A proposed liquefied natural gas terminal that had incited public fears about an explosive accident or terrorist attack on Fall River's waterfront was blocked yesterday by the US Coast Guard, which ruled that the Taunton River is unsafe for frequent trips by LNG tankers.
Barring a successful appeal by Weaver's Cove Energy, the decision appeared to bring to a close a tumultuous chapter in Fall River, whose residents and political leaders had waged an aggressive campaign against a project they regarded as a dangerous intruder on their shores. The city's two congressmen aided the cause by getting federal legislation passed that prevented the long-planned demolition of the structurally deficient, 101-year-old Brightman Street drawbridge, which is not large enough for the large ships to pass through.
"That bridge may be responsible for saving the city of Fall River from this horrible fate of having an LNG facility planted right in the middle of it," said US Representative James P. McGovern. "That bridge deserves a lot of credit."
After the congressional vote, Weaver's Cove Energy proposed circumventing the bridge problem by using smaller vessels, roughly 750 feet long and 85 feet wide, to make deliveries twice as often, up to three times a week. But the drawbridge is only 98 feet wide.
In a 37-page report, the Coast Guard pointed out that the old bridge and a new span, current ly under construction, are just 1,100 feet apart and that the ship passages are not aligned. The new bridge was originally designed to replace the drawbridge, but mariners will have to navigate both. To get through safely, a ship would need to slow to nearly a halt and either be towed or move laterally 100 feet. While other commercial ships now make the trip, the vessels that Weaver's Cove proposed were bigger and would make more frequent trips. In addition, the coal ships currently traveling up the river require no security zone, as LNG tankers do, the report states.
"Certainly there are competent mariners out there who can make this go right 10 times, 100 times," Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Benson of the Coast Guard said in an interview. "But it needs to go right every time."
The narrow confines of the river also would prevent tankers from turning around in the event of an accident, the Coast Guard ruled. "In short, once a northbound LNG tanker enters the federal channel in this segment, they are committed to completing the entire transit - there is no feasible alternative," US Coast Guard Captain Roy A. Nash wrote in his report deeming the river unsuitable for an LNG terminal.
While Weaver's Cove has assured that the terminal would not pose a danger, the fear of the unknown post-Sept. 11, 2001, has led many to consider whether LNG tankers so close to shore could pose an attractive target for a terrorist attack. The governor's office said yesterday that the tankers would have traveled near a densely populated urban area and within 33 yards of two heavily traveled bridges and the Battleship Cove floating naval museum.
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Barring a successful appeal by Weaver's Cove Energy, the decision appeared to bring to a close a tumultuous chapter in Fall River, whose residents and political leaders had waged an aggressive campaign against a project they regarded as a dangerous intruder on their shores. The city's two congressmen aided the cause by getting federal legislation passed that prevented the long-planned demolition of the structurally deficient, 101-year-old Brightman Street drawbridge, which is not large enough for the large ships to pass through.
"That bridge may be responsible for saving the city of Fall River from this horrible fate of having an LNG facility planted right in the middle of it," said US Representative James P. McGovern. "That bridge deserves a lot of credit."
After the congressional vote, Weaver's Cove Energy proposed circumventing the bridge problem by using smaller vessels, roughly 750 feet long and 85 feet wide, to make deliveries twice as often, up to three times a week. But the drawbridge is only 98 feet wide.
In a 37-page report, the Coast Guard pointed out that the old bridge and a new span, current ly under construction, are just 1,100 feet apart and that the ship passages are not aligned. The new bridge was originally designed to replace the drawbridge, but mariners will have to navigate both. To get through safely, a ship would need to slow to nearly a halt and either be towed or move laterally 100 feet. While other commercial ships now make the trip, the vessels that Weaver's Cove proposed were bigger and would make more frequent trips. In addition, the coal ships currently traveling up the river require no security zone, as LNG tankers do, the report states.
"Certainly there are competent mariners out there who can make this go right 10 times, 100 times," Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Benson of the Coast Guard said in an interview. "But it needs to go right every time."
The narrow confines of the river also would prevent tankers from turning around in the event of an accident, the Coast Guard ruled. "In short, once a northbound LNG tanker enters the federal channel in this segment, they are committed to completing the entire transit - there is no feasible alternative," US Coast Guard Captain Roy A. Nash wrote in his report deeming the river unsuitable for an LNG terminal.
While Weaver's Cove has assured that the terminal would not pose a danger, the fear of the unknown post-Sept. 11, 2001, has led many to consider whether LNG tankers so close to shore could pose an attractive target for a terrorist attack. The governor's office said yesterday that the tankers would have traveled near a densely populated urban area and within 33 yards of two heavily traveled bridges and the Battleship Cove floating naval museum.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
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