MARY WISNIEWSKI
Assistant Living Editor
It was a cool, Friday night in Bluff Park of Malibu, and actor Pierce Brosnan gathered with students, families and fellow celebrities to watch “An Inconvenient Truth,” a movie about the effects of global warming.
This was not just a typical movie in the park, according to Brosnan’s official Web site. It was a kick-off event to raise awareness about a liquefied natural gas terminal that BHP Billiton Petroleum is trying to build off the coast of Ventura County, near Leo Carrillo State Beach. The terminal has been under much scrutiny in the Malibu community because of the possible harm it could have on living species and the environment, as well as further exasperation of the greenhouse effect.
Because of the project’s controversy, community concern did not end in the park — even Pepperdine students have concerns.
“I’m personally not worried for myself, but it’s scary this huge pollutant would be near the ocean,” said senior Susan Wooten.
Junior Kapua Kauhane said she would be concerned if the bill permitting Cabrillo Port’s construction passes because the terminal would be close to school and would contribute to the pollution.
“There is so much pollution already,” Kauhane said.
BHP Billiton environmental spokeswoman Kathi Hann said that the environmental effects of the terminal are being thoroughly examined.
“There’s quite a few issues that are under review right now, such as the protection of marine life, which includes small fish eggs and larva that would be affected,” Hann said, referring to an environment impact report being reviewed by the U.S. Coast Guard, Maritime Administration and the California State Lands Commission.
Despite the precautions, environmental groups like Heal the Bay still have objections.
The executive director for Heal the Bay Mark Gold said the group has objected to the project from the beginning. However, Gold said he also realizes why the plans for Cabrillo Port were initially drawn.
“An issue that often doesn’t get much attention is that there is a very important place for LNG in our energy supply, and obviously it’s much cleaner-burning than diesel fuel, but the end result is that each one of these facilities have significant problems,” Gold said.
Although, whether BHP Billiton and skeptical environmentalists can settle their debate is unsure, residents should not forget the many other pressing environmental issues affecting Malibu.
Both water contamination and air pollution from L.A. smog continue to be a battle environmentalists fight.
“The fact that beach water quality issues are still so prominent so many years after the problems have been exposed is unfortunate,” Gold said. “We have one of the most beautiful coastlines on the face of the planet and some of the most polluted water in the state of California.”
The environmental issues do not end there, though.
“In Malibu, you name it, we’re working on it,” Gold said of Heal the Bay and its community efforts.
A current Malibu issue Heal the Bay is involved with is finding an engineering consultant for Legacy Park, the water treatment facility that will be built down the hill. A decision is expected by the end of the month, and the facility could be completed as early as 2010. Gold said keeping this plan in motion is essential.
Also, in Paradise Cove, the city is working on building a new sewage system. It was originally supposed to be finished in 2003, but it has been pushed back until 2007. Throughout this time period, sewage has been spilling into the cove, Gold said.
The environmental issues pressing Malibu are numbered, and, though the LNG terminal is catching more attention as of late, partially due to its attention from Brosnan, people should also remember the broader issue, — keeping the environment clean as a whole.
10-05-2006