Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)

Gov. Riley Stands by Commitment to Conservation

MONTGOMERY, AL – Standing by his pledge to protect the state’s marine resources, Gov. Bob Riley today vetoed a liquefied natural gas terminal proposed by ConocoPhillips that would have utilized open-rack vaporization technology just 11 miles south of Dauphin Island. Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) has worked extensively to prevent use of the technology in the Gulf of Mexico and commended the governor’s decision.

“Gov. Riley made a courageous decision today and we applaud his strong stance supporting our state’s marine resources,” said Manning McPhillips, past-chairman of CCA Alabama. “He listened to the concerns of sportsmen and conservationists -- and stood by his commitment.”

ConocoPhillips is the latest of a string of energy companies seeking permits for offshore facilities in the Gulf to receive and process LNG using an open-loop system to reheat the gas. The open-loop system heats liquefied gas back into a gaseous state by circulating seawater through a radiator-like system. The system can filter more than 100 million of gallons of seawater per day and chlorinates it to prevent fouling of the intake pipe, creating the potential to kill billions of fish eggs, larvae and plankton annually.

Last month Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour both vetoed an open-loop terminal proposed by McMoRan Exploration off the Louisiana coast. The company has since said it intends to pursue the project using closed-loop technology which is significantly less harmful to the marine environment.

“Vetoing the harmful reheating technology does not mean these projects cannot go forward. CCA is not opposed to ConocoPhillips developing this facility as long as it uses a less-damaging system like closed-loop technology,” said Fred Miller, chairman of CCA’s National Government Relations Committee. “The message being delivered by the Gulf Coast governors is simple: There is a better way, one that does not jeopardize the resources that so many people value so greatly.”

Through the past year, CCA has testified at public hearings, engaged its membership to send thousands of emails and worked with both state and federal agencies to remove open-loop technology as an option in the Gulf.

“Gov. Riley’s decision represents a major victory for good stewardship. We thank him for his continuing commitment to the people and resources of Alabama,” said McPhillips.

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