http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5441498.html Lawmakers Call for Tanker Security
By ALAN ZIBEL AP Business Writer C 2008 The Associated Press WASHINGTON - The Coast Guard needs more funding to protect U.S. ports from a terrorist attack on fuel tankers, House lawmakers said Thursday. Their comments echo an earlier call for vigilance and come as the Government Accountability Office released a final version of report examining the potential danger of attacks on tanker ship carrying highly flammable liquefied natural gas. Lawmakers released an earlier version of the report in March. While industry groups maintain the fuel is safe, proposals to build new terminals have met fierce resistance, particularly in urban areas. The ships carry 55 percent of the nation's crude oil supply, liquefied gases and jet fuel, the report said, and pointed out recent attacks on ships and facilities overseas to underscore the danger. Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is chilled to 260 degrees below zero, reducing its volume so it can be transported in a tanker. Federal energy regulators have approved more than 20 new terminals. Companies proposing new terminals include AES Corp., ExxonMobil Corp. and Dominion Resources Inc. The GAO study urged federal agencies to coordinate their plans to protect against attacks on LNG shipments. It examined six unclassified studies about the effects of a major spill and fire aboard a double-hulled tanker carrying the fuel. Congressional investigators said most experts believe fierce heat from the intense fire is likely the biggest threat to citizens. The Energy Department forecasts that LNG imports will grow by more than 400 percent by 2015. It is currently imported at five terminals in Massachusetts, Maryland, Georgia, Louisiana and in the Gulf of Mexico. "We know that terrorists are looking for the weakest link in our security efforts, and this GAO report is a timely reminder that LNG and oil tankers are serious targets," Rep Edward Markey, D-Mass., said in a statement. "We cannot skimp when it comes to public safety." The public report was reviewed by several federal agencies to remove sensitive information. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
