WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior Democratic Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the House Homeland Security Committee, and author of the 1979 law regulating remote liquefied natural gas (LNG) siting, made the following statement in response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announcement that plans have been approved for a new LNG terminal in Fall River, Mass.

“This week President Bush reminded us that we must not forget the memory of 9/11, but today his own Federal Energy Regulatory Agency approved a new LNG facility, in Fall River -- ignoring the security concerns cited by one of his closest security advisors. On September 11th, one of the very first things that Bush’s terrorism Czar, Richard Clarke, did after the planes hit the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon was to contact the Coast Guard in Boston to tell them not to let any LNG tankers into the harbor. Richard Clarke has since warned about the risks associated with siting an LNG facility at Fall River.

“We have learned that al Qaeda operatives infiltrated into the U.S. on liquefied natural gas tankers docking in Everett, Massachusetts, yet a full appreciation of the risks of siting one of these facilities in an urban area unfortunately has not yet reached most FERC Commissioners.

“In the event of a terrorist attack, it will be the local police, fire department and emergency medical technicians that will be responding, not the FERC police, FERC fire department and the FERC first responders,” said Rep. Markey.

Local authorities have expressed security concerns about the siting of this new facility. Today, Mayor Edward Lambert called the FERC vote "a bad decision."

Rep. Markey said, “Today’s FERC announcement sends this message to local authorities, fire fighters and police – we care more about the needs of the energy industry than about your community’s security. The people of Fall River have every right to feel aggrieved by a top-down, Washington-knows-best, patronizing process that prevents meaningful participation by local officials and residents who must live in the shadow of LNG tanks and tankers. It is folly to move the assessment of these risks from the place affected to Washington DC. I intend to continue to work with Representatives Barney Frank, Jim McGovern, and well as Mayor Lambert and Governor Romney, to do whatever I can to ensure that this decision is reversed.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2005
 CONTACT: Tara McGuiness
Jeff Duncan      
202.225.2836