Marcellino joins Broadwater critics - Newsday.com
BY TOM INCANTALUPO
newsday.com
May 11, 2007, 8:08 PM EDT
The Republican chairman of the State Senate's environmental committee Friday announced his opposition to the proposed Broadwater Energy liquid natural gas terminal and called on Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer to take the same position.
Joined by local environmentalists at a news conference in Northport, Sen. Carl L. Marcellino (R-Syosset) contended that there were too many unanswered questions about the potential benefits to Long Island of the gas from Broadwater versus the risk to the environment and safety of Long Island Sound, where Broadwater's facility would be located.
"I don't think we should be experimenting with such an economic engine and vital resource as the Sound," he said.
A spokesman for Spitzer, Marc Violette, said the governor is awaiting recommendations from the state Department of State. "The governor is allowing the regulatory process to unfold," he said.
The project needs approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and, because it would be in New York waters, approval by state officials as well.
In a statement later in the day, John Hritcko, Broadwater's senior vice president and regional director, referred to reports by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Coast Guard saying the facility could be operated safely and cleanly.
"Our elected officials owe the Long Island community a factual and rational discussion about the Broadwater proposal and would do well by first reading what the experts have said about Broadwater," he said.
