[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 7, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S11545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               COVE POINT

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, I want to bring the full attention of 
the Senate to a national security issue about which I am deeply 
alarmed. Plans are well underway to reactivate and expand a liquefied 
natural gas, LNG, terminal at Cove Point in Maryland.
  What would this mean? It would mean that foreign ships, transporting 
flammable liquid natural gas, would come up the Chesapeake Bay and dock 
3\1/2\ miles down from the nuclear powerplant at Calvert Cliffs.
  Can you believe that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has 
given preliminary approval to reopen the Cove Point LNG facility and 
will let this type of tanker steam up the bay and park next to a 
nuclear powerplant? And guess when they did it? They did it on October 
11, the 1-month anniversary of the terrorist attack on America.
  The President of the United States was warning us against more 
attacks. The Attorney General had us on high alert. And FERC is signing 
little pieces of paper saying ``you all come from Algeria.''
  I cannot believe it. Calvert Cliffs, 3\1/2\ miles away, needs to be 
protected. The International Atomic Energy Agency and U.S. officials 
have warned that nuclear powerplants are at risk.
  The Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge, has called for increased 
security at nuclear powerplants.
  We cannot fly over nuclear powerplants. Why should we be able to dock 
next to them with an LNG tanker?
  From where do these LNG tankers come? One of the main sources is 
Algeria. Algeria is on every terrorist watch list. It is the home of 
the Armed Islamic Group, or IGA, a terrorist group with international 
reach. Islamic radicals from Algeria are key players in bin Laden's 
terrorist network. But that is OK; an Algerian tanker can just come up 
and park in Maryland next to a nuclear powerplant. I am concerned that 
these terrorists could attack ships carrying fuels, posing a real risk.
  The mayor of Boston is also worried about it. That is why he tried to 
keep an LNG tanker out of Boston Harbor.
  If LNG tankers are allowed in the Chesapeake Bay near Calvert Cliffs, 
a nightmare scenario could become a reality.
  As America leads the war on terrorism, we cannot do business as usual 
and issue permits without analysis through a national security prism.
  I acknowledge we do need more natural gas in our country. I 
acknowledge we need to look at energy policy. But while we are looking 
at the long-range solutions, we should not make short-range decisions 
that put us further at risk.
  So what am I doing about it?
  I am demanding that the Chairman of FERC review their permitting 
process and review their Commission's decision on Cove Point in the 
interest of national security and national safety. I don't know what 
they were thinking about on October 11, but they are going do have to 
rethink this whole process.
  I am bringing this matter to the attention of Homeland Security 
Director Tom Ridge and FBI Director Robert Mueller, urging them to 
fully consider potential risks from terrorism and to get a hold on the 
permitting processes that are going on in this country.
  I am turning to U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Loy to ensure that the Coast 
Guard rigorously reviews the Cove Point proposal, working with the 
Office on Homeland Security and the FBI to fully consider potential 
risks from terrorism.

  The Coast Guard has authority over foreign LNG tankers that would 
come into the Chesapeake Bay. I have already discussed this with our 
local commander, Captain Peoples, who is now taking a look at this 
issue.
  I am asking the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to look into the 
potential threat to the safety of Calvert Cliffs by this proposed 
reopening.
  Finally, I am asking the Governor of Maryland, Parris Glendening, to 
use his local regulatory authority to review this proposal.
  You can be sure that I will follow up with all these officials. I am 
very serious about the threat of terrorism. And I am sure some of my 
colleagues will share my concern.
  I want to make sure that LNG shipments into Cove Point and other 
American terminals are thoroughly considered as a national security 
issue, not just an energy issue, and that they are part of our threat 
assessment.
  I am not confident that those who gave preliminary approval to reopen 
Cove Point gave this matter the rigorous review it deserves.
  I want every single agency with authority over LNG plants and 
shipping to take a look at the risk of terrorist attacks.
  Madam President, let me conclude by saying this. We are all warriors 
in the war on terrorism. Whether we are a bureaucrat or a technocrat or 
whether we are a soldier in Afghanistan, we all need to stand sentry. 
Thousands of people died at the two World Trade Center Towers because 
of sloppiness and incompetence at our airports. We cannot let the same 
sloppiness go on at our seaports.
  I will stand sentry, working for the United States of America and 
protecting the Chesapeake Bay. I wanted to bring this to my colleagues' 
attention. I say to my colleagues, where they are giving permits, you 
want to make sure that it is not quite as permissible as people might 
think.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.

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