Today is last day to submit comments on LNG facility

As many of you may know, Liberty LNG has again applied to build a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility off the coast of New York and New Jersey. The project, called “Port Ambrose”, would host massive natural gas tankers that will lead to an acceleration of hydraulic fracturing in the northeast by opening up a gateway for LNG exports. This project is the same project previously vetoed by Governor Christie in 2011. It may have a new name, but it is in the same place and has the same impacts, dangers, and drawbacks.

TODAY, August 22nd is the last day to submit public comments.

Please help protect the waters off New York and New Jersey by submitting comments and urging friends and family to do the same!

Here are the links to help you:

Submit your comments NOW online at:
http://www.regulations.gov/#%21submitComment;D=USCG-2013-0363-0181


For helpful information in submitting comments, you can go to Clean Ocean Action’s Port Ambrose Public Comment Templates: http://cleanoceanaction.blogspot.com/2013/08/oppose-offshore-lng-public-comment.html

Three other actions you can take:

Sign Surfrider's petition to tell Governor Christie to say NO to Port Ambrose: http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=8182

Sign the Catskills Citizens for Safe Energy's letters against LNG: http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5952/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=14865

Sign Food and Water Watch's petition to stop Port Ambrose: https://secure3.convio.net/fww/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=821


Thank you for taking action!

Action Alert - Deadline August 22nd to Make Your Comments Against LNG Port Ambrose

Dear WATERSPIRIT Friends,

As you may know, Liberty LNG has again applied to build a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility off the coast of New York and New Jersey. The project, called “Port Ambrose”, would host massive natural gas tankers that will lead to an acceleration of hydraulic fracturing in the northeast by opening up a gateway for LNG exports. This project is the same project previously vetoed by Governor Christie in 2011; it may have a new name, but it is in the same place, and has the same impacts, dangers, and drawbacks. The public comment deadline is quickly approaching. August 22nd is the last day to submit public comments.

Please help protect the waters off New York and New Jersey by submitting comments, and urging friends and family to do the same!

Submit your comments NOW online at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USCG-2013-0363-

For helpful information in submitting comments, you can go to Clean Ocean Action’s Port Ambrose Public Comment Templates: http://cleanoceanaction.blogspot.com/2013/08/oppose-offshore-lng-public-comment.html

Three other actions you can take:

1. Sign Surfrider's petition to tell Governor Christie to say NO to Port Ambrose: http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=8182

Sign the Catskills Citizens for Safe Energy's letters against LNG: http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5952/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=14865

Sign Food and Water Watch's petition to stop Port Ambrose: https://secure3.convio.net/fww/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=821

Thank you for your continued spirit and action to protect water!

The WATERSPIRIT Team

WATERSPIRIT Action Alert - Say No LNG

There is an application before the US Maritime Administration for a Liquid Natural Gas facility, “Port Ambrose”, off of Long Branch, NJ and 17 nautical miles south of Jones Beach, NY. Clean Ocean Action asserts that this is the same proposal that was vetoed by Governor Christie in 2011, but with a different name. This port license can be for both import and export, which can potentially lead the proposed port to being the region’s hub for exports for natural gas, leading to more pipelines throughout NJ, accelerated hydraulic fracturing in the region, even more toxic radioactive waste, and increased energy costs. This is a real threat to the pubic health, ecosystems, and clean safe water.

If you are a concerned citizens, a homeowner, a business owner,a member of a civic or community organization, swimmer, diver, fisherman, boater, beachgoer or anyone who will be adversely affected on the Jersey Shore, please come to the public hearing in Sea Bright on Thursday, July 11th and bring your friends, this effects all of us!

Thursday, July 11
Citizen’s Hearing on the Jersey Shore
Sea Bright Public Beach, Sea Bright, NJ
Open House: 4:30-5:30pm
Public Comments: 6pm-8pm

And be sure to sign the Surfrider’s Online Petition to Governor Christie

Pallone Fights for Post Sandy Beach Protections

During Visit to Belmar, Pallone Announces Bill Containing Stronger Safety Standards for Beaches

Long Branch, NJ—In Belmar, New Jersey, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that he has reintroduced his legislation to reauthorize the BEACH Act, which requires tough new water quality testing and public notification standards so beachgoers are better informed about the safety of their beaches.

“Stormwater runoff is one of the primary contributors of water pollution, and now more than ever improved water quality and beach protections have become increasingly important to the Jersey Shore. Both from a public health standpoint and for the vitality of New Jersey’s booming tourism industry, stricter standards and better testing methods are needed to give beachgoers the piece of mind that the beaches they visit are clean,” said Pallone. “After Sandy, many of our hard hit coastal towns are strapped for cash and facing new challenges in water safety. Ensuring clean and safe beaches in New Jersey and nationwide is a necessary and wise investment by the federal government. I worked with Senator Lautenberg on this issue for years, and I’m proud to continue fighting for our beaches and working to get the BEACH Act signed into law.”

The BEACH Act of 2013 will provide funding for water monitoring and notification programs and will require faster public notification of unhealthy conditions at America’s beaches. It will also require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop methods for rapid testing of beach water.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) 2013 Testing the Waters report, beach closings totaled 20,120 in 2012, exceeding 20,000 for the 8th time in the past nine years. More than 80 percent of closings and advisories were issued because bacteria levels in beachwater exceeded public health standards, indicating the potential presence of human or animal waste in the water. NRDC’s report confirms that serious water pollution persists at many U.S. shores, and the primary known cause of this pollution is massive stormwater runoff and sewage.

In addition to protecting the environment, the BEACH Act makes sure beachgoers continue to come to the Shore. According to state officials, tourism directly supports 318,500 jobs and generated $34.7 billion in total economic activity last year, proving there’s a lot at stake for New Jersey’s beaches.

Pallone partnered with Senator Frank Lautenberg in writing the original BEACH Act in 2000 to fight for cleaner, healthier beaches, a cause the two worked on together for years. The original law required every coastal state to adopt water quality standards and established monitoring and notification programs to keep beachgoers safe. President Obama’s budget proposal for 2014 eliminates BEACH Act grants.

“I’m extremely disappointed in the President’s proposal to eliminate these important grants for water quality monitoring. It is critical that we invest in testing our waters to ensure swimmers are safe, and it is wrong to burden state budgets,” added Pallone.

Pallone was joined in Belmar today by Mayor Matt Doherty and representatives from Clean Ocean Action, NY/NJ Baykeeper and the Surfrider Foundation.