LNG in Florida: Land Use in 1 mile exclusion zone 2019-04-16

Sixty five schools are within one mile of explosive Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) facilities or transport routes in Florida.

[65 schools in 1 mile exclusion zones]
65 schools in 1 mile exclusion zones

Fifteen percent is high intensity urban of the area a mile around the 7 LNG plants studied. That means lots of people near these dangerous facilities.

24% of land within a mile of Florida LNG transport routes is high intensity urban, with another 7% low intensity urban. So many people are at risk, in addition to estuaries, wetlands, forests, crops,a nd pastures.

This study was done by Wiley Griffin, a student of Valdosta State University Geology Professor Can Denizman, at the suggestion of WWALS Watershed Coalition.

[Florida LNG shipping routes, plants, and pipeline]
Florida LNG shipping routes, plants, and the Florida Southeast Connection (FSC) pipeline

Here’s larger context from WWALS with interactive google map.

[WWALS LNG Export Map]
WWALS LNG Export Map

Florida Southeast Connection (FSC) pipeline

At the south end of the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline chain.

[Florida Southeast Connection (FSC)]
Florida Southeast Connection (FSC)

Land use: FSC Pipeline with 1 mile Buffer
Land Use ClassificationArea in Sq mi.Percent
Improved Pasture 57.03 23
Orchards/Groves 27.19 11
Rural 22.40 9
Freshwater Forested Wetlands 20.11 8
Mesic Flatwoods 20.73 8
Cropland/Pasture 14.67 6
Marshes 11.79 5
Low Intensity Urban 6.65 3
Mixed Hardwood-Coniferous 6.57 3
Prairies and Bogs 7.67 3
Scrub 7.08 3
Cypress/Tupelo(incl Cy/Tu mixed) 3.80 2
Transportation 5.09 2
Baygall 1.72 1
Cultural – Lacustrine 2.97 1
Cypress 3.02 1
Dry Prairie 3.30 1
Extractive 2.24 1
High Intensity Urban 3.41 1
Isolated Freshwater Marsh 3.26 1
Natural Lakes and Ponds 1.37 1
Pine Flatwoods and Dry Prairie 2.90 1
Scrubby Flatwoods 1.57 1
Shrub and Brushland 2.19 1
Upland Hardwood Forest 1.29 1
Vineyard and Nurseries 1.65 1

Map: Shipping Routes

Pipelines don’t stop LNG bomb trucks and trains: pipelines supply LNG for export via trucks, trains, and ships.

[FL LNG Shipping Routes]
FL LNG Shipping Routes

Land use: LNG Transport; 1 mi. Buffer
Land Use ClassificationArea in Sq mi.Percent
High Intensity Urban 362.91 24
Transportation 198.16 13
Low Intensity Urban 110.50 7
‘Tree Plantations 101.03 7
Estuarine 89.36 6
Freshwater Forested Wetlands 64.20 4
Mixed Hardwood-Coniferous 54.46 4
Rural 58.89 4
Cropland/Pasture 42.16 3
Improved Pasture 46.71 3
Mesic Flatwoods 40.82 3
Cultural – Lacustrine 25.96 2
Marshes 23.20 2
Prairies and Bogs 31.87 2
Scrub 25.96 2
Cultural – Riverine 8.81 1
Cypress 10.11 1
Extractive 9.89 1
Isolated Freshwater Marsh 9.23 1
Orchards/Groves 19.62 1
Riverine 12.23 1
Salt Marsh 10.96 1
Sandhill 17.71 1
Shrub and Brushland 12.40 1
Utilities 9.74 1
Wet Flatwoods 17.61 1

Map: LNG

The LNG liquefaction plants themselves are often near many things.

[LNG Plants]
LNG Plants

Land use: LNG plants(7); 1 mile buffer
Land Use ClassificationArea in Sq mi.Percent
High Intensity Urban 13.35 15
Transportation 2.83 13
Riverine 2.61 12
Tree Plantations 2.00 9
Mixed Hardwood-Coniferous 1.60 7
Rural 1.03 5
Estuarine 0.93 4
Mesic Flatwoods 0.92 4
(Cultural – Lacustrine 0.57 3
Freshwater Forested Wetlands 0.74 3
Orchards/Groves 0.56 3
Utilities 0.71 3
Low Intensity Urban 0.46 2
Marshes 0.47 2
Prairies and Bogs 0.42 2
Salt Marsh 0.46 2
Scrub 0.47 2
Shrub and Brushland 0.42 2
(Cropland/Pasture 0.32 1
Extractive 0.16 1
Improved Pasture 0.20 1
Vineyard and Nurseries 0.18 1

Powerpoint and PDF versions of the student’s slides are on the WWALS website.

See also the WWALS website for much more about LNG export, including how you can help our pending lawsuit.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!