LNG Hearing Would Exclude People At Greatest Risk

Over the last two years, thousands of us have attended hearings, written letters and made phone calls to stop a massive and polluting offshore Liquefied Natural Gas terminal from being built off the coast of Malibu and Ventura County.  Now the California Coastal Commission has scheduled its first, and likely only, hearing on this dangerous and untested project, but alarmingly they plan on hearing this issue in April in San Luis Obispo - far from the families and communities at greatest risk.

A daytime hearing, so far from Malibu and Ventura Counties would realistically prohibit most interested local residents from taking part in this critical meeting.

Write to the Coastal Commission today and urge them to reconsider this unacceptable decision.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: LNG Hearing Must Be Held in Malibu or Ventura County

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As one of Sierra Club's 5,000 Great Coastal Places Campaign members, I am very disappointed by the Coastal Commission's decision to hear the proposal for BHP Billiton's offshore Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG) terminal so far from the communities and coastline most impacted by the project. By hearing this issue in San Luis Obispo, the Commission is excluding the vast majority of local residents from participating in this critical discussion.

BHP Billiton's proposed terminal is untested and unlike any other LNG operation in the world. Sitting off the Southern California coast, it would emit more than 500 tons of smog creating air pollution every year, threaten migrating whales and other marine life, endanger the fragile Ormond Beach Wetlands, and further industrialize our coast. For these reasons, among others, the people of Malibu and Ventura County deserve an opportunity to speak to, and hear from, the Commission on this proposal that will affect their homes, their communities and their coast.

I urge you to move or reschedule this hearing so that local residents have a reasonable opportunity to participate in this conversation.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
January 09, 2007


Background Information

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled to 360° below zero at which point it becomes a liquid which can be shipped long distances in tankers as large as 3 football fields.  The BHP Billiton proposal for an offshore LNG terminal would tower 14 stories above the ocean and be visible from many points on our coast. It would require constant tanker and tugboat traffic to, and from, the terminal.

The major threats include

  • the emission of more than 500 tons of smog producing air pollution every year 
  • migrating whales will be harassed by the light and noise
  • marine life will be disturbed by the rising temperature in the water surrounding the terminal as well as the polluted discharge
  • the fragile Ormond Beach Wetlands face additional risk from the construction and maintenance of enormous pipelines which would bring regassified natural gas to shore, before it can be pumped underneath the coastal communities
  • negative impacts on our coastal views

The only hearing for a project this dangerous - especially an unprecedented terminal of this size in a geologically unstable area - must be held in the communities at greatest risk.  The people of Malibu and Ventura County deserve an opportunity to speak to, and hear from, the Coastal Commission which will help decide the issue.