Safety
Have you heard about the 98 year safety record of the four US LNG import terminals? LNG “Peak Shaving” facilities became operational in 1912 (or 1917, depending on which LNG source speaks). LNG import terminals became operational in the 1970′s. There is absolutely no direct comparison between LNG Peak Shaving facilities and LNG import terminals other than they both have LNG storage tanks. For the proponents of LNG in Oregon, that is, at best, 36 years of LNG import terminal history. There are a total of five US LNG import terminal facilities (one is in Puerto Rico). And, it is well documented that the LNG facility near Boston received a maximum of six LNG shipments annually until the year 2000 (104 or more annual shipments in much larger vessels are planned for Oregon). And, it is well documented that, during that 36 year period, the two facilities at Cove Point Maryland and Elba Island Georgia did not operate for a twenty year period as importing LNG was impractical and uneconomical. Hopefully, when LNG import terminal facilities are closed or working at minimum capacity, there will be a perfect safety history.
Natural gas industry experts – supported by peer reviewed studies and findings – have stated that, for safety reasons, no person should be within 900 feet or more on either side of a 36 inch natural gas pipeline at the planned local send out psi (1500 psi) when there is a pipeline rupture – and there will be pipeline ruptures at the time of an earthquake as there have been in every other community of this planet where there has been a devastating earthquake. It has been reported that the last Cascadia Subduction earthquake was felt 125 miles inland. 36 inch natural gas pipeline failures and massive fires with loss of life are well documented and must be anticipated here.
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