The Galveston County Daily News: Needed: A Greener LNG Technology: “…Shell Oil is planning to introduce a technology on its proposed offshore liquid natural gas terminals that would chlorinate up to 195 million gallons of seawater per day, killing billions of fish eggs, larvae and zooplankton.”: Friday 13 January 2006

In a region where fisheries are already under strain, Shell Oil is planning to introduce a technology on its proposed offshore liquid natural gas terminals that would chlorinate up to 195 million gallons of seawater per day, killing billions of fish eggs, larvae and zooplankton.

While natural gas is an important fuel source, we must make sure that we do not sacrifice the health of our fishing industry that is so important to the area.

Other technologies exist that would not use our Gulf's seawater in this process. Shell Oil has shown no interest in using these fish-friendly, closed-loop technologies in the Gulf, despite the fact that oil companies are planning to use them in other parts of the country such as New England and California.

Environmental impact statements show that one terminal alone could potentially kill the equivalent of 48 percent of Texas's annual redfish catch.

If closed-loop terminals are good enough for New England, they are good enough for Texas.

Shell needs to close the loop on its proposed liquefied natural gas terminals.

Patrick Millham Houston

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