Planning Permission for Shannon LNG Pipeline

Submission by Pierce Brosnan and  Keely Brosnan, California, USA to An Bord Plean�la on the Shannon LNG Pipeline Planning Application

November 28th, 2008 Planning Department Kerry County Council Council Buildings Rathass Tralee County Kerry Re: Support for Section 5 Declaration  filed by Safety Before LNG Challenging Permissions for Shannon LNG Project Dear Sir/Madam, It has recently come to our attention that Ireland is considering the construction of an LNG import terminal on the Shannon Estuary between Tarbert and Ballylongford in County Kerry. However, it is clear from a review of the approval process so far that this proposal has been fast-tracked and piecemealed by separating the terminal itself from its associated pipeline and that no coherent assessment of the serious and significant risks to public health and safety has been undertaken. The decision to approve and construct an LNG terminal is a gravely serious matter  that demands the utmost  scrutiny and review. We learned this first hand by participating in the review an LNG terminal proposal for offshore California put forth by the largest mining company in the world, BHP Billiton. What we found was a massive, industrial facility that would have polluted our community in violation of existing air quality laws and that posed serious long term risks to public safety and security. After four years of hearings and testimony in opposition to this terminal, our elected officials resoundingly rejected the proposal and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it as an unacceptable choice for California. We stronly support Safety Before LNG's request that the Planning Department find that this project and its associated pipeline must be thoroughly reviewed for the serious cumulative risks it poses for the local population and the environment. In today's day and age when the world is focused on reducing green house gas emissions and ensuring an environment that will support and sustain future generations, it is imperative that we concentrate on renewable sources of energy and avoid continued dependence on imported and polluting fossil fuels. Thank you for consideration of our remarks on this important subject. Sincerely, Pierce and Keely Brosnan