Save Passamaquoddy Bay
Alliance to Protect the Quoddy Region
|
They said it, we didn't!
Outlandish, Dumb, & Absurd Statements
Made by the local LNG DevelopersJohnny-come-lately Calais LNG has entered the Goofy-Statement competition: Calais LNG said it, we didn't!
Downeast LNG has made so many outlandish statements that, in addition to their inclusion in the page below, we've created a special page just for those quotes: Downeast LNG said it, we didn't!
Prior to the project's demise, Quoddy Bay LNG (QBLNG)/LLC's developers vied for the absurd statement award: Quoddy Bay LLC said It, we didn't!
2008 Oct 17— Quoddy Bay LNG/LLC was removed by FERC from Federal permitting
2009 Jun 9 — Pleasant Point Tribal Government ended its relationship with QBLNG/LLC
2009 Jul 29 — FERC removed QBLNG from its maps of Potential & Proposed LNG terminals [PDF files]
Dates of quotes for failed projects are shown in red.
|
|
| All | = | All LNG projects in Passamaquoddy Bay |
| C | = | Calais LNG-related quote (Previously known as "BP Consulting," "BP Development," & "Saint Croix Consulting.") |
| DE | = | Downeast LNG-related quote — FAILED PROJECT |
| FERC | = | Federal Enery Regulatory Commission quote |
| QB | = | Quoddy Bay LLC-related quote |
Arthur Gelber, of Calais LNG Project Company —
Top"… Maine could actually own and finance such a [natural gas] pipeline at a more advantageous rate than industry. … Governor, I would like to arrange a meeting with you and my team, along with the Commissioner for Transportation and the head of the Turnpike Authority, to discuss a natural gas pipeline traversing the Maine Energy Corridors as a more viable and less predatory alternative to [Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline]."
—
Calais LNG letter to Maine Governor John Baldacci, 2010 Aug 12 (PDF; 52 KB).
Webmaster’s Comments: On the day after Calais LNG was supposed to — but did not — have a new investor after financial powerhouse Goldman Sachs deserted the project, Calais LNG asked the Governor of Maine to pay for and own a new 343-mile natural gas pipeline from Calais to Boston, rather than expand the existing Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline (M&NE) or have private enterprise build and own it.
There are 343 miles of M&NE natural gas pipeline from Baileyville to Boston*. At $2 million per mile, Calais LNG wants around $686 million from Maine taxpayers to help out an unneeded and unviable project.
* Spectra Energy's Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline assets webpage
Ian Emergy, of Calais LNG Project Company, regarding Goldman Sachs deserting his project —
Top“There is a little hiccup here, a little bump in the road, and we are going to get through it.”
— “Calais LNG project will continue, vows project manager,” The Saint Croix Courier, 2010 Jul 27. [Free registration required.]
Webmaster's Comments: Goldman Sachs' financial desertion is merely a "hiccup"? It is recognition that Calais LNG has no value.
Hal Kvisle, departing CEO of TransCanada Corp.—
Top“If there was one misstep, it was to get too excited over building liquefied natural gas import terminals….”
“I consider ourselves fortunate that the projects did not get through the regulatory process, and as a result we didn't spend a lot of money on them.”
— "Hal Kvisle to pass leadership of TransCanada to COO Russ Girling in June," CanadaEast, 2010 Apr 15.
Webmaster’s Comments: Calais LNG and Downeast LNG could learn from Mr. Kvisle's experience.
T. Boone Pickens, Chairman of BP Capital, at Ways and Means Committee hearing on Energy Tax Incentives Driving the Green Job Economy —
Top“Study after study shows we're awash in natural gas. We have well over a 200-years' supply, by current estimates.”
— "Ways and Means Hearing on Green Jobs Economy - Pickens Opening," YouTube.com, 2010 Apr 14.
Mitt Romney, from his book, "No Apology" (St. Martin's Press, 2010)—
Top"Natural gas is an energy source everyone can love. It is abundant domestically, it can substitute for oil in a number of applications, and it emits very little greenhouse gas. Recently developed horizontal-drillings technology has transformed the natural gas industry by multiplying the amount of gas that can be extracted from old and new wells. Shale gas that is abundant in North America is less costly to produce than oil, coal, and most other forms of energy. As vast new reserves are being opened, natural gas has suddenly become the most promising immediate oil substitute , as well as a much larger contributor to our overall energy requirements. America should be building gas pipelines as quickly as possible." [Bold emphasis added.]
Webmaster’s Comments: Everyone but Calais LNG and Downeast LNG is recognizing that additional LNG import infrastructure is pointless.
The US is drowning in domestic natural gas. There are currently over 30 pipeline expansion projects to bring shale gas to the Northeast, eliminating the natural gas supply bottleneck and the need for more LNG import infrastructure, while simultaneously reducing natural gas prices in the Northeast.
Top"The Government of Canada continues to support the responsible development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in North America as LNG will be an important source of natural gas in the coming years. However, Canada remains opposed to the passage of LNG tankers through Head Harbour Passage, which is located within Canadian internal waters. This area is widely recognized as a unique and highly productive marine ecosystem. Canada continues to have strong concerns about the navigational, environmental and public safety risks associated with transit through such a narrow passage.
“As was previously noted in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement issued by the FERC for Downeast LNG , the passage of LNG tankers in this region requires the collaboration of the Government of Canada. Given continuing Government of Canada opposition , you may therefore wish to advise project proponents that they should consider withdrawing their applications as those projects cannot go forward as envisioned.” [Bold emphasis added.]
—
"Embassy of Canada letter to FERC Chairman Wellinghoff," 2010 February 3 (PDF; 473 KB).
Prime Minister Stephen Harper —
Top"Our position is that these are sovereign Canadian waters and we oppose [LNG] tanker traffic through this passage, and we continue to make representations to the United States government at the highest levels." [Bold emphasis added.]
— Data disappoints PM, Telegraph-Journal, 2009 Jan 9.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Canada steadfastly continues to prohibit LNG transits into Passamaquoddy Bay. And, the US Coast Guard requires the LNG developers to obtain Canada's approval for LNG transits — something that clearly will never happen.
Downeast LNG and Calais LNG have no chance at success without moving outside of Passamaquoddy Bay. So why won't they do it?
Senator Susan Collins of Maine —
"I recently met with President Obama’s nominee to be our next ambassador to Canada, David Jacobson, who currently serves as a Special Assistant to the President at the White House. … I used our meeting as an opportunity to discuss several contentious issues with Canada that must be resolved.
"Chief among them is the development of a Liquefied Natural Gas terminal here in Maine. … Canada…denies that LNG tankers have the right of innocent passage through these waters. I asked the U.S. State Department to clarify this issue, and it confirmed that all commercial vessels enjoy a non-suspendable right of innocent passage into and out of Passamaquoddy Bay through Head Harbor Passage.
"Besides disputing established international law, the Canadian government has attempted to block these projects by refusing to cooperate in any regulatory reviews, citing environmental and safety concerns. These objections come despite the strong support Canadian federal and provincial governments gave to a new major LNG terminal in Saint John, New Brunswick."
— Border Matters: U.S. and Canada, Senator Collins' Weekly Column, 2009 Aug 28.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Senator Collins exhibits an appalling lack of knowledge, leadership, and stewardship in her flagrant lobbying for LNG developers in Passamaquoddy Bay.
Those projects violate world LNG industry best practices as set out by the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO). SIGTTO represents virtually the entire world LNG industry. (For more about this, see the LNG Terminal Siting Standards Organization website.)
Save Passamaquoddy Bay has repeatedly requested that Sen. Collins direct her staff to obtain and read those SIGTTO best practices. As of 2009 Sep 30, our requests have been ignored.
Sen. Collins and the Department of State are incorrect — perhaps fraudulently so — in their assessment of innocent passage. The US is not a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and UNCLOS clearly indicates the US has no rights under that treaty.
Even if UNCLOS innocent passage were to apply, and since sovereigns are equal, the US Congressional authority it invests in the US Coast Guard to either deny or permit LNG transits in Canada's Head Harbour Passage conveys that Canada has the same right as does the US to deny LNG transits in that waterway.
Sen. Collins displays her lack of knowledge of…
- LNG industry best practices; and of
- Geographic differences;
- Oceanographic differences;
- Demographic differences; and
- Economic, Safety, and Environmental impact differences
…between the Passamaquoddy Bay LNG projects and Canaport LNG in Saint John, NB.
Robert Hefner, veteran natural gas producer from Oklahoma —
“I used to say the nation is awash in natural gas. Now I say we're drowning in it.”
— "Rediscovering Natural Gas By Hitting Rock Bottom" — National Public Radio (NPR), 2009 Sep 22.
President Donald Smith of Quoddy Bay LNG , after Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribal Government ended the business relationship after the Ground Lease expired, eight months after FERC dismissed the project on 2008 October 17 —
Top“[T]he outlook for the project “is still very positive.”
— "Sipayik council votes to end project with Quoddy Bay LNG" — The Quoddy Tides, 2009 Jun 12.
Webmaster’s Comments: First, kicked out by FERC. Now this. “Failed” is a more apt description for this project.
Top"They are simply dreaming in Technicolor. They can blame Canada, but the fact is they were late in the game and didn't do their homework when other companies had their homework completed."
— "MP vows to fight against bid to expand quarry: Environment Thompson says he will also continue opposition to proposed LNG plants in Maine," Telegraph-Journal, 2009 January 3.
Quoddy Bay LNG President Donald Smith, in response to FERC's dismissal of Quoddy Bay LNG's project applications —
“It’s a little embarrassing.”
— "FERC dismisses LNG application but Quoddy Bay plans to refile" — The Quoddy Tides, 2008 Oct 24.
Peter Hansen, CEO of Oregon LNG —
Top“Why would you bring an LNG tanker under the Astoria bridge?” Hansen said. ‘A pool fire is like a nuclear meltdown. The likelihood of such an accident is remote, but the consequence is enormous. ... It would burn Astoria.’”[Bold emphasis added.]
— "Lineup for LNG project adds a competitor" — The Oregonian, 2008 Oct 13.
Webmaster's Comment: Unlike Downeast LNG, Calais LNG, and Quoddy Bay LNG, it appears that Oregon LNG agrees with world LNG-industry terminal siting standards (see SIGTTO and LNG Terminal Siting Standards Organization), and has more safety sense than FERC.
Fairplay Shipping News —
“America’s LNG terminal sector, once touted for its vast potential, appears to have disastrously overbuilt capacity.”
— "US LNG terminals gather dust" — 2008 Sep 11.
Goldman Sachs Group, financial partner in Calais LNG Project Co. —
Top“The strong U.S. natural gas supply growth suggests that incremental LNG imports into the U.S. will no longer be necessary for U.S. inventories to reach comfortable levels”
— "Natural gas prices may be Down" — Purchasing.com, 2008 Sep 11.
Marshall Adkins, energy analyst with Raymond James & Associates —
“The fact remains that US gas supplies are screaming higher at a ridiculously high 8% annual growth rate," Adkins said. "Since gas demand growth is not growing nearly as fast as supply growth, the US gas market is still headed for a train wreck. Yes, we have had a meaningful pullback in natural gas prices over the past two months, but there is no reason it cannot get worse.”
— "US gas prices headed lower on oversupply: Raymond James analyst" — Platts, 2008 Sep 8.
Zach Allen, president of PanEurasian Enterprises —
Top“My feeling is, if you've got strong local opposition, they may not be able to kill you with one blow, but a thousand cuts can do it. Whether it's justified or not, you just can't overcome strong intrinsic local opposition. They're going to be creative in finding ways to stop things”
— "Challenges hit U.S. LNG market transformation" — Energy Current, 2008 Sep 1.
Adam Wilson, Quoddy Bay LNG's deputy project manager, stating that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) "erred" when it told the US Appeals Court that its lease approval covered the entire project, also said —
"We're trying to rectify that right now. We've drafted an amendment to the ground lease that will clarify what the BIA approval was and what we expect it to be and we've just got to work out a few minor details and then give it to the justice department.
— "Passamaquoddy group to appeal dismissal of LNG lawsuit," Indian Country Today, 2008 Aug 29.
Webmaster's Comments: Adam Wilson and Quoddy Bay LNG claim they now represent the US Department of Interior's BIA? — and they're going to instruct the US Department of Justice on how to defend the case against the BIA?
Hubris and impropriety abound at Quoddy Bay LNG.
Ian Emergy,of Calais LNG Project Company, in response to Save Passamaquoddy Bay/Canada’s Aug 20 annual meeting in which Member of Parliament and Cabinet Greg Thompson once again emphatically stated that Canada will not allow LNG ships into Passamaquoddy Bay, Ian Emery stated —
Top“It's really time to sit down and talk about this. We have an American and a Canadian flag hanging in front of the office. We are open and genuine. We could help them work on the new study. This could benefit both sides of the border.”
“We are not the big bad wolf here and we will hear what the Canadians are saying. We want to be engaged with the Canadian Government, with Ottawa, and with the people of New Brunswick.
“Canada is our friend. New Brunswick is our friend.
“We need to do things together that will bring the project forward. They need to know what the benefits are and what the consequences can be.”— “Calais LNG reacts to Canadian Head Harbour stance,” The Calais Advertiser, 2008 Aug 28 (story is not available online).
Webmaster's Comments: Apparently, hearing “NO!” repeatedly coming from the Canadian government “doesn’t count” in “hearing what the Canadians are saying” in Ian Emery’s one-way international love-fest.
Calais LNG’s behavior is unsettlingly and repeatedly like that of a stalker!
Aubrey K. McClendon, Chesapeake Energy Corporation chairman and chief executive —
“It’s almost divine intervention. Right at the time oil prices are skyrocketing, we’re struggling with the economy, we’re concerned about global warming, and national security threats remain intense, we wake up and we’ve got this abundance of natural gas around us.”
— "Drilling boom revives hopes for natural gas" — The New York Times, 2008 Aug 24
Keith Trent, Duke Energy's chief strategy, policy, and regulatory officer —
Top"Relying more on LNG forces the U.S. to compete with Europe, Australia and Asia for this valuable commodity. If this isn't troubling enough, consider that Russia, Iran and Qatar have over half the world's gas reserves."
"Consumers are already hooked on gasoline. They shouldn't face addiction to another fuel [LNG] because of policies that don't balance our energy, economic and environmental needs."
— "U.S. must avoid addiction to imported natural gas" — The Charlotte Observer, 2008 Jul 11
Webmaster's Comments: Duke Energy is majority owner (over 77%) of the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline that delivers natural gas to US customers in New England, and that would carry the resulting natural gas from proposed Downeast LNG, Calais LNG Project Co., and Quoddy Bay LNG, if those projects could actually succeed.
Arthur Gelber, of Calais LNG Project Company (formerly, "BP Consulting," "St. Croix Consulting," "St. Croix Development," "Calais LNG," "Northeast Energy," and "Calais Maine LNG Import Terminal"), displaying his disingenuous "good neighbor" policy by expecting Canadians to accept economic, health, and safety risks from his poorly-sited project in Maine —
"We're hopeful the Canadians will be good neighbors. … We hope that as neighbors in the spirit of cooperation, that we can find common ground between what we're doing and what they're doing. We have interests, they have interests. There are things that they want to do that involve us as there are things we want to do that involve them."
— "Calais Officials Hear From Calais LNG Officials" WQDY FM, 2008 Apr 8.
Brian Smith (Quoddy Bay LLC/LNG) —
"…FERC is considering the revised tariff of Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline on gas quality specifications and otherwise considering the impact of LNG on pipeline gas quality, including issues such as maximum nitrogen content."
"The Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline has proposed a new tariff with a broader spectrum of the Wobbe Index than previously supplied further expanding possible supply options. Many power plant owners in Maine with combustion turbines are considering the use of a “Wide Wobbe” control system which can accommodate this broader spectrum."
—
| WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS:Smith's statements prove to be bald-faced fabrications, as confirmed by Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline's Marylee Hanley, by FERC personnel, and by the FERC docket for Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline. |
| Is Quoddy Bay LNG's truthless corporate culture what Maine welcomes to do business in the state? |
Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General, State of Connecticut —
"Unfortunately, when it comes to federal energy policy, the Bush administration has applied a mindless 'if they come, we will let them build it' approach as a substitute for thoughtful balancing of environmental and energy priorities."
— Newsday opinion column, NY State must kill Broadwater to benefit public, 2008 Feb 26.
LDC Forum - Northeast —
Top"High prices, supply shortages, controversies about new drilling opportunities, Middle East turmoil, volatility in the financial markets, and the Democratic gains last November all contribute increased scrutiny of the industry. We will never again be able to fly beneath the public radar! …."
[Bold emphasis added.]— 2008 Jan, Agenda Welcome and Overview for the 13th Annual LDC Forum - Northeast, June 2–4, 2008
LDC Forum attendees are: Gas buyers from gas and electric utilities, merchant power plants, industrial end users, gas producers, pipelines, marketers, storage operators, and brokers.
RADM Brian Flynn, U.S. Assistant Surgeon General (USPHS, Ret.) comments about Downeast LNG President Dean Girdis's op-ed in the 2007 Nov 11 Maine Sunday Telegram —
"A good while ago, in a BDN OPED, I stated that the LNG import facilities proposed in the Passamaquoddy Bay area are the health and moral equivalent of offering tainted food to hungry people. I further cautioned that care must be taken not to blame hungry people from being tempted to take this food.
Mr. Girdis seems disingenuously surprised and frustrated that the people of Maine and Canada, and the governments they elect, are not jumping at the chance to super-size his fetid meal. One must wonder what in the world he is telling his investors. I suspect that the real audience for articles like this are his investors as he begins his attempt to evade his obvious culpability for this failure in which he continues to earn money while they continue to lose money."
— "Dean Girdis not happy with BEP and State of Maine," Google Groups [Quoddy], 2007 Nov 12.
The Congressional Quarterly comments on Downeast LNG's fate —
Top"…see The Bangor Daily News on another LNG facility’s demise Down East."
— "BEHIND THE LINES: Our Take on the Other Media’s Homeland Security Coverage" — CQ.com, 2007 Oct 29
The "demise" quotation is within the Oct 29 Congressional Quarterly page in the above link. To find the quote on that page, search that page for the paragraph beginning, "Bugs ‘n bombs". (NOTE: Search just for "Bugs", since the apostrophe in "‘n" is a curly single open-quotation mark [‘].)
The quotation contains a link to the 2007 Oct 26 Bangor Daily News story reporting on the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) ruling. That ruling denies Downeast LNG's attempt to withdraw from the state permitting process, and puts Downeast LNG's state permitting process on hold until — and if — Downeast LNG can come up with a viable pipeline route connecting their proposed LNG terminal to the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline, with a time limit of 2008 July 1.
About Congressional Quarterly:
Mark Snell, Sempra Energy's Chief Financial Officer —
— "INTERVIEW—Sempra CFO sees dip in LNG terminal build" — Reuters UK, 2007 Oct 5
George "Bud" Finch, Eastport City Manager —
Top"The process has become like water: it's trying to seek the path of least resistance on its way to the bottom."
— Parallel 44: For LNG, Maine is the end of the line, column by Colin Woodard, The Working Waterfront, October 2007 issue.
|
Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier —
|
Member of Parliament Greg Thompson —
|
Paul Martin of TRC, the environmental consulting company working for Quoddy Bay LNG —
"When you're up close to the facilities they seem relatively big. When you are further away from the facility, they diminish in the viewshed, so that they aren't so apparent."
— WQDY-FM, "Quoddy Bay info meeting draws international crowd," 2007 May 23
Rob McCall —
Top"Some day the oil will run out and we will have forgotten how to make so many things out of the bounty that Nature provides—all renewable, all bio-degradable. Then where will we be? Helpless as a hog on ice, that's where, and at the mercy of 'primitive' cultures and so-called 'developing' countries who still remember how to survive with only what Nature provides."
— Small Misty Mountain: the Awareness Almanac: Nature's Year in a Downeast Village; Pushcart Press; Sedgwick, Maine; 2006 Jan 16; p 127.
|
Sipayik Passamaquoddy Chief Rick Doyle —
|
Dean Girdis, President of Downeast LNG —
Top"There is a degree of openness that is not being acknowledged by the opponents."
— "Fishermen split over LNG," Bangor Daily News, 2006 November 7
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: On 2006 September 26, Girdis lobbied the Canadian Federal Government in Ottowa, Ontario, and was soundly rebuffed. In Downeast LNG's monthly Status Report to FERC for that period — while mentioning hosting a picnic during the report period — Girdis withheld mentioning his failure with Canada. Girdis's "degree of openness" lacks sincerety.
|
Prime Minister Stephen Harper —
|
U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock, rebuking the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding its handling of Nulankeyutomonen Nkihtahkomikumon's request for public documents —
Top"First the BIA said, ‘We don’t have it.’ Then, it said, ‘You’ve already got it.’ And when they asked again, the answer was ‘You don’t have a right to it and if you think you do, you’re going to have to sue us to get it.’
"Aren’t you playing hide and seek with the very people [that the Bureau of Indian Affairs] is supposed to have a trust relationship with? You really make groups sue you to get documents?"
— Judge says Bureau of Indian Affairs ‘playing hide and seek’ with info request, Bangor Daily News, 2006 Sep 23.
Quoddy Bay LLC —
"Common Transit Questions
"Canadian waters?"To date, (08/22/06) the Canadian Prime Minister, Steven (sic) Harper, has had no public comment with regard to this subject."
—
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Note: Prime Minister Harper's first name is spelled, "Stephen." Apparently, Quoddy Bay LLC hasn't been following the news. Even prior to PM Harper's election, he has publicly stated his opposion to the LNG projects in Passamaquoddy Bay.
- Conservative leader and Leader of the Opposition, Stephen Harper said last week the federal government is courting an environmental disaster with its silence on the proposed location for a new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Maine. — WQDY-FM, 2005 Sep 15.
- You've got to look at the language which he used. Quoting Stephen Harper, 'I will pursue every diplomatic and legal option to stop LNG in Passamaquoddy Bay,' " a jilted Mr. Girdis said as he searched for a sign that maybe, maybe he and Harper aren't finished. — Out There: The Column by Chuck Brown, 2006 Jan 30 (Note: Chuck Brown is a news writer for the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal)
Quoddy Bay LLC —
Top"Common Transit Questions
"What is the impact on local fishermen?"Quoddy Bay will advise the USCG [United States Coast Guard] and Transport Canada to use safety and security zones that will ensure the safety of all vessels, but that will minimize impacts on other vessels."
—
Community #2, 2006 August (late August)
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Quoddy Bay LLC has no authority regarding safety and security zones around LNG vessels, and their statement that they will "advise" is presumptuous. Safety and security zones in U.S. waters are an LNG requirement determined by and dictated by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Quoddy Bay LLC —
"Common Transit Questions
"Can LNG tankers transit through Canadian waters?"Yes, the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea mandates the rights of innocent passage. Passage is innocent so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal state."
—
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: There are two problems with Quoddy Bay LLC's logic on this issue:
- The United States has repeatedly taken the position that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is not in the United States' best interests. The U.S. has refused to become a party to the Law of the Sea Convention. Quoddy Bay LLC's contention that "the United States doesn't have to observe the Law of the Sea Convention, but Canada must" is unrealistic. In reality, a treaty requires agreement among signatories. That hasn't yet happened with the U.S., and isn't likely to happen in the near future.
- Transiting close to Canadian communities, LNG vessels would violate the Law of the Sea's conditions regarding peace, good order, and security of the coastal state (Canada). Thus, even if the U.S. were a party to the Convention, the "innocent passage" provision would be violated. "Innocent passage" would not exist for LNG tankers.
Brian Smith (Quoddy Bay LLC) —
Top"[W]e are very close to a successful end to the pre-filing process...."
—
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: FERC lists a plethora of requirement failures in Quoddy Bay LLC's Draft Resource Reports, pointing out Quoddy Bay's lack of competence. Read the 2006 August 24 docket response filed to Quoddy Bay LLC's prefiling.
FERC has set Quoddy Bay LLC's potential formal application back by at least two months.
Brian Smith (Quoddy Bay LLC) —
"We’re eager to provide FERC with the additional information so that they have the opportunity to review the requested information before our formal application."
— "Quoddy Bay LNG Providing Additional Data to FERC," 2006 August 28
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Quoddy Bay LLC is providing what they're calling "additional information" to FERC, not because it will give FERC an "opportunity," but because Quoddy Bay failed to provide the required information previously, and they can't complete their pre-filing process without furnishing this information. Quoddy Bay LLC's ineptitude has set back their project by at least two months.
Brian Smith (Quoddy Bay LLC), in a letter to the editor —
Top"Yellow Wood Associates specializes in working against economic development and have no background in LNG or energy facilities."
— "Quoddy Bay LNG helps," [letter to the editor], Bangor Daily News, 2006 August 10.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Brian Smith apparently hadn't researched Yellow Wood Associates before writing his letter, or he'd have known that Yellow Wood Associates is in the economic development business — oops!
Smith's criticism of Yellow Wood for having no LNG background exposes Smith's and Quoddy Bay LLC's hypocrisy, since Brian Smith and Donald Mitchell Smith have no LNG background, themselves — oops, again!
Brian Smith (Quoddy Bay LLC), at the 2006 July 13 FERC Site Visit —
"Pure methane burns too hot," therefore, we'll add nitrogen to the gas.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Smith also stated that Quoddy Bay LLC would be importing "hot" LNG. "Hotness" refers to the calorific content of natural gas, when compared to pure methane — pure methane can't be "hot"; therefore, pure methane doesn't require the addition of an inert, non-burning gas, like nitrogen. It's only when other hotter-burning fuel gasses, such as butane, propane, or ethane are present in large quantities in the LNG or natural gas that it's classified as "hot" and nitrogen is required to "cool it down."
In the 1980s, the U.S. Coast Guard sponsored LNG research at China Lake, concluding that unconfined "hot" LNG vapors can explode. [See the U.S. Coast Guard 2005 Fall edition of Proceedings, "LNG and Public Safety Issues: Summarizing current knowledge about potential worst-case consequences of LNG spills onto water" (PDF).] Brian Smith demonstrates that Quoddy Bay LLC is dangerously ignorant about its own business.
Governor John Baldacci, in a news release opposed to offshore oil and gas drilling, 2006 Jun 30 —
Top"Maine's natural resources are valuable assets to the state's economy and to thousands of families who make their livelihood from fishing and lobstering. The legislation that has passed in the United States House of Representatives yesterday is another example of the flawed energy policy coming from Washington, D.C. This bill in its current form would have a significant negative impact on Maine's economy." [Bold emphasis added.]
Normand Laberge of Tidewalker Associates (the business proposing a tidal dam and LNG project in Cutler), referring to the proposed LNG projects in Passamaquoddy Bay —
"Even though there seems to be a lot of political support for the LNG projects, I think that something might happen to derail those projects."
—"FERC OKs Cutler study: Engineer plans tidal power plant," Bangor Daily News, 2006 June 21.
Vera Francis, Coordinator, Nulankeyutomonen Nkihtahkomikumon ("We Take Care of Our Land") —
|
|
Veterans Affairs Minister & Member of Parliament Greg Thompson, quoting Prime Minister Stephen Harper —
|
Brian Smith (Quoddy Bay LLC), to the Sunrise County Economic Council board of directors —
Top"It looks like we will be stuck being a major source of noxious emissions."
— "Possible $700M LNG plan includes jobs, tourism, noxious emissions," Bangor Daily News, 2006 April 19.
In the 2006 April 22-23 Bangor Daily News, they published a correction, indicating that Smith actually said "NOx" (referring to Nitrogen Oxides; NOx) instead of "noxious." See the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's inclusion of NOx as an unreduced and problematic air pollutant. (We thank the Bangor Daily News' correction for specifying which noxious pollutant Quoddy Bay LLC proposes to belch into Passamaquoddy Bay communities' air — and our lungs!)
Brian Smith (Quoddy Bay LLC), to the Sunrise County Economic Council board of directors —
"I'm not an expert on anything."
— "Possible $700M LNG plan includes jobs, tourism, noxious emissions," Bangor Daily News, 2006 April 19.
According to the LNGLawBlog of Washington, DC, lawfirm Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, Brian Smith lied to the Eastport City Council when he stated —
Top"[Quoddy Bay LLC's project is under] strict guidelines that require FERC to deal with it within one year."
— "Quoddy Bay suggests “floating bridge” idea,"LNGLawBlog.com; Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan; Washington, DC, 2006 March 29.
COMMENTS QUOTED FROM LNG Law Blog: "LNG Law Blog notes that, unlike the Deepwater Port Act that governs offshore terminal proposals, the Natural Gas Act and FERC’s regulations do not limit the time period in which FERC must make a determination on an LNG terminal application."
Brian Smith (Quoddy Bay LLC), in response to an Eastport citizen's concern for an emergency route off of Moose Island (Eastport) —
"We have long considered the possibility or trying to help out with capital or matching funds or something like that for a permanent bridge [between Eastport and the mainland], and the [railroad] tracks." ..."The only problem we see with that is that we don't want our facility to be contingent on building that bridge."
— "Quoddy Bay LNG makes pitch to Eastport City Council," WQDY-FM, 2006 March 28.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Smith wants Eastport to approve his project, but doesn't want to commit to an emergency method of egress off the island. Smith's Harvard education apparently didn't include logic.
Hugh Berreman, Vice President of Quoddy Bay LLC —
Top"[Passamaquoddy Bay] is a 10-lane highway, and it's not being used."
— Spoken at the 2006 March 16 Eastport Chamber of Commerce meeting to Save Passamaquoddy Bay member Nancy Asante.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The "10-lane highway" statement should convince anyone about Quoddy Bay LLC's agenda for Passamaquoddy Bay — massive industrial and port development.
Berreman's remark also confirms that Quoddy Bay LLC has no respect for the internationally-recognized LNG-industry safe practices standards established by the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO), since those standards* preclude Passamaquoddy Bay from even one LNG terminal.
* SIGTTO safe practices standards are provided, in part, in SIGTTO's publications, "Site Selection and Design for LNG Ports and Jetties," and "LNG Operations in Port Areas." Both publications are available through Witherbys of London, UK.
|
Chief Hugh Akagi, of the New Brunswick band of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, regarding the attempt by Dean Girdis / Downeast LNG to take Passamaquoddy territorial assets —
|
John Craig, Mayor of St. Andrews, NB —
|
Downeast LNG's "Shill" Address
"Shill" Discovery
The actual screenshot below, near the bottom of many of Downeast LNG's website pages, was brought to our attention by an astute observer.
Direct your attention to the email address, "shill@downeastlng.com", which the company provides for use in contacting them.
While we're sure that the address refers in some way to a staff person's name, it is, nonetheless, ironically prophetic.
Since Downeast LNG will probably revise their contact email address when they learn about our discovery, we've preserved it here.
Screenshot:
(2006 Feb 16)
noun : One who poses as a satisfied customer or an enthusiastic gambler to dupe bystanders into participating in a swindle.
- To act as a shill for (a deceitful enterprise).
- To lure (a person) into a swindle.
noun : a decoy who acts as an enthusiastic customer in order to stimulate the participation of others
verb : act as a shill; "The shill bid for the expensive carpet during the auction in order to drive the price up"
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: No further comment is needed.
George "Bud" Finch, Eastport City Manager, at the 2006 Jan 30 City Council meeting —
Top"I believe the City has no choice but to oppose the current Quoddy Bay proposal at Split Rock for many reasons, but specifically because of the site."
"This is not a NIMBY, Not In My Backyard issue, it's a NIMFY, Not In My Front Yard Issue."
"The location chosen is a poor choice for many social and economical reasons which for the most part are pretty self-explanatory."
— WQDY-FM news article, 2006 Jan 31.
John Craig, Mayor of St. Andrews, NB, in response to the election of Stephen Harper as Canada's new Prime Minister, 2006 Jan 26 —
"Today marks the beginning of the end for all liquefied natural gas terminals being proposed for the beautiful Passamaquoddy Bay. With Stephen Harper as our newly elected Prime Minister and our MP Greg Thompson being re-elected our Bay will be protected by disallowing and banning any and all LNG supertankers from entering through Head Harbour Passage. This area is not only risky and dangerous but most important is Canadian waters.
This is good news for St. Andrews which over generations has been built around the beauty of the Bay and the tourism and fishing industry. There is no room on Passamaquoddy Bay for any industry that will threaten our way of life and endanger our children’s future.
As I have said in the past it does not matter what results come from votes in Robbinston, Calais or any other community on the American side — what matters is what our Prime Minister says. Today we have a new Prime Minister who has promised to protect the Passamaquoddy Bay from the LNG threat and our Town awaits that good news. It is my hope that I will have the pleasure of standing next to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and our MP Greg Thompson when he makes that announcement."
Cary Weston, President of Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications, the PR firm now representing Quoddy Bay LLC —
Top"Webster's dictionary defines the word propaganda as '... ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to damage an opposing cause.'"
— "Propaganda told as fact" [Letter to the editor] — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME, 2006 January 16.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Webster's online dictionary also defines "propaganda" as...
"Information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause."
It's a humorous irony — in his condemnation of propaganda — that Cary Weston makes his living by creating and disseminating propaganda. It seems that Cary Weston has a strong disdain for his own industry, making it all the better that he represents Quoddy Bay LLC.
Clifford Goudey remarks about FERC External Affairs spokesperson Tamara Allen-Young's 2006 Jan 11 unnerving statement about living next to an LNG facility —
"If this comment is intended to relieve our concerns, then it fails. It reveals to me the clear knowledge within that agency regarding the true level [of] risk they are so forcefully imposing on the public."
— "Re: Blumenthal Challenges LNG Project," YahooGroups [LNGSafety], 2006 Jan 16
Tamara Young-Allen, FERC's External Affairs spokesperson —
Top"If I were living next to a [sic] LNG facility, I'd feel more comfortable if certain information was [sic] not made available to someone living in a cave in Iran or Iraq."
— "Blumenthal demands documents regulators say are already public," New York Newsday, 2006 Jan 11
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: FERC's Young-Allen makes a good argument not to live next to an LNG facility.
Downeast LNG project flyer, "Downeast LNG Project Overview," 2006 January —
"The most visible aspect of the project will be the ship itself, which will be present only when it is in port...."
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Brilliant! Why didn't Downeast LNG also inform the public that, "The ship won't be in port when it isn't in port"?
Or, "When we're gone, we'll be gone." Frankly, we can't wait.
Dean Girdis, of Downeast LNG, at his 2005 December 28 Town of Robbinston presentation on his proposed project, in response to the possibility of Robbinston voting against his project —
Top"That would just tell us that we have more educational work to do."
"It's a community's right to express themselves ... an opinion today is not an opinion tomorrow...."
— "LNG firm presents Robbinston plans: Officials say vote not last word on project," Bangor Daily News, 2005 Dec 29
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Deja vu! Dean Girdis is again acting just like Don Smith.
Dean Girdis, of Downeast LNG, at the 2005 Dec 28 Town of Robbinston presentation on his proposed project —
"The terminal won't make a lot of money relative to the value of the gas."
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Does anyone actually believe Girdis is spending $500,000 on studies, and will build a $400 million terminal — because he won't be making a lot of money?
Dean Girdis, of Downeast LNG, at the 2005 Dec 28 Town of Robbinston presentation on his proposed project —
Top"I don't see a market for more that 400-500 [million cubic feet] per day."
"With the supply from Canada ... our permit may go nowhere."
Note: Quoddy Bay LLC's pre-application filing with the FERC indicates that its facilities will at times send out 2 billion cubic feet per day — four times the amount of Girdis' project.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: According to Girdis, there may not be enough market for any LNG project in Downeast Maine.
Dean Girdis, of Downeast LNG, regarding a Town of Robbinston petition to delay voting on any LNG projects until a comprehensive impact study is completed —
"We want them to vote as soon as possible because we've spent more than a half-million dollars in studies," he said. [Bold emphasis added.]
— "Petitioners seek LNG vote delay pending study," Bangor Daily News, 2005 November 7
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: And yet, (as of 2005 Nov 7) Girdis hasn't disclosed the results of his studies to the public! Girdis is showing his true colors — he wants approval of his project before its comprehensive effects on the region are known.
On 2005 December 2, the University of Maine Margaret Chase Smith Center on Public Policy released the results of its study that was paid for by Downeast LNG. Their study used IMPLAN (Input-Output Model for Planning and Analysis, originally designed for the US Forest Service) economic software and data, which the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) criticized in 2001 as being flawed. (Numerous other flaws in the IMPLAN method are available for reading on the Web by searching for "IMPLAN flaw".)
Daraius Irani, after his LNG economic impact presentation at the Washington County Economic Summit 2005, agreed that IMPLAN is a flawed and "inexpensive" method of coming to conclusions about economic impacts, and that many clients simply don't want to spend more money for more accurate conclusions.
The University of Maine Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy study merely confirms that developers pay for one-sided studies, and why a comprehensive economic, environmental, social, and intra-community impact study is needed. Save Passamaquoddy Bay 3-Nation Alliance has commissioned the Whole Bay Study precisely for this reason: to obtain the whole picture of the effects of the proposed LNG facilities in Passamaquoddy Bay — results that Dean Girdis and Downeast LNG don't want the public to learn.
Brian Smith, of Quoddy Bay LLC, regarding delaying a Town of Robbinston vote on an LNG terminal until the Quoddy Region Whole Bay Study being commissioned by Save Passamaquoddy Bay is completed —
Top"I think it's a wise decision to delay votes until a lot more information is learned about the general facility," he said.
— "Petitioners seek LNG vote delay pending study" Bangor Daily News, 2005 Nov 7.
Fred Moore, of Calais LNG (formerly "BP Consulting," "St. Croix Consulting," and "St. Croix Development"), regarding delaying the Town of Robbinston vote until the Save Passamaquoddy Bay - commissioned comprehensive impact study has been completed —
"I don't know if they are biased or unbiased one way or the other. I have no idea, but I would support a truly bona fide independent study," he said.
— "Petitioners seek LNG vote delay pending study," Bangor Daily News, 2005 Nov 7.
Dean Girdis, Downeast LNG, regarding LNG tankers that would be passing through internal Canadian waters and to his proposed LNG terminal at Robbinston, Maine —
Top"Once the application process is initiated with FERC, the Canadian government can then decide (what it wants to do). "
— "LNG meetings planned," Saint Croix Courier, 2005 November 2
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Girdis apparently isn't aware that Canada is a sovereign nation, and doesn't need his or FERC's permission — or even their request — to make a decision on this issue. Once again, Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LLC are behaving like the same people.
FERC's Robert Cupina, Deputy Director, Office of Energy Projects, during his 2005 Oct 26 Calais, Maine, presentation —
"Outside that zone, no one will get injured."
…when asked if he was saying that the furthest-out Thermal Exclusion Zone shown in his slide presentation (1,000' for "Design Spill from LNG Storage Tank" or 1,752' for "Main LNG Storage Tank Containment Area") would result in no burns of any kind.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Cupina clearly lied, since the Sandia National Laboratories' 2004 December report (page 41; 1.6 mb Adobe Reader PDF document) for the US Department of Energy includes the 2nd-degree burn hazards from four studies. Those studies show that 2nd-degree burns can occur within 30 seconds to people who are the following distances away from a catastrophic LNG fire: 1,640' (500m) — Lehr; 6,234' (1,900m) — Fay; 1,608' (490m) — Quest; and 4,232' (1,290m) — Vallejo. There are distances even beyond those indicated in the studies where people can still receive burns, especially if they are exposed for longer than 30 seconds.
The report does not indicate at what distance no burns would result; however, recognized LNG safety expert, Dr. Jerry Havens, in recent testimony to California's Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which the CPUC included in their filing to FERC, recommended that LNG facilities should be a minimum of three miles away from the public to ensure that no burn injuries occur in the case of a catastrophic LNG facility fire.
Cupina's statement also contradicted the 2005 September 30 presentation in Robbinston, Maine, where FERC's Richard Hoffmann — whose responsibilities include engineering — callously joked about burning children outside the FERC Thermal Exclusion Zone, and indicated that people would be injured outside that zone.
Yet, the public is expected to trust FERC to protect the public safety.
Laura Young, one of the editors for Poteau Daily News, in recalling Smith Cogeneration's "Smith Pocola Energy Project" on Indian land at Pocola, Oklahoma —
Top"It didn't fly. It didn't do anything. It pretty well fizzled out."
— "Lubec LNG queries lead back to Okla. developer," Bangor Daily News, 2005 Oct 22.
FERC's Richard Hoffmann, Office of Energy Projects, Director of the Division of Gas — Environment & Engineering, during his 2005 Sep 30 Robbinston, Maine, presentation —
"Someone could argue that a child might be playing in a ball field nearby, and wouldn't know enough to run, but that wouldn't be a fair question. — Just kidding!"
— when asked at what distance from LNG facilities no one would get burned in the case of a catastrophic facility fire, and why that distance wasn't being used as the proper safety distance.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: It's clear from Hoffmann's callous statement that FERC's real concerns are about security to the product, ships, and facilities, but not of the public.
Recognized LNG safety expert, Dr. Jerry Havens, in recent testimony to California's Public Utilities Commission, regarding the proposed LNG facility at Long Beach, California, recommended that LNG facilities should be a minimum of three miles away from the public in order to prevent burning people in the case of a catastrophic LNG facility fire.
Dean Girdis —
Top"... It's unfortunate that groups ... are drawing conclusions when the project hasn't been fully defined and not all of the information is available to make an objective decision."
— "Canadian premier pans plan for LNG," Bangor Daily News, 2005 August 24
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Girdis wasn't so concerned about "drawing conclusions" when he lobbied individual members of the Sunrise County Economic Council to get that organization's letter of support, even though "not all of the information is available to make an objective decision." Downeast LNG is looking more and more like Quoddy Bay LLC.
Sunrise County Economic Council should heed Girdis' advice and withdraw its decision to support Girdis' project until complete information is available.
Dr. Jerry Havens —
“If about 3 million gallons of LNG spills onto the water from an LNG tanker ship, flammable vapors from the spill could travel up to 3 miles.”
Billy Frank Conference Center, Portland, OR — 2005 August 16.
Brian Smith —
Top"We are standing by our verbal agreement with the tribe. It is a spiritual agreement that we don't want to break." (bold emphasis added.)
— "Quoddy Bay promises jobs," The Quoddy Tides, 2005 August 12.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Brian Smith evidently hasn't even seen the nearly 100-page lease agreement between the company he represents and Pleasant Point Reservation. There's definitely nothing verbal or spiritual about it.
Referring to statements by Dean Girdis, Downeast LNG —
TopHe said he understands a lot of the concerns people have, but thinks this development will be less obtrusive than the quarry at Bayside.
— "LNG companies shun St. Andrews," Saint Croix Courier, 2005 August 12
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Downeast LNG has also stated that their proposed development would be less obtrusive in the fog. There's more "fog" being manufactured by invading LNG developers than occurs here naturally.
Peter Nelson —
"Peter Nelson, of William Alexander and Associates Ltd., of Saint John [NB], spokesman for Quoddy Bay, said Thursday the company would not be attending the meeting because of security concerns.
"We had security concerns regarding this particular meeting. Certainly the scope and size of the meeting was not what we expected. We expected to make a presentation in chambers to council. We had no control and input into the format of the meeting." (bold emphasis added)
— "LNG companies shun St. Andrews," Saint Croix Courier, 2005 August 12.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: First it was Jim Mitchell, then Dennis Bailey, then Emily Francis, then Dennis Bailey again, and now it's Peter Nelson. Just who really is the spokesperson for Quoddy Bay LLC, anyway?
So, Quoddy Bay LLC doesn't want a large crowd to hear what they have to say; they don't really want to "educate" the public about their project, as they have insisted in the past. They simply want secret meetings and control.
President George W. Bush, at signing of the new Energy Bill —
Top"This bill will allow America to make cleaner and more productive use of our domestic energy resources, including coal, and nuclear power, and oil and natural gas," the President said. "By using these reliable sources to supply more of our energy, we'll reduce our reliance on energy from foreign countries, and that will help this economy grow so people can work."
— Bush Signs Energy Bill Into Law to Mixed Reviews, Environment News Service, 2005 Aug 8.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: President Bush doesn't seem to know that current and future LNG-suppliers to the US — like Trinidad & Tobago, Algeria, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, and Russia — are foreign countries.
Brian Smith —
"We have land in Robbinston that is adequate for an LNG import facility, it's actually perfect ... except for the fact that it's right across from St. Andrews, a big resort community, and kind of on their face."
— "U.S. LNG proponent explores Maine options," New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal, 2005 July 27.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: We're predicting that Brian Smith is about to discover an enormous glob of Canadian "egg" on his face.
Brian Smith, when asked why Quoddy Bay LLC wasn't proposing an LNG terminal near Mill Cove in Robbinston, directly across the St. Croix River from St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada —
"...The resort community of St. Andrews was opposed moderately to the Gleason Cove facility, and we know that the community of St. Andrews is extremely important to the Canadian communities."
— "Quoddy Bay Meets Robbinston Planning Board Informal Discussion" WQDY radio, 2005 July 22.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: St. Andrews' so-called "moderate" opposition was expressed in a formal proclamation opposing the Quoddy Bay LLC project *, urging Provincial and Federal officials to take action to stop it.
For Quoddy Bay LLC to then propose placing LNG facilities at their doorstep, endangering their people and economy, makes a mockery of St. Andrews' concern for its citizens and their safety, let alone Robbinston residents' concerns for their own safety and economy.
*Other similar official statements opposing Quoddy Bay LLC's LNG project were created by Deer Island, Campobello Island, Roosevelt-Campobello International Park, Grand Manan, Quoddy Regional Land Trust, Indigenous Environmental Network, Cobscook Bay Fishermen's Association, as well as anti-Quoddy Bay LLC LNG statements to Canada's Parliament by New Brunswick's Member of Parliament Greg Thompson.
In a 2005 July 18 Maine Public Radio interview, "Two LNG Developers Flesh Out Plans That Involve the Same Town," Quoddy Bay LLC's Brian Smith stated that they would be building an 8-mile underwater pipeline between their Split Rock LNG import terminal and their tank farm in Robbinston.
The next day, 2005 July 19, when Quoddy Bay's spokesman from Savvy Inc., Dennis Bailey, was asked to comment on the proposed underwater pipeline...
Dennis Bailey responded —
"What pipeline in the water?"
— Bangor Daily News, "LNG proposal stirs up community: Robbinston area residents wonder about impact on larger ecosystem,"
Downeast LNG project publication, tab 1 ("Question & Answer Briefing"), page 15, 2005 July 8 —
Top"... the visual impact of the Downeast LNG facility structures would naturally be obscured or visually unremarkable on days in which fog, rain, or haze exist."
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: We're surprised that Downeast LNG didn't mention that if everyone in St. Andrews were to face only to the east, or were to all wear bags over their heads, they wouldn't see the LNG facility at all!
Downeast LNG project publication, tab 1 ("Question & Answer Briefing"), page 11, 2005 July 8 —
"The research done to date does not indicate that there are endangered species or habitat on the Mill Cove."
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: There's no mention of the threatened species known to inhabit the shipping channel that Downeast LNG tankers would travel in order to get to Mill Cove, and that live along the abutting shorelands that would be affected by the project!
Following are area species identified as Threatened by the Canadian Species At Risk Act:
Threatened species:
- North Atlantic Right Whale1 (the most endangered whale species in the world)
- Fin Whale3
- Harlequin Duck3
- Ross's Gull2
- Atlantic Salmon1
- Wolffish2
- Atlantic Cod3
1 Endangered
2 Threatened
3 Special ConcernArea species that have already become extinct due to environmental insensitivity:
- Great Awk
- Passenger Pigeon
- Labrador Duck
- Giant Sea Mink
Robert Wyatt, Downeast LNG vice president —
Top"... unlike a lot of other developers, I've actually done this before."
— "Downeast LNG Proposal For South Mill Cove Robbinston," WQDY Radio, 2005 July 12.
Linda Lingley, pro-LNG activist and mother of pro-LNG Tribal attorney Craig Francis, commenting to anti-LNG activist Nancy Asante, while watching the 2005 July 3 Save Passamaquoddy Bay Sail-a-Bration from the Eastport Fish Pier —
"It's too bad you know so much about LNG."
Donald Smith, in the 2005 June 22 Bangor Daily News article, "LNG Developer Plans to Set Up Advisory Panel" —
Top"We understand that there are genuine concerns about the [proposed] LNG import facility on Split Rock."
Donald Smith, as quoted in "Rebound," by editor Michaela Cavallaro, Mainebiz biweekly, 2005 June 13 issue —
"After the second or third bottle of wine, the lightbulb went off in my head.”
— referring to the idea of using a no-storage-tank method of importing LNG at Split Rock, a ceremonial site at the Sipayik Reservation.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENT: We imagine that Smith's bragging about his alcohol-inspired idea won't make the positive impression on residents of Sipayik and readers that he seems to think it will have.
Emily Francis, of Savvy Inc., Quoddy Bay LLC's retained public relations firm —
“Donald always does this to us.”
— referring to Donald Smith's release of information regarding using Split Rock for an LNG import terminal, as reported in the Bangor Daily News, 2005 May 14.
“People are saying things they shouldn’t be saying.”
— referring to the same incident above.
"A fully informed public is capable of making the right decision. But when that informed decision has been made, both industry and the government should respect it."
— closing comments at the February 2005 US Department of Transportation "LNG Community Awareness Workshop"
Don Smith, Quoddy Bay LLC & Smith Cogeneration —
"I wouldn't want the damned thing in my backyard, either, but I was sent to do a job, and I'm going to do it."
— told by Smith to multiple area residents, 2005 March.
"Honestly, I wouldn't want to commit to a mouthpiece. I would want to know who the real players are. So throw that man out of town and bring the real players in," he said. "The key to this is going to be who the owner and operator is going to be. They [Quoddy Bay] don't have any experience in LNG. I don't care what they're offering them, get rid of them. It's not worth the risk. It's not worth [what] you [the community], the tribe, the environment is going to be taking."
— Bangor Daily News, 2005 March 26