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Playa del Mar
Newsletter Special Report
Liquid Natural Gas Port Proposed
OFF OUR BEACH!
 This May will be the last opportunity for residents of the Galt Mile to express their opinions publicly about a proposed liquid natural gas (LNG) port off our coast, before final approval by Governor Crist. The port, which will be visible by naked eye from the PDM beach, and look something like a ship on the horizon, would be built by Suez Energy North America, under its subsidiary named Calypso.
 | | View from PDM Beach of LNG Tanker 8 miles out |
As soon as the date for the public hearing is announced, PDM residents will be notified by email and notices on the bulletin boards.
Florida has gone into negotiations with Suez to build a port and pipeline system off of the Galt Ocean Mile with the objective of getting the additional supply of natural gas from outside the USA. The final step before construction can begin is approval by Florida’s governor.
BACKGROUND
 The original plan of the Suez Company was to unload its ships containing LNG in a port in the Bahamas so it could flow through a pipeline from the Bahamas to Florida. The Suez Company failed to get approval from the government of the Bahamas for this plan.
 | Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Storage
and Regasification Ship (SRS) |
LNG is frozen natural gas, maintained at an extremely cold temperature. In liquid state, the gas is not flammable. Only in a gas state are the fumes flammable. It is thawed on the vessel at the time of discharge into a pipeline. If the substance is melted too quickly, such as caused by an accident or sabotage, a violent and devastating explosion can occur. One vessel transporting liquid natural gas has the equivalent energy and explosive power of some 20 to 55 A-bombs.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM
 | | Click Above to Enlarge View of Calypso Deepwater Port |
There are two basic subsystems making up this LNG deep water port delivery system. First, is the deepwater port itself, and the second is the pipeline running from the port to Port Everglades.
 | | Calypso Site Map - Off Galt Mile Beach |
The deepwater port will consist of two buoys, one located 8 miles off our beach and the other 10 miles. Vessels with LNG will anchor there and the gas will be heated onboard the vessel and discharged into the connecting pipeline. This vessel at the buoy will be visible from our beach near the horizon. A second buoy will house a permanent ship which will serve as a moor providing additional capacity for ships to discharge gas. It will house five gas storage tanks.
 | Florida Gas
Transmission Pipeline |
The pipeline, which will carry gas from the two buoys to Port Everglades, will run in an almost straight line from 8 miles directly east of the PDM. It will rest on the ocean floor until it reaches the coral reef, where it will run several hundred feet below the coral reef in a tunnel. It will surface in Port Everglades, and connect into the Florida gas pipeline system.
 Bob Boffa, our board president, said at the Galt Community Association meeting that there would be enough gas off our beach to cause an explosion equivalent to 15 to 25 times the destructive force of an atomic bomb. The Suez company representative said that this would be possible if all of the gas exploded at once. (Ed note- Port Everglades’ procedures concerning this fuel are, of course, under USA safety regulations and control. We do not know what controls apply to a LNG deepwater port owned by a foreign company and beyond USA jurisdiction).
 | 30 Mile Vapor Cloud From
Oxnard Environmental Impact Report |
Other attendees expressed their concern over the dangers of this deep water port being so close to the Galt Ocean Mile. Attendees raised concerns about a gas cloud being blown toward the shore due to an accident. Another attendee asked for the reason this deep sea port had to be built next to such a densely populated area, and if a location further out at sea or south of Miami going towards the Keys (where there is no population by the beach) were considered. The representative said that in all three bids of companies competing for this project, only an area from Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale was considered. Both locations have a sea floor capable of supporting vessels and pipelines. Further, each area had easy access to Florida’s gas pipeline.
Security risk was also discussed. The Suez representative said that a patrol boat owned by Suez would monitor the area and contact the Coast Guard if there is a problem.
MORE DETAIL ON THE INTERNET
For those readers who want greater detail on the LNG systems, go to the Galt Mile website http://www.galtmile.com/calypso.html on the internet. At the website you will read about the first LNG onshore facility which leveled one square mile of Cleveland Ohio in 1944, killing 181 people, and leaving 680 homeless.  | | Aftermath of the 1944 Cleveland Natural Gas Disaster |
You can also read about various studies regarding LNG vessels and deepwater ports and about a California impact study in 1977 equating one LNG vessel with the fire power of 55 Atomic bombs [sic - as per a 1982 Lovins & Lovins Pentagon study entitled “Brittle Power: Energy Strategy for National Security” (see page 88) - webmaster]. And, you can read about a 2001 study regarding high levels of energy concentrations (as an LNG deep water port facility) considered to be a security risk and recommending that it should be avoided.
 The study found that if such a facility is required, then tight security must be in place. This study was the source of regulation and guidelines coming from our 9/11 experience. But, this is a requirement for facilities within USA jurisdiction.
Newsletter Special Report 2
CRIME ON THE GALT
 | FLPD Major Russell Hanstein
Police District 1 Commander |
Major Hanstein of the Fort Lauderdale police department gave a crime status report for our area. He said that crime is down 6% from last year on the Galt Ocean Mile, and emphasized that crime in our area has always been extremely low compared to other parts of the city.
 | Highly Decorated
Fort Lauderdale Police
Captain Todd Peney
Architect of Galt Patrol |
Some members at the association meeting attributed the reduction in crime to the start of an off duty beach/street police patrol hired by the Galt Mile Association one year ago – which is exactly when the crime rate began to fall on the Galt. The off duty Fort Lauderdale police patrol the Galt beach (using an ATV) and the Galt Ocean Mile street, in uniform. Those off duty police are considered to be on duty as soon as any issue arises, and they have the full backing of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and Broward County sheriff.
 | | Peney & Gov Bush for Crime Bill |
The cost per year for off duty police to patrol our beach and street, and provide backup to building security guards is $20 per year per unit. Every condo on Galt Ocean Drive participates in this program except for the Playa Del Mar. Therefore, our building does not qualify for any of these extra services. The security in participating buildings are able to get immediate response from the patrol by calling them directly for assistance with what might be perceived as minor problems: vagrants hanging around the beach entrance, suspicious person on the property, or a noise complaint. The response time from the special patrol could be 1-2 minutes; it could be longer from the regular police department depending on other calls and emergencies.
 | Front (L to R): Eric Berkowitz, Pio Ieraci, Rose Guttman, Police Chief Bruce Roberts, Leah
Glickfield, Kevin Songer, Fern McBride, Major Paul Kiley. Rear (L to R): Sgt. Todd Jackson,
Officer Steve Kraft, Captain Todd Peney, Captain Jan Jordan at Last Year's Patrol Kickoff |
by
Playa del Mar Newsletter Staff
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The original plan of the Suez Company was to unload its ships containing LNG in a port in the Bahamas so it could flow through a pipeline to Florida. The Suez Company failed to get approval from the government of the Bahamas for this plan. 
There are two basic components of CALYPSO: 
Since our last newsletter, there are many political voices that have joined our “Anti-LNG” group
Local communities who sent a resolution opposing Calypso to 
William and Theresa Claire plan to personally deliver the PETITIONS, RESOLUTIONS AND YOUR LETTERS to Governor Christ.
marcondo@bellsouth.net