LNG RISK ASSESSMENTS

Milford Haven Port Authority has confirmed today (1 October 2007) that it is to make publicly available two of the many risk assessments commissioned to help determine how LNG traffic can be safely handled in the Haven.

Their imminent publication follows demands made earlier this year under the Environmental Information Regulations by a solicitor acting for pressure group Safe Haven that the Authority should hand them over. It was the latest in a long-running series of legal actions taken by the solicitor, Richard Buxton, against the LNG developments in the port.

The Authority had refused in line with its strategy of, in principle, not releasing such documents on a piecemeal basis because in isolation they could be open to misinterpretation, and because the information in them could have serious security implications. It had also argued that the information sought was not environmental at all.

However in March this year, the Information Commissioner ruled that some was, and that the documents – one in its entirety and one in an edited form - should be made public.

The Port Authority indicated its intention to appeal to the Information Tribunal. However on detailed consideration has decided not to, and is now due to release the documents in line with instructions currently being awaited from the Information Tribunal.