Stop Broadwater!

Senator Carl L. Marcellino, Chairman, NYS Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, was today joined by Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment and other local environmental advocates to voice his opposition to the Broadwater LNG Storage Facility on Long Island Sound. He also said, "it is time for Governor Spitzer to respond to the outcry against this project and reject its construction."

"I join with residents, environmentalists and with any person who has ever boated, fished, sailed or enjoyed a LI Sound sunset, and urge Governor Spitzer to say NO to the construction of Broadwater," Senator Marcellino said. "Broadwater will not solve our energy problems and if we know one thing for certain, it is not going to benefit our local environment."

"It is truly significant to have the Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee independently concur that Broadwater is wrong for Long Island Sound. If we are to protect the Sound's ecology and economic significance than the only reasonable position is to reject Broadwater and find an alternative," said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. "The State of New York has made meaningful strides in protecting the Sound. We can not give it all up now," she added.

Numerous environmental concerns have been raised regarding the project including the disturbance of 7,000 square feet of sea floor on which the vessel will be anchored and a 25 mile ditch along the bottom of the Sound to accommodate pipeline connections. In addition, tankers traveling in and out of the Sound two to three times a week will bring in added pollution while industrializing the horizon like never seen before. Senator Marcellino raised further questions regarding gas leaks, explosions, or tankers that become disabled and run ashore as a result of human error, terrorism or natural disasters. He also questioned the ability for Iroquois Pipeline to handle an additional one-billion cubic feet of gas per day that will travel through the pipelines that run from Milford, Connecticut to Northport, Long Island.

"We welcome and applaud Senator Marcellino’s stated opposition to the Broadwater LNG terminal," says Friends of the Bay Executive Director Kyle Rabin. "Senator Marcellino’s leadership on this issue is vital. We now look to Governor Spitzer to pull the plug on this foolish energy project. Broadwater’s proposal clearly is not consistent with relevant coastal zone management policies. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s evaluation of the Broadwater LNG project is, predictably, narrow-minded. Governor Spitzer needs to step up to the plate. People across Long Island – who greatly value the Sound’s ecological significance and its contribution to the region’s quality of life and to the regional economy – are counting on the Governor."

"Governor Spitzer has yet to respond to the outcry by residents, community leaders and elected officials across Long Island and in Connecticut," Senator Marcellino said. "All of us together will not be heard as clearly as the Governor of New York State, whose single voice in opposition will have the influence needed to stop the project."

During a recent press conference on Long Island to advance his political agenda, Governor Spitzer dodged a reporter’s question about his position on Broadwater and left environmentalists and residents wondering. "It’s a quasi-judicial process that is being conducted for me to weigh in at this point, he said."

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