Proposed Gas Port off South Shore Draws Concerns

Story by Andrew Coen. 

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The port is drawing concerns from area civic leaders who are trying to assure that the public gets as much information about the project as possible before any construction commences under the sea.

The proposed LNG facility called ‘Port Ambrose’ is being pitched by Liberty Natural Gas and would be stationed about 19 miles south off Jones Beach in Wantagh. Pipelines for the project would also be installed 2.5 miles from Long Beach and Atlantic Beach, according to Sean Dixon, coastal policy attorney for Clean Action Ocean.

Clean Action Ocean was among 135 environmental and advocacy groups who sent a letter Monday to the U.S. Maritime Administration asking that the 22-day public comment period for the LNG project be extended past the July 14 deadline. The only public hearing scheduled on Long Island for the project is slated for July 9 from 6-8 p.m. at the Allegria.

Nassau County Legis. Dave Dave Denenberg, D-Merrick, joined Dixon and Claudia Borecky, president of North and Central Merrick Civic Association and Rav Friedel, board member of Concerned Citizens of Montauk, during a Monday morning press conference at Jones Beach to bring more public attention to the project.

“The general public has no idea about this project – what it is, what it isn’t, the pros and cons,” said Legislator Denenberg, whose 19th district covers Jones Beach. “A 22-day public comment period is insufficient and unacceptable. It should be extended to 120 days or four months.”

Liberty Natural Gas CEO Roger Whelen issued a statement Monday saying that the company looks forward to hearing input from the public on the project at the July 9 hearing in Long Beach and another onbe scheduled the following evening in New Jersey.

“We are proud to have the support of both business and labor leaders as well as others in Long Island for the Port Ambrose project,” Whelen said. “These leaders realize that this project will provide 600 good paying jobs, invest over $90 million into the local economy and will help reduce and stabilize energy prices for New York consumers during the peak winter and summer months while utilizing state of the art environmental technologies.”

A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a statement that read in part, "As required by law, the Maritime Administration will now begin the comprehensive licensing process, which includes coordination with government partners, public hearings, and thorough environmental considerations. These public hearings during the scoping process are the first step in the licensing review process to ensure that all parties have an opportunity to be heard in the decision-making process." 

While the LNG project would be far away from Montauk, Friedel said he is opposed to it due to concern of it leading to further natural gas development around Long Island.

“I’m concerned this is going to be the first of many,” he said. “There isn’t one oil tank in the Gulf of Mexico.”