Comments overlooked facts on safety of LNG shipments

Comments by a new group seeking to eliminate liquefied natural gas shipments to the Distrigas facility in Everett (''Let's steer LNG tankers far away from the North End, Waterfront," letter, Feb. 5, City Weekly) overlook several critical facts that people should know.

First, LNG is as safe, if not safer, to transport than other fuels that transit Boston Harbor even more frequently. When vaporized into natural gas, LNG is flammable just like gasoline and fuel oil, whose ships travel by the same waterfront neighborhoods. But in its liquid state inside the tankers, LNG cannot burn, is not under pressure, and is not explosive. Further, LNG tankers are sturdier than all other commercial vessels and even most naval vessels. Talk of LNG tankers endangering more than 500,000 people every week is just wrong.

The group's reference to a Sandia Labs analysis omits major conclusions, including how measures can be taken to reduce the possibility of an incident of any kind. Many of the measures recommended by Sandia stemmed from our company's work with governmental officials in the port of Boston.

Lastly, offshore LNG proposals (including a project by a Distrigas affiliate, called Neptune) will supplement the Everett Terminal, not replace it. The Everett Terminal has multiple pipeline connections. All new LNG facilities in the region propose to connect into only one pipeline. The Everett Terminal has the ability to truck LNG to storage tanks throughout New England to provide a critical source of heat on cold days. No offshore facility can do that. In addition, the Everett Terminal is the sole means of natural gas supply to the largest power plant in New England.

The Everett Terminal serves a unique role in the local energy market. In fact, all of the homes and businesses in the communities that surround it, such as the North End, Charlestown, East Boston, Chelsea, and Winthrop, benefit directly from the fuel it provides for heating and electricity.

Julie A. Vitek Director of communications SUEZ LNG NA LLC and Distrigas of Massachusetts LLC