Maritime Security: Public Safety Consequences of a Terrorist Attack on a Tanker Carrying Liquefied Natural Gas Need Clarification

United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-02-22 monographic deposited born digital 46 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-316 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-316 P0b002ee18038b601 f:d07316 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-316 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-316 GAO-07-316 Emergency preparedness Hazardous substances Homeland security Importing Liquefied natural gas Maritime security Natural gas Port security Research reports Ships Tanks (containers) Terrorism Transportation terminals Water transportation Public safety Other Written Product A66105 Maritime Security: Public Safety Consequences of a Terrorist Attack on a Tanker Carrying Liquefied Natural Gas Need Clarification The United States imports natural gas by pipeline from Canada and by tanker as liquefied natural gas (LNG) from overseas. LNG--a supercooled form of natural gas--currently accounts for about 3 percent of total U.S. natural gas supply, with an expected increase to about 17 percent by 2030, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). With this projected increase, many more LNG import terminals have been proposed. However, concerns have been raised about whether LNG tankers could become terrorist targets, causing the LNG cargo to spill and catch on fire, and potentially explode. DOE has recently funded a study to consider these effects; completion is expected in 2008. GAO was asked to (1) describe the results of recent studies on the consequences of an LNG spill and (2) identify the areas of agreement and disagreement among experts concerning the consequences of a terrorist attack on an LNG tanker. To address these objectives, GAO, among other things, convened an expert panel to discuss the consequences of an attack on an LNG tanker. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-316/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-316.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-316/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-316.pdf GAO-07-316 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-316 Other Written Product GAO-07-316; Maritime Security: Public Safety Consequences of a Terrorist Attack on a Tanker Carrying Liquefied Natural Gas Need Clarification; Emergency preparedness Hazardous substances Homeland security Importing Liquefied natural gas Maritime security Natural gas Port security Research reports Ships Tanks (containers) Terrorism Transportation terminals Water transportation Public safety