Markey: Mass. Gov. Right to Demand Only US Crews On LNG Tankers Entering Boston Harbor

MARKEY: MASS. GOV. RIGHT TO DEMAND ONLY U.S. CREWS ON LNG TANKERS ENTERING BOSTON HARBOR

Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce and Homeland Security Committees, released the following statement reinforcing Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's request that only U.S. crews be used on tankers transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) into Massachusetts' ports. Rep. Markey, who is the senior member of the Bay State Congressional delegation, represents Everett, MA, which is the state's sole operating LNG terminal and had led the fight to upgrade security at this facility and others around the nation.

"I understand that both competing companies have committed to Governor Patrick's request that U.S. crews be used on LNG tankers coming to ports in the U.S," Markey stated.

Rep. Markey continued, "While tougher screening and security measures were put in place for these vessels following 9-11, I do believe that use of U.S. crews would help increase confidence in the safety and security of LNG shipments into the Commonwealth. In the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks we found out those LNG tankers docking at the Everett terminal had been used to smuggle aliens into the U.S. and that one of them was later implicated in the Millennium bombing plot."

http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2592&Itemid=141