Two New York State lawmakers called Broadwater Energy's proposed floating liquefied natural gas barge a threat to homeland security Friday.

State Sen. Vincent Leibell (R-Brewster), chairman of the state Senate Homeland Security Committee, and Sen. Kenneth LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) said the LNG barge proposed for construction nine miles off the shore of Wading River would be a perpetual terrorist target.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer, whose approval of the project is required, has not publicly stated his intentions.

"I am asking them now to anticipate a severe problem; a security problem we can address now by say 'no,'" Leibell said.

Broadwater disagrees. It said existing LNG facilities on the Island are well protected, including a Holtzville site that sits next to the Long Island Expressway.

"Broadwater, unlike being a few hundred yards from the LIE, is nine miles from the nearest shoreline," said Broadwater's senior vice president John Hritcko.

While Broadwater said the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have said the LNG terminal could operate safely, environmentalists applauded the lawmakers' announcement.

"It is bad for the lobster industry. It is bad for the commercial fishing industry. But now we know it's bad for our homeland security," said Adrienne Esposito of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

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