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Sunday, March 09, 2008
Firefighters use incident to score political points
Boston firefighters used an LNG incident in the harbor to score points against the city, in part to emphasize their ongoing contract negotiations. Did the firefighters blow the situation out of proportion, or do they have a valid point? Does it matter?The Well, actually, it does matter. The damage has been done--the public is likely to be afraid of continued LNG transport by ship. If an organization wants to make an issue of it, they now have something to rally around. The city's response that it is "as prepared as possible" to mitigate the risks of LNG transport was not a reassuring statement. How prepared is it? What is the risk to property and life?
The firefighters want the LNG to be transported through existing pipelines from the port rather than up the river by boat. Would that be more or less safe?
So far the LNG distributor seems to be getting off light on this one. And the city, too. But they shouldn't count on it in the long run.
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