Hull Would Avoid Worst Effects of Terrorist Attack or Serious Accident Involving LNG Ships

Hull residents would escape the most deadly effects of a liquefied natural gas spill at a proposed terminal on Outer Brewster Island, but the town could still be in danger from a terrorist attack or serious accident, experts said.

Officials from AES Corp., which wants to build the terminal on a state-owned island 2.1 miles from the Point Allerton section of Hull, have said Outer Brewster’s remote location and distance from populated areas make it an ideal location for the project.

While experts agree that the terminal would be far safer than an existing one in Everett, which requires massive tankers carrying highly flammable LNG to pass within a few hundred yards of tightly packed neighborhoods, they said any absolute claims that Hull would be protected during a catastrophe are too bold.

‘‘Whether or not the nearest residents in Hull fall within the harmful zone is going to be established by further study, but it’s not true to say there’s no possibility of harm at that distance,’’ said James Fay, professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a leading expert on LNG safety. ‘‘Given a big enough fire, it may well be.’’

Partriot Ledger: http://patriotledger.com/articles/2005/10/10/news/news02.txt