Coast Guard: Cabrillo Port Dangers Overblown

Answering questions raised by the often-histrionic Tim Riley about the dangers of BHP Billiton's proposed Cabrillo Port Liquefied Natrual Gas facility off the Ventura County shore, the US Coast Guard determined that the dangers of LNG are overstated:

The chances of a major accident at a proposed liquefied natural gas port off Oxnard's coast are very low, according to an environmental report released this week by three state and federal agencies.

Australian energy company BHP Billiton wants to build a deep-water port and processing facility called the Cabrillo Port that would deliver natural gas to California through an undersea pipeline. The facility would be about 14 miles from shore at its closest point and 21 miles from Oxnard. The pipeline would come ashore at Ormond Beach, wind its way underground through southern and eastern Oxnard and continue to a valve station north of Camarillo.

The California State Lands Commission, U.S. Coast Guard and Maritime Administration prepared the draft environmental impact report...

"What is important to remember is we will use proven technologies to cleanly and safely help California meet its energy needs," BHP spokeswoman Kathi Hann said in a statement. "Our facility is more than 14 miles from the closest point to shore. We planned it this way to provide the people of California with what they want, minimal impact on the coastline, sea and air, and what they need, a safe source of natural gas to meet the growing demand for energy."