Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)

Gov. Riley Stands by Commitment to Conservation

MONTGOMERY, AL – As the clock ticked down on a permit sought by ConocoPhillips to operate an open-loop liquefied natural gas terminal 11 miles south of Dauphin Island, Gov. Bob Riley remained firm on his pledge to protect the marine resources of the Gulf of Mexico. The result was the withdrawal of the permit application and a victory for conservation.

“Gov. Riley has stood fast on this issue 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 kept his commitment.”

ConocoPhillips was 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. That company has since said it intends to pursue the project using closed-loop technology which is significantly less harmful to the marine environment.

“The governors’ refusal to allow harmful reheating technology does not mean these projects cannot go forward. CCA is not opposed to ConocoPhillips developing this facility as long as does not use this risky technology,” said Pat Murray, CCA Director of Conservation. “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.”

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

“Gov. Riley’s stance on this issue represents a major victory for good stewardship of our resources. We thank him for his continuing commitment to the people and resources of Alabama,” said McPhillips. “ConocoPhillips recognized the strong opposition to this technology and did the right thing in withdrawing their application.”

###