Californians Oppose Air Quality Permit for Cabrillo Port Terminal
The Los Angeles Times covers the ongoing debate over the likely effects and proper regulation of air emissions associated with BHP Billiton’s Cabrillo Port LNG terminal proposal. Cabrillo Port maintains that it has “committed to reduce near-shore emissions to near zero” and to voluntary mitigation efforts. However, some residents and state and local regulators oppose the draft air quality permit, charging that EPA is applying too-lenient air quality criteria — “It is being held to the lowest possible level of environmental review,” says one opponent — and that the company’s mitigation proposals are not documented in the permit.
With regard to EPA’s decision on the air quality standards Cabrillo Port must meet, The Los Angeles Times reports that EPA sources in California said that “[m]ore and more of our decisions on permits are overhauled by [Washington, D.C.] headquarters.” [Free registration necessary]