Authored by state Sen. Troy Hebert, D-Jeanerette, SB 754 “provides for certain permits concerning ground water.”
Limiting the amount of water drawn from the aquifer would impact Atlanta-based AGL Resources as it seeks to create two new salt caverns at its Jefferson Island Storage and Hub Facility at Lake Peigneur.
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“It’s been a long, hard-fought battle to get this bill on the governor’s desk,” Hebert said. “It squeaked out of there.”
Save Lake Peigneur Vice President Nara Crowley, whose community group opposes AGL’s facility expansion, said Wednesday’s vote is a victory.
“We won,” Crowley said. “We can’t necessarily stop AGL, but it does resolve the problem of the drinking water. We just need to see what AGL does next. Right now we are all very, very happy.”
Crowley said her group plans to keep a watchful eye on AGL’s plans to continue their expansion at the JISH.
“They (Save Lake Peigneur members) were battling a full court press by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry as well as big oil,” Hebert said.
Keith Poston is a spokesman for AGL Resources. He said his company is planning to move forward following the ruling.
“We are already evaluating our water-use options so we can move forward with our expansion once we resolve our lease issues with the state,” Poston said. “With gasoline at $4 a gallon and the price of natural gas more than doubling since last summer, we need more gas storage facilities, not fewer, that help stabilize prices for consumers.”
Poston is also concerned about the impact the bill will have on the regulatory process for the natural gas industry.
“We will make our case to the governor’s office that this bill sets a terrible precedent by circumventing the normal regulatory process already in place to evaluate projects like ours for environmental impact, water usage, economic benefits and other factors,” Poston said.
“If this bill becomes law, it’s only a matter of time before the next parish is targeted and the next company has its right to due process violated.”
Comments
Marie wrote on Jun 18, 2008 1:33 PM:
anomoly one wrote on Jun 17, 2008 10:52 PM:
Nara Crowley wrote on Jun 16, 2008 12:55 PM:
My personal favorite is the $4.00 gasoline price which has absolutely nothing to do with natural gas. Natural gas does not fuel our cars.
We don't expect everyone to agree, but one should have some self-respect in the way your opinion is presented. "
NOT Lake Resident wrote on Jun 15, 2008 10:53 PM:
Lake Resident Too wrote on Jun 15, 2008 6:11 AM:
iamwhatham wrote on Jun 14, 2008 12:06 PM:
This comment takes the prize. I think you must have spent too many happy hours in the Lake's salt taverns!! "
Lake Resident wrote on Jun 13, 2008 9:19 PM:
RE What has changed wrote on Jun 13, 2008 6:17 PM:
over 6000 pilings had been removed from it the lake was now usable for recreation and fishing. Now AGL wants
to add back the pilings and possibly go
beyond the planned expansion of 2 more.
AGL states there is room for many more,
we heard from one employee, about 20.
PS: Edwards was governor in 1994, enough said. "
Lake Resident wrote on Jun 13, 2008 1:54 PM:
RE I dont remember wrote on Jun 13, 2008 1:09 PM:
Lake Resident wrote on Jun 13, 2008 11:35 AM:
RE Lake Resident wrote on Jun 12, 2008 7:49 PM:
RE the way it is wrote on Jun 12, 2008 7:36 PM:
any corporation to come into Louisiana
and take a dump in our back yard, pending permit approval of course. "
RE societal suicide watch wrote on Jun 12, 2008 7:23 PM:
ellie wrote on Jun 12, 2008 5:58 PM:
JYD wrote on Jun 12, 2008 4:42 PM:
societal suicide watch wrote on Jun 12, 2008 4:10 PM:
Lake Resident wrote on Jun 12, 2008 3:41 PM:
Cajuns wrote on Jun 12, 2008 2:43 PM:
the way it is wrote on Jun 12, 2008 2:40 PM: