Greetings Everyone:
Congratulations! On Wednesday night, approximately 250 LNG and pipeline opponents attended DEQ's hearing in Knappa, Oregon. The hearing was absolutely critical for us to send a strong message to Oregon that we oppose Bradwood LNG and support DEQ in standing up to LNG industry pressure. We vastly outnumbered the project's proponents, and the first 25 public comments were against the project! People came from all areas of the LNG fight - Mt. Hood protectors, Willamette Valley farmers, Forest Grove foresters, Estuary fishers, and long-time Lower Columbia LNG fighters (from both Oregon and Washington).
We sent an overwhelmingly clear message to DEQ: Oregonians will support DEQ in denying the Bradwood project. Thank you to everyone who traveled huge distances, made phone calls, and gave outstanding testimony. You are the reason we are going to defeat LNG and the Palomar pipeline in Oregon.
Here are some of the very strong messages that our group repeatedly raised in the hearing:
- DEQ should deny the Bradwood LNG project.
- DEQ should not bow to industry pressure and should require sound science in guiding its decision. Thanks to DEQ for requiring good scientific information.
- Bradwood will kill salmon.
- Bradwood is connected to Palomar, which will also kill salmon, harm Mt. Hood forests, and destroy Oregonians' livelihoods.
- Bradwood will kill existing, long-standing jobs in agriculture, fishing, and forestry.
- Oregon doesn't need LNG.
- The sooner we stop Bradwood and Palomar, the sooner Oregonians can get back to work on their farms, forests, vineyards, and other lands.
- Bradwood will disrupt Columbia River fishing.
- LNG makes us dependent on imported fuels, just like oil.
- The Bradwood terminal would emit huge quantities of greenhouse gases.
KATU news covered the event, as did the Daily Astorian (look for the story on Thursday).
Additionally, Senators Wyden and Merkley sent field representatives to attend the hearing. Congressman Wu also sent a representative. State Rep. Debbie Boone attended in person. The director of DEQ was there in person along with all of the DEQ staff who are working directly on the Bradwood project. It is incredibly important that these decision-makers saw hundreds of us, many wearing red shirts, opposing the Bradwood project.
Everyone who testified for our group was respectful, intelligent, and persuasive. At one point, everyone in the room who opposed the project was asked to stand up. The vast majority of people (it seemed like almost everyone) in the packed high school gymnasium stood up. With state representatives, federal representatives, and key agency staff looking on, we made an unequivocal statement tonight.
Thank you all for standing up for Oregon.
Sincerely,
Dan Serres
Conservation Director
Columbia Riverkeeper
(503) 890-2441
P.S. - If you are interested in submitting written comments to DEQ, here's how:
To Submit Written/Email Comments:
You may submit written comments related to DEQ’s potential 401 water quality Certification, and air and water quality permits by 5 p.m., March 17, 2010. DEQ accepts comments by mail, e-mail and fax. Please specify to which potential permit your comments relate and send to the appropriate contact below.
Mail comments to:
DEQ Northwest Region Office 2020 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 400 Portland, OR 97201
Email comments to:
401 Water Quality Certification: Alex Liverman
401publiccomments@deq.state.or.us
Wastewater permit: Rob Burkhart Stormwater permits: Dennis Jurries;
BradLNGWQPermits@deq.state.or.us Water Quality Program fax:503-229-6957
Air quality permit George Davis
nwraqpermits@deq.state.or.us Air Quality Program fax: 503-229-6945.
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