State and local agencies incur costs such as overtime for police and fire personnel required by Homeland Security to oversee LNG deliveries. Boston, Chelsea and the state estimate they spend more than $37,000 to safeguard a single delivery of LNG, raising the total to $80,000.This cost will vary from terminal to terminal depending on location.
Security costs for the proposed terminal at Port Westward would be greater because of the distance tankers have to travel up the Columbia River, approximately 38 miles.State and county emergency agencies will need to increase their presence along the river whenever a tanker enters the mouth, closely monitoring the shoreline, marinas, air traffic, roads near the river, and boat traffic on the river. In addition, the need to schedule other shipping traffic away from the LNG tanker will add to the cost of other vessels transiting the river to and from Portland.
Requiring the terminal owners to pay these security costs have met with resistance. The owners claim taxes they pay cover their portion of services needed. The public is left with the rest of the bill.
