Major Victory! Clatsop County Board of Commissioners Denies Oregon LNG!
In a 4-1 decision, in front of a packed room full of red shirt-wearing LNG opponents, the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners denied the Oregon LNG Pipeline Project. Congratulations to everyone who wrote letters, made calls, and attended hearings.This is the beginning of the end for Oregon LNG. Over 100 people rallied outside before the hearing, urging the Commission to deny Oregon LNG.
People from all over Oregon and Washington traveled a very long distance to attend and send a strong signal that we will continue to oppose Oregon LNG.
Commissioners clearly took seriously the concerns of their community, and denied the project because of property rights, public safety, and natural resource concerns. CRK's attorney, Lauren Goldberg, gave an excellent presentation and provided the Commission with strong legal arguments to deny Oregon LNG. Shockingly, Oregon LNG did not even attend the hearing. Clatsop Commissioners called on them to present their case, but Oregon LNG sent no one to the hearing. Oregon LNG's lack of attendance shows disrespect for Oregonians, Oregon, and its process. We will keep everyone updated on the next steps for the project. We will need your continued support to make sure that Oregon LNG does not recover from this critical blow. Oregon LNG will undoubtedly attempt to file legal challenges, but these maneuvers are becoming increasingly desperate. Oregon LNG is seeking a Writ of Mandamus as an end-run around the County's process, and we will keep everyone updated as we fight to protect the County's right to make this important decision.
View a slideshow of the proposed terminal site (click the image below; opens in a new window. Photos by: ).
State upholds Clatsop County’s decision on LNG
Chinook Observer
Posted: Saturday, February 19, 2011 4:58 pm
LUBA’s decision clears the way for the scheduled March 9 hearing before the commissioners on its reconsideration of the application.
The board of commissioners originally voted Nov. 8, 2010 to accept a hearings officer’s ruling and grant approval to the consolidated application from Oregon Pipeline to build 41 miles of pipeline to serve a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal in Warrenton. The decision was appealed to LUBA by project opponents Columbia Riverkeeper and NW Property Rights Coalition.
The board, with three new members, voted Jan. 12 to file a notice of withdrawal with LUBA for reconsideration of the November 2010 ruling. Jurisdictions have the authority to withdraw land-use decisions, for the purpose of reconsideration, prior to completing and filing the record of the process with LUBA.
The original filing deadline was Dec. 15, 2010, but the county sought and received from LUBA a 30-day extension to prepare the nearly 12,000-page record, moving the deadline to Jan. 14.
In its filing with LUBA, Oregon Pipeline argued that the county’s filing deadline should have been the original Dec. 15, 2010 date, regardless of the extension. It also argued that the county sought the extension for the purpose of giving the three new commissioners the opportunity to vote on the withdrawal. The new commissioners – Debra Birkby, Peter Huhtala and Scott Lee – were sworn into office Jan. 12.
LUBA rejected both arguments. The LUBA ruling can be viewed on the “Oregon LNG” page at www.co.clatsop.or.us.
WU CONTINUES FIGHT FOR LOCAL CONTROL OVER LNG
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today Congressman David Wu introduced an amendment to a major appropriations bill that would cut federal spending to the regulatory agency that prevents state governments from approving new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.
“Landowners in Oregon deserve a say in determining whether LNG terminals and pipelines are welcome in their backyards,” said Wu. “My constituents are frustrated by intrusive projects and unclear timelines, and their voices are not being heard on decisions that impact their livelihoods.”
State governments used to have final authority on decisions regarding LNG facilities, but in 2005, the Bush administration and a Republican Congress crafted an energy bill that made the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the final decision-making body on the siting and construction of any facility that exports, imports, or processes LNG.
“This is a states’ rights issue. FERC’s overbearing and overbroad regulatory authority is preventing states and communities from having any meaningful input—let alone decision-making authority—over local land use.”
Wu’s amendment to the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011, H.R. 1, would prevent federal funds from being used to implement Section 3 (e) of the Natural Gas Act.
Last year, Wu introduced the Local Control for Energy and Environment Act of 2010, H.R. 6124, which would nullify FERC’s exclusive authority to approve LNG project siting. Wu plans to reintroduce the legislation in the 112th Congress.
Breaking
news
9th Circuit Vacates Bradwood Landing LNG License: Citizens say Good Riddance
Citizens and environmental sgroups celebrate today after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the license for the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal proposed 20 miles upriver from Astoria, OR. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued the license to construct an LNG terminal and pipeline on September 18, 2008. The court's ruling today vacates that license. "Bradwood LNG was a dominant environmental issue for 5 years and now it is officially over," stated Brett VandenHeuvel, Executive Director of Columbia Riverkeeper. "For all the families who were threatened by LNG, their work to protect their livelihoods paid off."View the opinion here. Frans Eykel, a local fisherman and member of Wahkiakum Friends of the River who lives near the Bradwood site, added, "The impact to our salmon, forests, and farms was unthinkable. I'm thrilled that Bradwood lost its LNG license and I can get back to catching fish." The Bradwood LNG project was slated to connect to the proposed Palomar Pipeline. After Bradwood's bankruptcy, Palomar and NW Natural effectively owned the Bradwood LNG permit. In the wake of FERC's decision, the future of the Palomar pipeline is increasingly unclear.Olivia Schmidt, with the Mt. Hood conservation group BARK, stated, "The 220-mile Palomar Pipeline, proposed to connect the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal to a California-bound pipeline east of Mt. Hood, should immediately withdraw its FERC application. Too often FERC permits are left on the table, keeping affected communities in limbo, while serving companies with no intention to develop the permitted project."Others hailed the decision as a clear step away from dirty fossil fuels. Brian Pasko, with Sierra Club, added, "Importing dirty and dangerous foreign fossil fuel is a bad idea when we have adequate supplies of energy in the United States. I hope this sends a message to the Oregon LNG company that destroying our salmon nurseries for corporate profit is unacceptable."The decision directly impacts many people in Oregon and SW Washington. For example, Gayle Kiser, a Cowlitz County landowner along the proposed Bradwood pipeline, was relieved to hear that her land could not be condemned. According to Kiser, "Up until today, my land was threatened with eminent domain. Bradwood could have taken my land at any time for their pipeline. The ruling today gets rid of Bradwood, gets rid of eminent domain, and protects my land. It also protects the people who live in Washington very close to Bradwood.For residents in Clatsop County, the 9th Circuit decision marked a final and decisive victory. Cheryl Johnson, a local resident and retired school librarian, welcomed the decision by the 9th Circuit. "Our community was threatened by LNG. We knew we could do better than dirty LNG so we stood up to the Texas corporation and won."The citizen and environmental groups were represented by Tom Buchele at the Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center and Scott Jerger at Field Jerger.
[Reprinted from www.columbiariverkeeper.org]
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