Cabrillo Port News

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration are making available the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the Cabrillo Port Deepwater Port license application. Public meetings on this project will be held in Santa Clarita (November 29), Oxnard (November 30), and Malibu (December 1). Written comments on the DEIS should be submitted by December 20. 69 Fed. Reg. 64578 (HK Law).

With eyes on more than 400 environmental and safety concerns, the U.S. Coast Guard officially stopped the clock last week on the approval process for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project planned for the southern stretches of the Santa Barbara Channel. A proposal from Texas-based NorthernStar Energy to convert the Platform Grace oil rig — some 10 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara and directly adjacent to the boundaries of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary — into an LNG facility had been on a fast-tracked review process that could have seen the Clearwater Port project approved as soon as next June — until now, that is. In a letter sent directly to NorthernStar on October 30, the Coast Guard, in conjunction with the U.S.

On June 5, 2007, Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton issued a Record of Decision (ROD) denying BHP Billiton’s application for a Deepwater Port license for the proposed Cabrillo Port project offshore of Ventura County, California. The denial was based on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s May 18, 2007, letter to Administrator Connaughton disapproving of BHP’s application. In his disapproval letter, Governor Schwarzenegger recognized California’s “need to expand its access to natural gas,” stating that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) “can and must be an important addition to California’s energy portfolio.” His disapproval of the Cabrillo Port Project was primarily based on concerns that the Cabrillo Port project…

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued his formal disapproval to United States Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton for the licensing of the BHP “Cabrillo Port” LNG deepwater port planned for construction off the coast of Ventura County, California. The Governor did however make it clear that he supports the state’s need for an increased LNG supply. While I believe strongly that California needs to expand its access to natural gas resources, specifically Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), I am disapproving this application based on my review of the Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) that are required by state and federal law, respectively.

Critics of a proposed floating liquefied natural gas terminal off the Ventura Coast outnumbered supporters by more than 2-1 during a public hearing in Malibu. More than 60 people spoke at the hearing. Officials with the California State Lands Commission and U.S Coast Guard were taking public comments on a draft environmental impact report released last month on BHP Billiton"s proposed Cabrillo Port facility. The terminal would sit 13.8 miles off the Ventura County coast where LNG would be converted to natural gas and piped ashore. Those opposing the plan argue that the LNG terminal would worsen air pollution, hurt marine wildlife, threaten security and lower Malibu"s pricey real estate values. Many called for more emphasis on conservation and renewable energy sources.

A catastrophic release of liquefied natural gas from a terminal proposed off the Ventura County coast could spread a powerful and spectacular fireball over several miles, but pose no threat on land because the facility would be at least 14 miles offshore, a new study shows. The gas-processing plant, one of four proposed for Southern California, would convert fuel shipped from across the Pacific Ocean for use in Los Angeles-area factories and power plants. Such terminals operate around the world with a good safety record, yet the newly released analysis shows that the effect of a worst-case disaster would be significantly greater than identified when the project, called Cabrillo Port, was proposed nearly three years ago.

According to Bloomberg, BHP Billiton may be first in line to persuade Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to allow construction of the first liquefied natural gas import terminal off the wealthiest U.S. state's coast. An application by Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. may be the state's first to go before federal regulators, who have the final say for onshore plants. North America's West Coast may be limited to three terminals as increased supply cuts gas prices and profit projections. Of the five proposed LNG terminal projects in California, BHP's Cabrillo Port and Mitsubishi's Long Beach project are those farthest through the official approval process. ConocoPhillips is Mitsubishi's partner in the Long Beach project. (Source: Bloomberg)