Despite Hard Lessons from BP Disaster, State of Louisiana Still Silent on EIS Request from Lake Peigneur

The residents who will be living within one mile of over 18 billion cubic feet of stored natural gas are asking the State of Louisiana to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to fully study the impact an accident or explosion would have on the surrounding community.  To date, residents have not been presented an emergency plan for evacuation, or a plan from AGL Resources on how they would handle or contain an explosion.  No relief wells will be connected to the storage caverns, so like BP, they will leak into the atmosphere until its reserves are empty.

Given the fact that BP and the Deepwater Horizon rig were exempt from conducting an EIS, on June 3, 2010 residents again asked the Governor Jindal to order an EIS for Lake Peigneur:

Dear Governor Jindal,

We truly understand the crisis you are facing since the BP disaster. We are writing at this time because AGL Resources/Jefferson Island Storage & Hub has recently announced their plan to submit their revised permit for approval by the Department of Natural Resources.

Considering the current catastrophe of the BP oil spill of which the chances of a disaster were "a million to one," Save Lake Peigneur, Inc. is asking once again for the State of Louisiana to require a complete Environmental Impact Statement before approving a permit for the Jefferson Island Storage expansion.

We have sent this request by email to Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Jim Welch, and are asking you, Governor Jindal to please support this request.

Two issues remain unresolved, the bubbling in Lake Peigneur and the dispute of the water withdrawal affecting the drinking water supply of Iberia and Vermilion parishes. Current data pertaining to the drinking water from the aquifer was not included in the Environmental Assessment report conducted by the state, as well as other data such as the surface water analysis from Lake Peigneur.

We implore of you in your role as Governor of the State of Louisiana to ensure that necessary studies are completed to protect and conserve the natural resources and people of this state.  We are already facing a tremendous crisis.  Please do not ignore our plea to require a complete and thorough study.

Mr. Gramms of Pivotal Energy publicly stated "there will be no accident."  As we have seen with BP there are never any assurances, and we now watch the criticism of government agencies that exempted BP from conducting an Environmental Impact Statement.  We have repeatedly asked the State of Louisiana to investigate the unanswered issues we have presented.

Our state was not responsible for the BP disaster but federal regulations failed in their responsibility to demand complete safety assurances.

We are appealing to you directly as Governor of the State of Louisiana to require a federal Environmental Impact Statement before the public hearing and comment period for JISH’s permit application.  We understand it is within your authority to require this.

We will issue an announcement of our request.  We appreciate your consideration of this vital matter.

Sincerely,
Nara Crowley,
President Save Lake Peigneur, Inc.