I attended a public hearing to comment on the proposal of Canadian - based Liberty Natural Gas LLC to develop a deep water docking station known as Port Ambrose that would be a transfer point for ships carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) to unload and pump gas to points in New Jersey and New York. While noble in its intent to provide more energy to consumers, this LNG project poses a number of problems for our environment and safety. A large number of groups, including the JCAA and the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance (NJOA) opposed the LNG project and a public hearing was held on November 4th to take testimony from advocates and opponents of LNG. The US Coast Guard and the federal Maritime Administration presided over this hearing that was attended by a large number of people. This hearing was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Eatontown at 6:00 p.m. Many of you, if not most, are familiar with this issue since it has been covered in prior JCAA newsletters. I, and all present, had exactly three (3) minutes to present their comments, and I had to talk fast to cover mine!. Those people who had lengthy statements to read could not do it in that 3 minute timeframe and they talked so fast to cover their points that it was somewhat comical to hear them! I gave these written comments to the public hearing officers, and also presented this oral testimony:
Statement by John Toth,
representing the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance (NJOA)
and the Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA)
As a Trustee of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance (NJOA) and the Membership Secretary of the JCAA, I want to go on record that I am representing the NJOA and the JCAA and we are strongly against the proposed LNG project. We are against LNG for going forward for a number of reasons and they include but are not limited to the following:
The proposed LNG port will be located at the Gateway to the NY/NJ harbor, approximately 18 miles off Long Island and 28 miles off New Jersey. This is a highly trafficked area with thousands of boats and ships moving into and out of the New York/ New Jersey marine facilities. Under these conditions, the LNG port can pose a serious hazard to the navigation of the many ships large and small that use this important waterway system.
As we all know, Super Storm Sandy caused tremendous damage with waves nearly 30 feet high. Acting on warnings to this approaching storm, ships moved to different locations to avoid this super storm or took actions to better secure their craft. A storm like Sandy can come again and can the LNG port be adequately secured from the effect of this type of storm? If not, it will be tossed into the ocean with devastating economic effects on our entire region, including loss of life.
Exclusion zones will extend two miles from each docking buoy, eliminating the ability of fishing vessels to access or anchor in the affected area. Commercial and recreational fishermen will be excluded from these important fishing grounds. Anglers are excluded similarly from the present Earle naval fishing port and are chased away by inadvertently entering it. While it is needed for security of the naval vessels being repaired there, it is a nuisance for anglers and one that we do not want to experience again by the proposed LNG port.
A LNG facility would be a prime target for those groups of people who want to see a 9/11 type of disaster happening again. An exploding LNG port in our populous metropolitan area would be disastrous for the resulting damage it would cause to our entire region.
Notwithstanding terrorists, gas is in itself presents challenges to issues of safety. A small leakage or rupture to a line or valve can have major safety consequences. What if the gas lines from the LNG port to their shore locations rupture from some mechanical or pressure problem and spill into the ocean. What kind of damage can it cause and how easily can a rupture like this be repaired. The BP problem in the Gulf showed that repairs to mechanical systems in the deep sea can be problematic.
The construction of new pipe lines will dredge up to 20 miles of sea floor resulting in damage to some areas of prime fishing grounds and fish breeding areas. Super Storm Sandy caused enough damage to sea floor and the resulting dredging needed for beach replenishment due to this storm. More damage to the sea floor is not what we want to see.
Instead of reducing the price of natural gas for US citizens, LNG may in fact increase the cost due to the selling of it to foreign markets.
Because of the above reasons and more that will be expressed by other groups at this hearing, the NJOA and the JCAA urges Governor Christie to veto this LNG effort.
On November 12th, Governor Cuomo Veto the LNG project, effectively stopping it from going forward. JCAA thanks Governor for taking the lead and stopping the project.
