Did Tom Carper block the EPA nominee to prevent LNG pier in DE?

[LynneSin]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&e=1&u=/ap/20050414/ap_on_go_co/senate_epa_nominee

Dem. Senator to Block Vote on EPA Nominee

By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Frustrated by the Bush administration's air pollution policies, Democratic Sen. Thomas Carper (news, bio, voting record) plans to block the Senate from confirming President Bush's nominee to become administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Delaware senator is "going to place a hold on the nomination of Stephen Johnson to be head of the EPA," Carper's spokesman, Bill Ghent, said Thursday. All senators have the power to hold up the confirmation of a nominee.



Ironically right now there is a big stink going on between NJ and DE in regards to a Liquid Natural Gas Pier that BP wants to build on the NJ coast but will mainly be in Delaware waters (don't ask, but our borders actually go to the low-tide mark in NJ). Problem is, the pier is being built in a sparsely populated area of New Jersey but will be right by a heavily populated area of Delaware. So far, DE has stuck to their guns on this pier; however, the federal government is pulling a Schiavo and stepping in to make the changes that would force the pier

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2005/04/14billwouldforceg.html

Bill would force gas terminals on states
House energy panel OKs legislation
By JENNIFER BROOKS / Gannett News Service
04/14/2005WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives is pushing ahead with legislation that could prevent coastal states from halting the construction of liquefied natural gas terminals.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee signed off Wednesday on a bill that would rewrite U.S. energy policy, shifting power from states to federal regulators. The provisions are part of Congress' omnibus Energy Policy Act, a national blueprint that touches on everything from renewable energy to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The bill goes to the full House. The Senate is working on its own version.

Republicans have been trying unsuccessfully to pass comprehensive energy legislation for three years, but supporters now have the added incentive of an energy crunch that has drastically raised gas and oil prices.

Lawmakers from California, Delaware, New Jersey, Massachusetts and other states that are being eyed as likely terminal sites have condemned the natural gas provisions, which they describe as a blow to states' rights and a threat to public safety and the environment. The provisions would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission sole authority to site the terminals, and to override state laws and community objections in the process.



I'm thinking he's going to do what he can to stop this bill from forcing LNG piers in places where they should be. If that pier explodes, it's going to affect a heavily populated area of Northern Delaware and possibly a Nuclear Power Plant in NJ that's about one mile away from the proposed pier location.

Carper is shocking me on this one, but I think he has a plan