Save Our Lake being direct, open and honest The Daily Iberian’s editor, Mr. Zeringue unbiased position regarding AGL Resources versus residents illustrated two sides to every story. While companies are entitled to private meetings with public officials, one must question why exclude representatives from the opposing organization? AGL Resources/Jefferson Island Storage and Hub has not been and is not a good neighbor. We have documented evidence of the devious methods used to reach their objective for storage of natural gas. We have not distorted our information, we have been direct, open and honest. There are over 1,000 salt domes in Louisiana. None became the “Swirling Vortex” on the History Channel and making international headlines. None in Louisiana have a 4,000 population within a mile radius of the cavern. None have unexplained bubbling in their salt dome, because … there are NO other lakes over a salt dome anywhere in the world. None have a magnificent tourist site, with archeological artifacts, a nationally registered historic home, where thousands visit yearly. OUR drinking water will be affected. Our opponents say everything is just fine, they don’t have to worry about wells running dry, or that everyone’s drinking water is rich with salt! In 1999 Argonne National Laboratory reported groundwater contamination from leaking caverns had “only very low concentration” contamination. Weeks Island Salt Dome caverns leaked oil into the Gulf, both Cote Blanche should not and Napoleanville has major cavern issues. We still don’t know what causes the bubbling in Lake Peigneur, although we have a pretty good idea, and with all the information provided the citizens are still ignored! I can’t think of one member of Save Lake Peigneur who isn’t involved in the energy industry in some capacity. There are choices. AGL/JISH did not have to dredge, they dredged because of their planned expansion. Why did they refuse our request to have an open question and answer session for the public? They requested and received an extension until June 2010 for sonar and mechanical integrity testing for Well (cavern) No. 1 (one). Prior sonar indicated Cavern 1 has anomalies. The wells must be full in order to complete the testing. Therefore the response by Richard Hyde that a shortage of gas during hurricane season was the reason not to have the well tested is pure spin. If the cavern has another product to maintain why do we need more caverns? Economics. AGL/JISH will have perhaps ten permanent employees. Live Oak and Rip Van Winkle Gardens employs more than one hundred. The state receives income, property, sales tax each year from these residents. How much are 4000 residents worth? How much is one person worth? AGL/JISH has spent millions of dollars fighting us, when if they had chosen ethically, their millions could have established a safer and appropriate location for natural gas storage. Nara M. Crowley Save Lake Peigneur |