State of Oregon Investigation Finds Fraud in Oregon LNG Land Lease

This month an investigation by the Oregon Dept. of Justice came to a close with significant findings that indicate the Oregon LNG lease for the Skipanon Peninsula, the proposed Oregon LNG project site, is surrounded by corruption and fraud. The Attorney General's office released a letter Oct. 20th that stated "It is our opinion that we could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Peter Gearing, acting as Executive Director of the Port of Astoria committed the predicated acts of Official Misconduct in the first degree, a class A misdemeanor... Unfortunately, we are time barred from prosecuting Mr. Gearin."

While the Dept. of Justice cannot prosecute for the crime, this situation should prompt the Oregon Department of State Lands to cancel the fraudulent lease. The State of Oregon owns the land that Oregon LNG fraudulently leased from the State (through a sublease from the Port of Astoria which stands to gain zero profit from the lease).  The Department of State Lands should act immediately to protect the interests of Oregonians by ending this fraudulent lease. If the State of Oregon ends this fraudulent lease, then Oregon LNG no longer has control of the land it seeks to develop and therefore the project would immediately end.

You can take action on this important opportunity by reading and responding to the action alert!

Click these links for news coverage of the OregonLNG lease scandal:

Daily Astorian article Oct. 20: State Finds 'Misconduct' in LNG Lease
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Oct 20: Ore. AG Criticizes Astoria Port Official's Conduct
Oregonian article Oct. 21: Port of Astoria ex-director Used Influence to help Girlfriend
Daily Astorian Article Oct. 22: Secret Relationships Shaped LNG Deal
Oregonian Article Oct. 23: Ore. Probe Raises Questions About LNG Lease
NWPRC Online viewable emails from probel: NWPRC.ORG/POA