REPORT SHOWS FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORS PUSHING CONTROVERSIAL LNG TERMINALS
by Sarah Morgan

Liquid Natural Gas terminals are popping up all along the Gulf Coast and throughout the country, despite protests from residents and environmentalists. A new report points the finger at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, claiming that the FERC is "aggressively undermining" state and local government opposition to the terminals.

The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit organization that conducts investigative research on US public policy issues, published the report last week. The report is based on and includes letters, schedules, e-mails, and notes obtained through the Freedom of Information Act that claim to show the influence of energy companies such as ExxonMobil and ChevronTexaco over the FERC.

According to the report, "The documents indicate an extremely close relationship between the commission and the industry it regulates."

This relationship, the report states, is influencing FERC to streamline the regulatory process in favor of LNG terminals, regardless of opposition.

The Center for Public Integrity found that FERC’s four commissioners met privately with "executives and lobbyists" 83 times in the past three years, versus fewer than 10 meetings with opponents of specific projects.

But the FERC is taking it a step further. The agency has announced a "new regulatory approach" that "removes economic and regulatory barriers to the development of onshore LNG import terminals," and the report states that a bill is being drafted for Congress that could declare the agency sole authority over LNG terminals.

More than 40 LNG projects are currently slated for all of North America, including eight along the Texas coast and seven off shore that are in various planning stages. Three of these terminals have been proposed for the Houston-Galveston area.

Currently, the United States is home to only four LNG terminals that can receive LNG and convert it back into gas. Many of the new terminals proposed are located near small communities such as Galveston, a strategic move, some say, designed to limit opposition.

Opposition to the terminals usually centers on safety risks. LNG is shipped in enormous tankers, with Trinidad and Tobago as the largest LNG suppliers, according to the report. These tankers pose several risks, including the possibility of a spill, which could lead to large fires endangering the surrounding communities.

The report notes, "There have been 13 serious LNG terminal accidents, including a 1944 fire at an LNG plant near Cleveland, Ohio, that killed 128 people, according to the Congressional Research Service. The most recent accident was an explosion at Algeria's Skikda LNG terminal, killing 27 people, in January 2004."

But others argue that LNG is one of the least environmentally damaging energy sources, because it burns more cleanly than other sources.

To read the full report, which includes maps of proposed terminals, visit:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/oil/report.aspx?aid=430&sid=100.

MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM SEEKS APPLICANTS

Twenty chapters of the Texas Master Naturalist program are conducting spring training classes for volunteers wanting to learn about natural resource and conservation management. The Texas Master Naturalist program, with 30 chapters located across the state, aims to develop a corps of well-informed citizen volunteers who educate their communities about the management of natural resources. The main qualification needed to become a Certified Texas Master Naturalist is an interest in playing an active part in conservation. Volunteers will receive a minimum of 40 hours training from educators and specialists from places such as universities, natural resource agencies, nature centers, and museums. Training topics include interpretation and management of natural resources, ecological concepts, eco-regions in Texas, and natural systems management. Volunteers are expected to give 40 hours of service a year in community education, demonstrations, and habitat enhancement projects. They are also expected to pursue a minimum of eight hours of advanced training in other, related areas of personal interest. For the Galveston Bay Area Chapter, volunteer training begins Feb 24. Call (281) 534-3413, ext.3, or e-mail jk-massey@tamu.edu. For the Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter, classes begin Feb 28. Call (281) 855-5600 or e-mail gcmn@tamu.edu. For a complete listing of chapters with spring training sessions, visit:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/news/news/041213c.phtml.

CITY OF HOUSTON CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING PROGRAM

The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department is providing recycling drop-off sites for Christmas trees throughout Houston on Dec 28. The program will last until Jan 11. Residents should remove all decorations from the trees. The city cannot accept flocked trees or commercial vendor trees. The recycled trees will be converted into mulch. Living Earth Technology, a composting company in Houston, is composting trees at no cost to the city. Houstonians can recycle their trees at several locations throughout the city. For more information, call 3-1-1, or visit http://www.houstonsolidwaste.org.

H-GAC CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY

The Houston-Galveston Area Council is celebrating its 30th year as the Houston-Galveston region's designated metropolitan planning organization. H-GAC will mark this milestone during the Transportation Policy Council meeting at 9:30 am, Friday, Dec 17, at H-GAC offices (3555 Timmons, Houston, Texas 77027). In 1974, Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe designated H-GAC to assume responsibility for regional transportation planning in Harris County and the surrounding seven counties. Over time, H-GAC has assumed a greater role in transportation and air quality planning, serving as the conduit for federal funding and initiating programs to encourage the public, business, and government to become more involved in regional issues. H-GAC works with city and county governments, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority to develop and implement regional transportation plans and programs. For more information, visit http://www.h-gac.com.

HARC RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

The Houston Advanced Research Center is a nonprofit organization located in The Woodlands, Texas, with a mission of promoting sustainability. HARC has an opening for a research associate in the area of Sustainable Transportation and Heat Island Programs. This staff position will be part of a new HARC initiative being launched in 2005 entitled The Transportation and Air Quality Forum. The position requires an advanced degree in environmental sciences or related fields, with two or more years of experience. The research associate will also be involved in urban heat island mitigation programs at HARC, including forestation and carbon sequestration projects. For more information or to submit a resume, see http://www.harc.edu/jobs.

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