WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara), together with Congressman Sam Farr (D-Salinas),Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-El Monte), and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto), sent a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger calling on him to veto the proposed Cabrillo Port Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Deepwater Port Project.  Capps highlighted the public safety and environmental threats posed by the project as well as the strong public opposition to the citing of the facility off the Ventura County coast.  The Congresswoman also noted that both the California State Lands Commission and the California Coastal Commission voted to reject the project last month.  Governor Schwarzenegger has until May 21^st to approve, veto or approve with changes to the proposal.

“I hope that Governor Schwarzenegger joins me in opposing this misguided LNG project,” said Capps.  “The evidence is overwhelming that Cabrillo Port fails to meet our state's high safety and environmental standards.  This dangerous and unnecessary project promises significant air and water pollution, global warming emissions and harm to our state's coastal resources, like whales and other marine wildlife.  The public has repeatedly voiced their strong opposition to the project, and last month two state agencies agreed this project was wrong for the South Central Coast.  Clearly there is a consensus that this ill-conceived project should be rejected, and for the sake of our state I hope the Governor vetoes it." 

A copy of the letter follows: 

May 14, 2007

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger

Governor

State Capitol Building

Sacramento, California  95814

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

We are writing to urge you to veto the proposed Cabrillo Port Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Deepwater Port Project.  As you know, both the State Lands Commission and the California Coastal Commission voted to reject this project last month. 

Cabrillo Port represents an unacceptable threat to the South Central Coast.  According to the final Environmental Impact Report, the proposed LNG project will cause twenty significant and unmitigated impacts to air and water quality, public safety, marine wildlife, views, recreation, noise, and agriculture.  These impacts will degrade our environment, negatively impact the south central coast economy, and harm our state’s coastal resources. 

Before we embark on this potentially harmful and irreversible project of a dubious nature we should first concentrate on reducing our energy needs and increasing our use of safer alternative energy sources.  There are faster, cheaper and longer-term energy solutions, such as conservation, efficiency and renewable energy that are available now.  These alternatives will not endanger public safety or our economically valuable coastal environment.

As you are well aware, the air quality of Southern California suffers from high levels of pollution.  Cabrillo Port would violate the federal Clean Air Act and degrade our air quality, even with mitigation measures.  The proposed LNG facility would be the largest smog-producer in Ventura County and interfere with its efforts to achieve clean air standards.  Cabrillo Port will also contribute to global warming.  According to some estimates, the proposed project would be responsible for up to 25 million tons of global warming pollution per year.  We commend you for playing a leading role in efforts to curb global warming pollution. Unfortunately, Cabrillo Port jeopardizes these efforts. 

This project would also seriously impact water quality and the marine environment.  The proposed facility would be sited adjacent to a National Park and National Marine Sanctuary.  Massive water intake and discharges, including vessel oil spills, sewage, ballast and wastewater, from LNG operations would damage these fragile marine ecosystems, killing zooplankton and small fish critical to the survival of marine mammals and fisheries.  These discharges would also violate California’s state water quality regulations designed to protect marine life and human health.  And according to the National Marine Fisheries Service, noise and collisions resulting from Cabrillo Port represent a significant threat to marine mammals, especially whale populations.

Finally, Cabrillo Port would be located near major shipping lanes, and could impact commercial, recreational and naval navigation.  An accident at the facility or on a tanker, for example, could engulf shipping lanes and threaten humans, marine wildlife or vessels caught in the range of an explosion.  A recent GAO report indicates that the risk assessment models used for the Cabrillo Port project do not go far enough to protect public safety.  Moreover, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, Cabrillo Port and the proposed subsea and onshore pipelines would overlay a number of seismic fault lines prone to major earthquakes. 

Few issues are as important to California as the protection of our coastal and ocean resources.  You have been outspoken in your defense of these resources in the past and we hope you will continue that position by vetoing this ill conceived project.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. 

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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.