Sierra Club files protest against LNG

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WASHINGTON, April 20 (UPI) -- Liquefied natural gas exports from the United States will lead to "dangerous" and "reckless" hydraulic fracturing, the Sierra Club says.

The Sierra Club filed a 51-page formal protest with the U.S. Department of Energy following a decision to authorize LNG exports from a terminal in Sabine Pass, La.

Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said the Energy Department has a responsibility to protect U.S. citizens from the potentially dangerous consequences of LNG exports.

"There is no doubt that LNG exports will mean more dangerous fracking," he said in a statement, referring to hydraulic fracturing of shale natural gas deposits. "Blindly approving the export of this fossil fuel, while willfully ignoring the dangers associated with fracking, is reckless and puts American families at risk."

Sabine Pass Liquefaction and Sabine Pass LNG were approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the construction of the LNG facility in Louisiana. It marks the first time the government authorized LNG exports from the United States.

The Sierra Club maintains FERC "declined" to conduct any reviews under the terms of the National Environmental Policy Act on the "induced production impacts of LNG export."

Increased natural gas production in the United States is suppressing domestic prices. The United States has some of the largest deposits of shale natural gas in the world. Hydraulic fracturing is seen as an environmental risk, though practitioners say the threat is minimal if conducted properly.