Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)

CCA Calls on Gov. Riley to Stand Firm on LNG Terminals

MOBILE, AL – A standing-room-only crowd at a public hearing in Mobile last month delivered a strong message against the use of open-loop liquefied natural gas terminals in the Gulf of Mexico. Coastal Conservation Association Alabama is urging Gov. Bob Riley to not allow the state’s marine resources to be subjected to the unnecessary risk posed by these terminals.

“Gov. Riley pledged last year to veto any facility using open-loop technology, and we believe he will keep that promise and veto the open-loop LNG terminal that ConocoPhillips proposes to build 11 miles south of Dauphin Island,” said Dan Dumont, CCA Alabama president. “Gov. Riley has always been a strong supporter of conservation and recreational fishermen across the Gulf applaud his strong stance supporting our marine resources.”

CCA opposes terminals that use “open rack” vaporization systems, also referred to as open-loop systems. These types of LNG terminals receive imported liquefied gas and convert it back to a gaseous state by circulating seawater through a radiator-like system to reheat it. An open-loop system can filter more than 100 million gallons of seawater per day, then chlorinates it to prevent fouling in the intake pipe, creating the potential to kill billions of fish eggs, larvae and plankton annually.

In recent letters sent to the governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, CCA has called on elected officials to protect the Gulf’s marine resources from the potential damage posed by open-loop technology.

“We recognize the need for these terminals to provide an important product for America. But we also realize that this goal can be achieved without taking such a huge risk with our marine resources,” said Pat Murray, CCA Director of Conservation.

ConocoPhillips is seeking federal approval for the proposed terminal. Even though such terminals are licensed by the federal government, the governors of impacted states have a say in the process. The deadline for Gov. Riley to make a decision on whether to allow the Compass Port terminal to use open-loop technology is June 11.

“Our problem is not with ConocoPhillips; it is with the technology they propose to use. Simply put, we’re not prepared to accept harm to our natural resources so that LNG terminals can operate more cheaply,” said Dumont. “We are very pleased that Gov. Riley listened to the concerns of conservationists at this meeting, and gave his support to Gov. Blanco of Louisiana when she recently vetoed a similar project that threatened her state’s marine resources. We are hopeful Gov. Riley will take the same strong stand for conservation.”

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