More New York Citizens Condemn LNG Offshore Island.
April 20, 2009, 10:58 AM
By: Jeff DiNunzio
Three minutes is not a long time to argue with the government. But two hundred residents, including a few local politicians, each with 180 seconds becomes another story. On Sunday, Rockaway Beach locals crowded a school auditorium for the Coast Guard's public scoping of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) port off the coasts of New York and New Jersey. The Rockaway hearing was the third such occasion, rife with formality, bumper stickers, and a heated exchanged between two lifers old enough to have adult grandkids. The other two in Eatontown, NJ, and Long Beach, NY, gave the communities involved a chance to moan, complain, or sing praise.
Jeff Dinunzio
Chris Wade and Adam Weiner manning the table for the good guys.
There were no choirs in New York.
So, what does this have to do with surfing? Nothing, directly. Instead, surfers attended the event as stewards of the environment at large, not as defenders of waves.
It goes like this:
Several months ago, Atlantic Sea Island Group (ASIG) applied for a license from the federal government to create an artificial island called Safe Harbor Energry. It's intended to serve as a "receiving, storage and regasification facility" for imported LNG. The not-so-fondly referred to "Insanity Island" would emerge from the Atlantic 13.5 miles south of Long Beach, 18 southeast of Rockaway, and 23 from the Ports of New York and New Jersey.
Alex Rivera
Clean (for now) New Jersey gem, just miles from the proposed LNG Island.
ASIG's facility would sit along East Coast shipping lanes. Two parallel pipelines spanning almost 13 miles would transport the LNG from Safe Harbor to an existing offshore pipeline near Long Beach. The project, if given a go, would cover 116 acres and be the first of its kind. Before being green-lit, the feds must provide an Environmental Impact Statement—standard procedure—that reviews, among other things, concerns regarding air and water quality, marine life habitat, threatened and endangered species, transportation, and national security.
Not surprisingly, some folks are in an uproar. Among them is John Weber, Northeast Regional Director for the Surfrider Foundation.
"This goes way beyond a wave issue," Weber says. (Wave loss won't occur—one of many possible side effects of the toll road extension through Trestles in SoCal.) Surf riders do have reason to fret over what could end up warming their 4/3 wettys.
"People were there because this is a potential water quality issue; they are against the industrialization of the ocean in general."
Poor water quality, in this case, is a potential hazard connecting surfers to average beachgoers and to the wildlife that keeps them company in the lineup.
"Surfers ditched the stereotype of just caring about a wave, and they are embracing and stepping up on much bigger issues," Weber claims with pride.
Jeff Dinunzio
Overview of the LNG project.
Surfrider isn't ASIG's lone big-name opposition. New York Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer—Sunday's first speaker—aligned with her constituents. New York City Councilman Eric Ulrich too spoke adamantly against Safe Harbor Energy. "My opinion is very clear: No on LNG."
During the almost three hour hearing, nobody rose to defend the company wanting to build the island. So, how do they respond to the influx of criticism? ASIG asserts it will generate millions of labor hours during construction and operation and contribute to the economy. That it will offset sea floor disruption by serving as a potential habitat for fish below the surface and a resting spot for migratory birds above it. ASIG also argues its increased LNG storage will result in lower energy costs.
As it stands, nothing is yet definite. Much like Trestles, and during off-road access issues along Cape Hatteras, legal hoops remain. The government is said to be abiding by a time line, but like Congressman Anthony Weiner joked, "we've been known to fight about dunes for 15 years." The implication being that a decision is still far off.
Jeff Dinunzio
The proceedings on Sunday afternoon. (The guy in the Chucks was anti-LNG.)
Is the island a good idea? You decide. Donate your two cents to Surfrider NYC, Clean Ocean Action, or the Coast Guard, who's asking for comments by May 3.
—Jeff DiNunzio has spent more than a decade riding boards, but is afflicted with a particularly distracting addiction to surfing.When he's not pushing paper for National Geographic Magazine, he can be found writing about whatever will pay him enough to go search for waves.
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Contributors
Jon Coen
Jon is from New Jersey and continues to reside there with his wife and dog—which means occasional empty barrels and the occasional session in the snow.The state isn't as dirty as people might think, but he'll let them keep believing that.
Jake Howard
Jake lives, writes, and surfs in San Clemente, California. He spent his formative gremlin years surfing points north of San Francisco, and for the last 10 years has been contently surviving behind the Orange Curtain.
Kimball Taylor
Author of Return by Water, as well as books on Jeffreys Bay and Pipeline, Kimball drives a red hot Camero, and back in the '70s, he used to party with your Dad.
Daniel Ikaika Ito
Daniel surfs like a hippie, but dresses like a homie. The Native Hawaiian originally hails from Hilo, but now resides in Honolulu. He enjoys twin-fins, new sneakers and being ESPN's "Cuz On The Scene" in the 50th State.
Jason Kenworthy
About as majestic as a turkey vulture, when he's not shlepping his lens around the world or looking for road kill, Jason can be found at home in Dana Point tending to his growing brood.
