Hello All:This is the third update to be sent-out over our communications list for folks who are interested in LNG and related pipeline developments in the Pacific NW. The intention of this list is to keep folks all over the region updated on LNG proposals and the growing movement of opposition to this development and related pipeline proposals in Oregon and Southern Washington. Welcome to our updater and thanks for your interest! If you would like to get more actively involved you may be able to attend one of our many monthly organizational meetings. To find out how to get more involved contact Olivia Schmidt at oliviariver@gmail.com or by phone at (971) 533-2390 and she can help you tap-in to this vital movement away from fossil fuel and toward a renewable energy future.Below you will find important action alerts, news items and notices for upcoming events.______________________________________________________
IN THE NEWS:
We have been all over the news in the last month and I am including here 5 key news items for folks to check out.
1) On September 16th we won the Clatsop County Pipeline Referendum with a NO vote! It was a huge victory for our coalition which won by a margin of 2:1 in this crucial election. The effect of that vote was two-fold. On one hand it demonstrated the true and staggering public opposition to LNG and associated pipelines -- a fact noticed by many Oregon Legislators. At the same time, because the voters of Clatsop County overturned one of the land use changes made by Clatsop County Commissioners, the referendum effectively invalidated the Land Use Compatibility Statement that Bradwood Landing is required to provide in order to obtain key state permits. In addition to the impact to permits and government leaders, the time and financial cost spent by Bradwood Landing/NorthernStar made this campaign very effective. Thanks to all of you who participated, volunteered and donated to that particular effort!
2) On September 18th, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted a conditional permit to Bradwood Landing (proposed by Texas-based NorthernStar Natural Gas). This was an action that our entire coalition expected and that permit was met by strong opposition by members of our coalition as well as the State of Oregon and Washington. Governor Kulongoski and Governor Gregoire have strongly criticized FERC for issuing a permit based on a gravely inadequate Environmental Impact Statement and both states have promised to file a Petition for Rehearing and follow that with litigation if it is not granted by FERC. Columbia Riverkeeper and Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (among others) are also filing petition for rehearing based on the incompleteness of the EIS for that project. The issuance of the federal permit put the ball squarely in the states' court and now is our chance to demand the denial of other key permits for LNG development. With continued pressure on state agencies to rightfully deny key permits we will win this fight!
3) On September 30th, members of the Yamhill Valley OCAP and the Yamhill County LNG Citizens Advisory Committee organized and led a tour of farms and natural resources that would be impacted by proposed Palomar and Oregon LNG pipelines through their area. They were joined by members of their county commission and representatives from the offices of Rep. David Wu and Sen. Ron Wyden who listened to testimony from impacted landowners, agriculturalists and Brenna Bell of Willamette Riverkeeper. Statements made by landowners and conservationsists highlighted the economic and environmental impacts of these proposals. The event was very informative and got great news coverage. Click here to see TV News coverage of the event: http://www.portlandmediamonitor.com/clients/jack_danger_093008.html
4) On October 6th we held a massively successful rally in Olympia, Washington to draw attention to impacts to that state and to encourage Washington Governor Gregoire to follow through on promises to sue FERC in the event that a rehearing is not granted on the Bradwood Landing permit. More than 100 LNG opponents were present to support Southwestern Washington residents that would be impacted by LNG and Pipeline development and to highlight the environmental and climate change impacts of LNG. We had many great speakers at the event including Jay Manning (Director of the Department of Ecology in Washington), George Exum (Chair of Wahkiakum Friends of the River) and Gyale Kizer (President of Landowners and Citizens for a Safe Community) -- to name a few.Thanks to everyone who came out to that event -- it had a great impact and again demonstrated the diversity of our coalition that is made up of impacted landowners, student activists, farmers, conservationists and people of all ages and political affiliations!
5) On October 10th a formal application was filed to FERC by Oregon LNG. This represents a new stage in that company's permitting process. Now, FERC will begin compiling a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for that project. Many serious concerns have already been raised about the location designated for that proposal -- The Skipanon Peninsula at the mouth of the Columbia River (in the town of Warrenton, OR) is an unstable sand spit within a tsunami zone and surrounded by fault lines on all sides. Oregon LNG is a project of Leucadia National which is the Manhattan-based company that stepped in to pick up the pieces from the bankrupted Calpine Corporation that disbanded after one year of pushing it's original LNG proposal for the same site. Oregon LNG is in the early stages of its federal permitting process and will be required, like Bradwood Landing and Jordan Cove LNG, to also obtain state and local level permits.
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