Santa Barbara’s Environmental Defense Center (EDC) derided the
federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) change of heart
toward a liquefied natural gas port off the Ventura coast. The port
would become Ventura County’s largest smog producer if approved by
numerous federal and state agencies and California’s governor. The
EPA originally opined that the port must respect onshore
air-quality standards, but changed its tune following lobbying
efforts by BHP Billiton, the project developer. Located 14 miles
offshore from the Ventura/Los Angeles county line, the terminal
would accept foreign liquefied gas imports delivered by a
supertanker. The EDC submitted its objections on behalf of the
California Coastal Protection Network. The EPA’s position is that
it is now applying the same rules that would apply if Billiton’s
project were located on the Channel Islands.
