05-R 113

2005 -- H 6227

Enacted 03/15/05

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

OPPOSING THE EXPANSION OF THE KEYSPAN CORPORATION LNG FACILITY AND

SIGHTING OF AN LNG FACILITY AT WEAVER'S COVE, FALL RIVER,

MASSACHUSETTS AND TRANSPORTATION OF LNG IN AND AROUND

NARRAGANSETT BAY AND MT. HOPE BAY

Introduced By: Representatives Gallison, Almeida, Amaral, Long, and Moura

Date Introduced: March 15, 2005

     WHEREAS, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is a highly volatile and combustible liquid

form of natural gas; and

     WHEREAS, Proposals to store LNG in large quantities at an expanded Keyspan

Corporation facility in Providence, and new facility at Weaver's Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts

are pending before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and

     WHEREAS, The location of these facilities are in densely populated areas of the

communities of Providence and Fall River; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to homes and businesses located within close proximities of

these proposed facilities are schools, hospitals and Rhode Island's premiere trauma center; and

     WHEREAS, The proponent of the Weaver's Cove facility has described a fire at one of

these proposed facilities as being likened to a "giant Roman candle"; and

     WHEREAS, A fire at one of these facilities would result in immense destruction and

devastation to an area of up to three miles from the facility; and

     WHEREAS, LNG stored at these facilities would be transported by tankers up to 1,000

feet long, 150 feet wide and 130 feet high carrying 38 million gallons of LNG into and on

Narragansett Bay and Mt. Hope Bay; and

     WHEREAS, These tankers would make trips into and on Narragansett Bay and Mt. Hope

Bay every 5 days; and

     WHEREAS, The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard has stated that his

agency cannot guarantee the safety and security of harbors from a terrorist on a suicide mission;

and

     WHEREAS, The events of September 11, 2001 have raised concerns about the potential

for terrorist attacks on the energy infrastructure of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, The possibility of the use of a "boat bomb" such as was used against the

USS Cole in 2000 and the oil tanker Limburg in 2002 to attack a liquid fuel tanker in a United

States Harbor has been publicly discussed in Massachusetts where Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

tankers land cargoes in Boston Harbor; and

     WHEREAS, The consequences of such an incident could be severe and present a

potential problem of great magnitude for public safety officials; and

     WHEREAS, The safety concerns for the public safety stem from the effects of the

burning of an LNG tanker's combustible liquid cargo; and

     WHEREAS, The ensuing fire can spread on the sea surface toward nearby shorelines,

and its thermal radiation could produce second and third degree burns within thirteen seconds to

exposed individuals on shore; and

     WHEREAS, The ensuing fire can spread on the sea toward the nearby shoreline, and its

thermal radiation could set fire to wooden structures on shore within forty seconds; and

     WHEREAS, The proposed "safety zone" around an LNG supertanker would be up to

three miles; and

     WHEREAS, All commercial and recreational boaters would be cleared out of the safety

zone while an LNG supertanker is proceeding to its destination; and

     WHEREAS, The bridges along the route of an LNG supertanker would be closed

resulting in great disruption and inconvenience to motorists; and

     WHEREAS, LNG supertankers entering Rhode Island waters every five days would have

a negative impact upon Rhode Island's tourism economy, fishing and marine industries as well as

posing tremendous threats to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens living, working and

recreating along the route of an LNG supertanker; and

     WHEREAS, Communities along the route of an LNG supertanker will be required to

bear the cost and burden for providing police and fire personnel without compensation; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby expresses our utmost opposition to the ill-conceived and

unnecessary proposals to expand the Keyspan Corporation facility in Providence and Weaver's

Cove facility in Fall River, Massachusetts along with the proposals to navigate giant LNG

supertankers up Narragansett Bay and Mt. Hope Bay about once a week; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Federal Emergency Regulatory

Commission, the Congressional delegations of the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts and

the Governors of the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

=======

LC02820

=======