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A solution to natural-gas supply problems

Congratulations to The Washington Times for airing one of the most serious problems facing American industry today, the skyrocketing costs and supply shortages of natural gas ("A vulnerable natural-gas supply," Op-Ed, Tuesday). Author Jack Gerard of theAmericanChemistry Council focused on the impacts on the chemical industry. The impact is equally dire in many other industries that depend on natural gas not just as a fuel, but as a vital raw material.

Plastics are an important example. Over the past five years, the plastics industry has lost more than 300,000 jobs and countless small companies have been driven out of business largely as a result of out-of-control natural-gas prices. In my meetings with members of Congress on this issue, it has become evident that until very recently, most members had little inkling of the importance of natural gas as a feedstock for American industry. Clearly, no member of Congress would deliberately vote to close down American plants and send thousands of jobs overseas, but this has been the result of policies that have led to critical natural-gas shortages and spiraling costs.

Fortunately, a solution may be at hand in the form of important legislation recently passed by the House Committee on Resources that would increase supply by allowing development of the vast natural-gas resources in the outer continental shelf, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere. With today's advanced technologies, this can be done with no measurable harm to the environment or to tourism in our coastal states.

To prevent the loss of thousands more jobs and the further erosion of American manufacturing, Congress should pass this legislation (the Ocean State Options Act). Its enactment would have an immediate beneficial impact on the price of natural gas for consumers, ensure adequate future supplies, protect American jobs -- and open up new economic opportunities for our coastal states.

WILLIAM R. CARTEAUX

President and CEO

The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc.

Washington