Ariz. House Backs Bill Aiding Gas Storage Project

Said Rep. Tom Chabin, D-Flagstaff: "We invite mischief here when we may not fully understand the intent of the applicant and not have the scientific background or the regulatory judgment to determine whether a project is worthy."

The sponsor, Republican Rep. Lucy Mason of Prescott, said the cavern would be sealed to protect the air and that the salt water used in construction would be injected back in the ground so deep it wouldn't threaten usable groundwater.

"This is not taking it down into pure drinking water," said Mason, who at several points during the floor session declined to respond to Democrats' pointed questions about the bill.

Rep. Frank Pratt of Casa Grande, a Republican whose district includes the project area, said the project is safe and that it would boost the state's economy. "We have to say 'yes' to some of these companies and stop placing barriers to their entry," Pratt said.

A MultiFuels lobbyist told a House committee in February that the natural gas storage provided by the project is important for Arizona because of the state's current limited storage capacity.

The cavern would be about the size of Arizona State University's football stadium, according to committee testimony by a MultiFuels executive.