Long Beach postpones LNG Decision

Those hoping for a quick resolution to whether a liquefied natural gas regasification facility will go in the Long Beach Harbor will have to wait:

The Long Beach City Council abruptly postponed a vote Tuesday night on a $450-million liquefied natural gas terminal at the city-owned port, frustrating residents who had showed up to urge the lawmakers to oppose the project.

The delay comes the same week that Congress is considering legislation to give the federal government the final say in the siting of onshore LNG terminals, an issue raised by the Long Beach dispute. Some residents said Tuesday that the council's inaction would hurt lobbying efforts in Washington to retain some state and local control. The council was poised to vote on whether to continue or stop talks with Mitsubishi Corp., which has proposed the import terminal at the Port of Long Beach, about two miles from the city's downtown.

But Mayor Beverly O'Neill stunned a standing-room-only crowd 90 minutes into the meeting when she announced that some council members still had questions about the project and that the measure would be delayed until June 21.

The announcement surprised and angered about 170 people, most of whom wore anti-LNG T-shirts or carried signs opposing the LNG plant. Some residents have accused the council of caving in to energy interests. Others have voiced fears that gas could leak from the terminal and ignite, either by accident or because of a terrorist attack.