South Coast Victories Over Cabrillo Port LNG

State Commissions Reject Offshore LNG Project! It's Time to Contact the Governor!

For the past several years, the EDC has represented the California Coastal Protection Network and worked with a coalition of environmental and community groups in opposition to BHP Billiton's proposal to build a massive Liquefied Natural Gas project offshore the Ventura/Los Angeles County border. On Monday, April 9, the California State Lands Commission voted 2-1 to not approve the project or certify the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). On Thursday, April 12, the California Coastal Commission voted 12-0 (!) to reject the proposal.

Both state agencies relied heavily on research conducted by EDC on behalf of CCPN. The Commissioners opposed the project on the grounds that it would result in a significant increase in smog levels in Ventura and LA Counties, would contribute to global climate change, would harm migrating whales and other marine wildlife, would cause safety risks from the LNG terminal and gas pipelines, and would negatively impact local communities. In addition, the State Lands Commissioners expressed skepticism about the alleged need to import LNG from overseas to meet California's energy demand. As many speakers pointed out, California's demand for natural gas has decreased in recent years, and we can meet our future energy needs through continued increases in energy efficiency and renewable energy supplies.

The effect of these victories is that the project is stopped for now.
However, our work is not over. Under the federal Deepwater Port Act, the Governor of California has until May 21 to approve or veto the project. If the Governor vetoes the project, the federal government cannot approve the license for the terminal. Therefore, we ask that you contact the Governor's office immediately (now that the state agencies have acted, the Governor can make his decision at any time up through May 21) - ask him to "Terminate the Terminal!" Write to the Governor at http://www.govmail.ca.gov today!

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Articles on LNG Victory:

Ventura Star:
"The California Coastal Commission dealt another, if not fatal, blow
Thursday to the Australian mining firm BHP Billiton's proposed $800
million floating natural gas terminal offshore of Ventura County."
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/apr/13/lng-plan-is-rejected-by-coastal-commission/

San Francisco Chronicle:
"An Australian energy company's proposal to build a liquefied natural
gas terminal off the Southern California coast suffered its second and
possibly fatal setback of the week Thursday as the state Coastal
Commission voted unanimously to deny the project."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/13/BAG0SP84AV1.DTL

Los Angeles Times:
In another blow to a huge natural gas terminal proposed off Southern
California, a state commission rejected the project Thursday after
concluding that it posed an unacceptable risk to the coast between
Malibu and Ventura... The commissioners concluded that the processing
plant - proposed to be moored about 20 miles off Malibu ...
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lng13apr13,1,6477586.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Melbourne Sun (Australia):
BHP Billiton is "disappointed" a second regulator voted against its
bid to build an $US800 million ($A961.7 million) natural gas import
terminal off California's coast. The resources giant yesterday said it
would review the California Coastal Commission's 12-0 vote in Santa
Barbara to deny the company's proposal ... Speakers opposing the
Cabrillo Port proposal at the day-long meeting included actor Pierce
Brosnan, who called BHP's plan "awful".
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21552343-664,00.html

Malibu Times:
By a unanimous 12-0 vote, the California Coastal Commission on
Thursday afternoon in Santa Barbara rejected Australian energy giant
BHP Billiton's proposal to place a liquefied natural gas terminal 14
miles off the Malibu coast. The decision marks the second time in four
days that a state commission has voted not to endorse the project. The
Coastal Commission ruling can be appealed to U.S. Commerce Secretary
Carlos. M. Gutierrez. Look for information on Thursday's Coastal
Commission hearing and the future of the BHP Billiton project on this
Web site later today.
http://www.malibutimes.com/articles/2007/04/13/news/news00.txt

Palisadian-Post - Pacific Palisades,CA,USA
State Panel Cuts LNG Port Adrift
The company, BHP Billiton, has spent four years trying to win approval for its $1-billion Cabrillo Port initiative, which would have permanently anchored a ship the size ...
http://www.palisadespost.com/content/index.cfm?Story_ID=2784