY) announced the inclusion of language in the 2008 Energy spending bill that would require that the Department of Energy study safety concerns related to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker spills. A floating LNG facility, Broadwater, has been proposed for placement on the Long Island Sound.

"It's unthinkable that the Department of Energy would leave out some of the most widely identified hazards relating to a liquefied natural gas spill in its study on tanker safety," said Congressman Israel. "The language we passed today requires that the DOE study all safety concerns; this will ensure that there is adequate review before offshore LNG facilities are sited. We will not tolerate incomplete studies when the safety of our constituents and the Long Island Sound is at risk."

"Significant security and safety concerns surround the operation of LNG terminals - as we have seen with the Broadwater proposal - and it is critical that the Department of Energy be fully aware of these vulnerabilities. This report language will ensure that the Department completes the most comprehensive study on the risks associated with LNG terminals," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "As the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and MARAD/Coast Guard consider the nearly 40 proposals for new LNG facilities currently before them, a decision that affects the safety, security and economic livelihood of our constituents should not be made with incomplete information."

"We should not be licensing a facility until we fully understand the threats it may present," Congressman Bishop said. "The GAO report raised more questions than it answered about the consequences of an accident or terrorist attack. These potentially lethal hazards underscore why so many Long Islanders are concerned about Broadwater. I commend Reps. Israel and DeLauro for taking steps to ensure the DOE answers these questions."

The report language included in the bill directs the Department of Energy to include a number of important research areas identified by Government Accountability Office (GAO) in its current study on LNG. This includes, most importantly, the potential for cascading failure of LNG tanks. A cascading failure occurs when a system depends on the interoperability of connected parts and one part fails triggering the failure of successive parts.

In February 2007, the GAO published a report called "Public Safety Consequences of a Terrorist Attack on a Tanker Carrying LNG Need Clarification." 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. Among these concerns, GAO identified that a fire on a LNG facility could affect the surrounding one-mile radius. GAO's expert panel suggested that the DOE further study these vulnerabilities.

Source