PROVIDENCE -- Stating that the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission's (FERC) process for approving Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) terminals fails to properly balance the energy needs of the region with the safety of citizens, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced his opposition to LNG terminals in Providence and Fall River. Reed will introduce legislation to give states more authority in the permit approval process and establish safety zones around ships carrying LNG.Reed stated, My colleagues and I have tried hard to work with FERC to identify safer ways to deliver LNG to our region, because we recognize that natural gas is an important and growing component of New Englands energy supply. Unfortunately, at every turn, FERC has rejected our efforts.In September, Reed sent a letter to FERC stating, It is troubling , that the FERC will likely complete the [Environmental Impact Statement] processes on the Weavers Cove and Keyspan projects -- and the publics opportunity to comment will end -- before the Coast Guard has completed an Incident Action Plan that will answer key questions regarding potential bridge closures and restrictions on commercial and recreational vessels along shipping routes, I urge [FERC] to work with DHS to explore every opportunity to coordinate the approval process with the Coast Guard so that the public can comment on proposed projects with a more thorough understanding of security protocols and the confidence that every security issue has been addressed.Reed will introduce legislation to amend the Natural Gas Act to give states more authority in the LNG process to approve the placement of LNGS terminals. Under the bill, FERC would have no authority to preempt state permitting decisions or determinations made according to other federal laws, such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act.Reed also plans to introduce legislation to establish thermal radiation exclusion zones and vapor dispersion zones around ships carrying LNG. A recent report by the U.S. Department of Energys Sandia National Laboratories found that an attack on an LNG tanker could produce a fire so hot it would cause second degree burns and damage buildings a mile away. While thermal radiation and vapor exclusion zones exist for LNG terminals, they have not been established for LNG tankers. Vessels serving the proposed KeySpan and Weavers Cove LNG terminals would pass by twelve Rhode Island towns and cities and about 30 miles of populated coastline.Attached is the text of Senator Reeds letter to KeySpan.