Sierra Club Fights Liquefied Natural Gas Export Terminal

Case Updates:

April 26, 2012

On April 26, Sierra Club announced that they will reject a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in Cove Point, MD. In a unique plot twist, a prior legal settlement entered in the 1970s and later revised gives the Sierra Club the ability to reject any significant changes to the purpose or footprint of the existing Cove Point LNG import facility.

Converting the facility to accommodate LNG exports would result in major damage to the Chesapeake Bay, coastal forests, and the local economy and tourism. The export of LNG will result in increased, dangerous fracking in the Marcellus Shale. Hydraulic fracturing, also called fracking, involves blasting mixtures of water, sand and chemicals deep underground to stimulate the release of gas.

No federal agency has ever fully analyzed or disclosed these dangers to the public interest. Sierra Club’s letter makes clear that this lack of reasonable analysis is a key reason to oppose the project

“The damage that this project would bring to the Maryland coast as well as the disastrous effects of the fracking boom on communities in states like Pennsylvania make it clear that exporting liquefied natural gas is bad news for Americans’ air, water and health,” said Sierra Club Executive Director, Michael Brune. “The Sierra Club cannot and will not support LNG exports from Cove Point, and we will reject Dominion’s proposal.”