Approval Of LNG Port Could Undermine Louisiana Governor

Reported by Associated Press

June 26, 2005 - 2:10PM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) _ A state agency has given approval to an ExxonMobil liquefied natural gas port proposed off the Louisiana coast, just south of Cameron Parish. It's a project that Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco had pledged to block because of its potential threat to fisheries. On May 17th, Blanco notified federal officials that she would veto ExxonMobil's Pearl Crossing unless the company modifies its operations to reduce seawater intake or proves the port does not pose a threat to Gulf fisheries. But three weeks later the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources approved the one (b) billion dollar port. The state agency wrote that it was "generally consistent" with protecting coastal resources, according to a copy of the document sent to ExxonMobil. James Wilkins, legal counsel for Louisiana State University's SeaGrant program, says that D-N-R's approval could come back to haunt the administration if Blanco exercises her veto power and ExxonMobil puts up a legal challenge. Blanco executive counsel Terry Ryder says the agency's action was not the state's final word on the port, and he insisted the governor's stance has not wavered. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)