Bishop: FERC Continues to Recklessly Ignore Dangers of Broadwater

Statement

BISHOP: FERC CONTINUES TO RECKLESSLY IGNORE DANGERS OF BROADWATER

Today, in response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) release of its final Environmental Impact Statement on Broadwater LNG, Congressman Tim Bishop (NY-1) issued the following statement:

"Despite the security and environmental dangers recently raised by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (see earlier release), the FERC continues to recklessly attempt to force Broadwater into the Long Island Sound. My question is this: what would it take for members of the FERC to realize this is a bad idea? While I am disappointed by this report, I shouldn't be surprised that a commission hand-picked by the President to make sure LNG platforms are green-lighted chose to ignore the evidence. However, I remain strongly opposed, along with the majority of elected officials in our region, and will continue work to block any attempt to industrialize the Sound.

"Despite what appears to be the FERC's mad dash to grant approval, the State of New York still has the ability to stop this project. Today, I met with Governor Spitzer to reaffirm the widespread opposition of Long Islanders to Broadwater. While I discussed Broadwater's environmental and security threat to our region, I also reminded the Governor about its unfounded promises of economic benefits to families in our communities.

"Even the FERC's statement admits that in addition to being built in a foreign country, the Broadwater facility would require specially-skilled workers to be brought to Long Island rather than drawing upon our local workforce. Moreover, Broadwater would do nothing to reduce our addiction to foreign energy sources since it would rely on natural gas from Nigeria and OPEC member nations such as Algeria, Qatar, Oman, and Indonesia.

"No corporation should be handed the rights to wall off a piece of our shared waterway in order to experiment with untested, dangerous technologies. With no stake in the health of our environment or the future of our economy, the Broadwater consortium does not share our priorities of guaranteeing the safety of our Island or strengthening our economy, both of which rely on a healthy Sound."

The FERC Statement is available online here.

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