Clatsop County Court Judge Phil Nelson Denies Oregon LNG/Pipeline Writ Of Mandamus Petition

Read Full Ciruit Court Opinion(Provided By Columbia Riverkeepers)

Citing that his court, "Has no authority to force a "Land Use Approval", Clatsop County Circuit Court Judge Phillip Nelson denied Oregon LNG/Pipeline's Petition of Mandamus in his ruling released yesterday, May 17, 2011. Oregon LNG/Pipeline's Peter Hansen offered no comment, citing "Ongoing Litigation". Oregon LNG/Pipeline has 30 days to appeal the decision to the appropriate authorities..Click on Thread Title Above For OPB's, Rob Manning Report
Read OPB-Ecotrope's, Cassandra Profita's Report On This Ruling

Clatsop County Board Affirms Hearing Officer's Decison Of Conditional Approval Of OLNG Pipeline

The Clatsop Count Board of Commissioners, yesterday, November 8, 2010, affirmed, with modified findings and conditions of approval in a 4-1 vote, the hearing officer's decision to conditionally approve a 41 mile, High Pressure Natural Gas Pipeline in Clatsop County.

Read Full Findings And Decision
View And Read Full Findings Of Approval

FERC Tells Oregon LNG To Hold Open Season Or Withdraw Pipeline Project

GRP: Just What Does The Term "Open Season" Mean You May Ask?
FERC’s 1995 Policy Statement first endorsed the open season process in terms of mitigating rate increases on existing customers from rolled-in pricing. FERC sought to encourage capacity release from existing users prior to approving new construction. The open season process became the tool to check whether the project was the correct size.


By Robert Walton - SNL Financial

Monday, May 10, 2010 9:47 AM

If Oregon Pipeline Co. LLC wants FERC to continue reviewing its proposed system then the company must move ahead with an open season, commission staff said in a sternly worded May 14 letter

LNG Development Co. LLC d/b/a and Oregon Oregon LNG Pipeline Co. LLC are proposing to construct an LNG import terminal on the Skipanon Peninsula in Warrenton, Ore. A 120-mile pipeline would connect to a regional hub in Molalla, Ore. But according to FERC staff, the pipeline company has not yet held an open season, which is jeopardizing the review process.

Read Full Article

Cathlamet Mayor Weighs-In On LNG Debate And Discloses Public Employee Signing Agreement And Others Involved With NSNG Activities

From: Wahkiakum County Eagle Newspaper

"To The Eagle:

I am writing to clarify aspects of your coverage of the Town Council’s LNG “debate” published in The Eagle’s 12/24 issue. First, my position is that the Town of Cathlamet should monitor the ongoing negotiations between Wahkiakum County and NorthernStar, the Texas-based organization that plans to construct a LNG facility several miles from Cathlamet -- not become a signatory to any agreement they might make.

Second, we must stay well-informed because the issues under negotiation could potentially impact our town’s waterfront, require zoning changes and render our 2006 Master Plan obsolete. Given that, it seems appropriate for town leaders, including the mayor and council members, to monitor developments proactively so as not to be caught off guard."

* Cathlamet Deputy Fire Chief signs a Non-Disclosure Agreement with Northern Star Natural Gas?
* Members of the Cathlamet fire department, funded by NorthernStar, have over the past three years undergone LNG fire training.
* Town Councilor David Goodroe, the current Executive Director of the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council, said at a meeting that the LCEDC has for several years discussed with NorthernStar and other parties a plan to base armed escort/security vessels in the Elochoman Marina and place LNG escort tugboats elsewhere on Cathlamet’s waterfront.

Read Full Letter To The Editor

October, 2009 - Northern Star Natural Gas Attempts To Float A Securities Services Agreement With Wahkiakum County Board Of Commissioners

Citizens: Investigate potential LNG security pact liabilities for 8 - 10 security jobs manned by Wahkiakum County Sheriff Officers.

Published on Thu, Oct 1, 2009 by Rick Nelson - The Wahkiakum County Eagle

"Tread carefully", That's the message a group of citizens gave the Wahkiakum County board of commissioners for their negotiation of a security services agreement with NorthernStar Natural Gas LLC.

"Island resident George Exum asked if the public would be able to review the proposed agreement prior to the commissioners voting on it.Commissioners and Garrett agreed the public could examine the agreement, with classified sections blacked out.In response to a question, Garrett said the facility is licensed as a receiving facility and would not be retrofitted to export natural gas. "We've offered to sign a letter that we'll not do that," he said."

"Commissioner Marsyla commented that she feels the potential of 8-10 jobs is "huge." "I truly will be really sad if this plant goes in and those 10 jobs end up in Columbia County and there are none here," she said. "I agree we need to look at the contract."

Read The Details

Uh-Oh!: Bradwood Landing/NSNG Hits Another Snag!!!

Gas terminal proposed on the Columbia River hits new snag
By Ted Sickinger, The Oregonian
September 29, 2009, 7:47PM

The marathon regulatory review of a liquefied natural gas terminal proposed on the Columbia River just got longer.

Read Full Oregonlive Article

The Oregonian Editorial Board Is At It Again And It's Got That Smell Of LNG All Over It?

GRP: Uh-Oh!!!! The Oregonian Editorial Board Has Come Up With Yet, Another Editorial That Strangely Stinks Of What Would Appear To Be , Once Again, Obvious Input From Bradwood Landing/NSNG Because It Sure Isn't From Any On-Scene Reporter From Their Staff That Would Have A "Hoot-In-Hell's Idea" Of What Was Actually Going On Down Here. Who's their Rep Down Here, Lori Tobias Is It?

The Stump
Economy, Editorials, Environment, Law, Politics, land use »
Recall is being misused in Clatsop LNG fight
By The Oregonian Editorial Board
September 26, 2009, 10:02AM

Wrongheaded recall elections looming in Clatsop County are a sure sign the fight over liquefied natural gas development there has gotten out of hand.

GRP: Fitting irony that the comments to this...this...piece of...Seemingly pro-lng propaganda, from The Oregonian, seems to match the majority of sentiment of the citizens of Clatsop County and The Lower Columbia River region, as it has from day one and that is, they do not appear to be in favor of it or the elected and appointed officials serving in their trust colluding with these private "Energy Speculators" to ram this stuff down their throats as the record should clearly show.

Read Article...Well....Read Whatever This "Puff-Piece" Is

Bradwood Landing: 36-38 Miles Of Pipeline Right Of Way - Add 224.24 Acres To The Project Would You?

From John L. Kennedy, "Oil and Gas Pipeline Fundametals"

The average Natural Gas High Pressure Pipeline Right of Way is 50' wide with 35' maintained clear.

So, using this average and an average 37 Mile long NSNG controlled pipeline right of way x 5280 feet = 195, 360' x 50 = 9,768,000 square feet divided by 43560 square feet(acre) = 224.24 acres owned/controlled by who?

Where does the end of that pipeline originate?

From the Bradwood Landing LNG/Storage Terminal facility of course.

So add that 224 acres to that magic, "Bovine Scat", 40 acres NSNG says they are only using and you have 264 acres of physical property under the control/ownership of Bradwood Landing/NSNG.

Small Project?

No way in hell!!!

$8,000,000.00 In LNG Dollars And Where Does It Go? 66 Taxing Districts They Say?

How Your Clatsop County Tax Dollar Is Spent

Although you write your property tax check to Clatsop County, only some of the money goes to the county.

The county collects the taxes and then distributes the money to 66 taxing districts.

GRP: The question is...Who gets what? Anybody got a real answer to this puzzle? $8,000,000.00 to 66 taxing districts is about $122,000.00 apiece. $8,000,000.00 to 36,000 Clatsop County Citizens is about $222.00 per person. So, where's all this wealth attributable to Texas based Energy Speculator, Northern Star Natural Gas? Wonder if they can answer this riddle? Don't you think it's their responsibility to do so publicly?

For each $1 paid by the average Clatsop County taxpayer:
* 48.3 cents goes to school districts, including Clatsop Community College
* 22.3cents goes to the cities, including urban renewal districts
* 14.7 cents goes to recreation, transportation, water and other districts
* 2.6 cents goes to rural fire protection districts
Just 12.1 cents of each average tax dollar goes to the county government.
Of that 12.1 cents:
* 4.6 cents helps fund public safety and justice programs, such as sheriff's patrols, the jail, district attorney's office and juvenile department;
* 2.2 cents goes toward public service programs such as assessment and taxation, elections and records, surveyor, land-use planning and development, animal control, parks and some public health programs;
* 2 cents goes to miscellaneous services as data systems services, finance, building maintenance and veterans services;
* 1.5 cents is set aside as contingency for unforeseen expenses or revenue shortfalls;
* 0.9 cent goes for administration such as county administration, human resources, legal counsel and board of commissioners;
* 0.9 cent goes for the fair grounds special levy approved by the voters for enchanced operations and facility improvements.
Property taxes provide about one-third of the county's funding for public services. The rest comes from state and federal funds, fees for service, timber, carryover from the previous year's budget and other sources.

Joe Gamm - The Daily Astorian - LNG Issue Back On Clatsop County BofC Agenda

LNG issue is back on the county agenda
By JOE GAMM - The Daily Astorian
Tuesday, July 07, 2009

It's just days after the Fourth of July and more fireworks are on the way.

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners will address two unresolved land-use issues holding up development of a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Columbia River at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Judge Guy Boyington Building.

Read Article

From The Daily "A" - County Adjourns Without A Decision

AP: LNG Laden Rail Tank Car Explodes In Italy, Kills 10, Injures 50, Evacuates 1000, Extensive Damage

Freight Train Derails, Kills 10 In Italy

By MARTA FALCONI – 8 hours ago

VIAREGGIO, Italy (AP) — A rail car filled with liquefied natural gas exploded when a freight train derailed in the middle of a small Italian town, setting off an inferno that killed at least 10 people and injured 50 others, officials said Tuesday.

Go Here For Details
LNG? LPG? CNG? What's the difference?

Peter Huhtala Announces Challenge For Brad Witt's Oregon House Seat

Huhtala announces candidacy for Oregon House
August 9, 2009
Contact Peter Huhtala (503) 468-8038

(Astoria, Oregon) Peter Huhtala announced today his
intention to seek the Democratic nomination for Oregon
House of Representatives District 31. Another Democrat –
Brad Witt, now holds this seat.

“I believe that I’m in touch with the values of the great
majority of the people of our district,” said Huhtala. “We
want and deserve good jobs, affordable health care, high
quality education, and a healthy environment.

“I have a vision for the future of this state. Oregon can
become a leader in renewable energy, green technology and
energy efficiency. We have the unprecedented opportunity
to create hundreds of thousands of solid jobs that build
our energy independence and confront global warming. Many
Oregonians share this vision.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Witt has been aiding and abetting LNG
speculators with their plans to bring foreign fossil fuels
to Oregon for shipment through massive pipelines to
California. This is intolerable.”

Huhtala cited Witt’s sponsorship of HR-3058 as catering to
the LNG industry. HR-3058 would streamline the permitting
process for pipelines that serve LNG terminals. “Mr. Witt
is serving those who would cause harm to our rivers and
forests, and damage our fishing, tourism and farming
industries. He’s lost connection with the people of his
this region.”

“If Mr. Witt decides to try for another term I’ll be ready
with a choice,” said Huhtala. “My choice is to reject
exploitation and to embrace healthy appropriate economic
growth. My choice is to listen to my constituents. Now is
the time when we earn the praise of future generations for
the quality of life that they inherit.”

Peter Huhtala is Executive Director of Columbia River
Business Alliance and owner of Ocean Rose Music. Formerly
he was the director of governmental relations for Pacific
Marine Conservation Council. He is a native of Astoria.

Oregon LNG Supporters Tap Into Oregon Legislature

Supporters of LNG build a pipeline to Oregon lawmakers

By Ted Sickinger - The Oregonian
Sunday June 07, 2009, 9:48 PM

Of all the energy issues circulating through the Oregon Legislature, none is more acrimonious than proposals to build new terminals and pipelines to import liquefied natural gas.

Read Article

Portland Rising Tide To Mobilize Against LNG At Northwest Natural Gas Shareholders Meeting At Portland Convention Center

Portland Rising Tide to call out NW Natural for their nasty plan to import more foreign fossil fuels.

We are calling for a mass 'Bike-Icane'(think bike-hurricane) to descend upon the Annual NW Natural Shareholders Meeting & give them a taste of climate change justice.

WHERE: Meet up at Holladay Park ( NE 11th and Holladay) with your bike! Get yer No LNG spoke card!

WHEN: Thursday May 28th @ 12:30pm sharpWHAT: Form a bike contingent to join the anti-LNG rally and participate insome fun civil disobedience!

People from across the state are converging on the Oregon ConventionCenter this Thursday to call out NW natural during their annualshareholder's meeting.

NW Natural's proposed LNG (liquefied naturalgas) pipeline will cross hundreds of rivers and streams, result inthousands of acres of clear cuts through public lands, push farmers andland owners off of their property using imminent domain, and ravage thenatural beauty of our home.

These pipelines would carry twice theamount of natural gas that all of Oregon uses and connect to a pipelinethat goes directly to California. In addition NW Natural will be able to hand the costs onto customers resulting in higher gas bills for all of us!

To add insult to injury they, NWNG, are claiming that LNG is the new "GreenBridge Fuel" to a renewable future.

This couldn't be farther from the truth!

In fact the entire process of extracting, transporting, and processing Natural Gas nearly equals the carbon emissions of coal!

We don't need more fossil fuel infrastructure. What we need is realsolutions to climate change now!

Bikers both short and tall, come one come all!! Show your pedal-powered support for REAL solutions to climate change!BRING YOUR BIKE & GET A FREE SPOKE CARD!

portland@risingtidenorthamerica.org

http://www.portlandrisingtide.org/

Dr. Jerry Havens To Speak On: “Public Safety Implications of LNG Import Terminals.” Thursday May 21, 2009 At The Red Building, 7:00PM

----- Original Message -----
From: Cheryl & Ted
To: lower_columbia@lists.onenw.org
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 12:50 AM
Subject: [lower_columbia] Dr. Havens speaking on THURSDAY
What does it mean to have LNG tankers on our river and terminals in our communities?

Please join us for a special event hosted by Roger Rocka, former Director of Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce and Jim Scheller, Chair of Warrenton Trails Association.

Special guest speaker is Dr. Jerry Havens, Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Arkansas. His topic is:
“Public Safety Implications of LNG Import Terminals.”

Thursday, May 21st
7:00 pm
the Loft in the Red Building, Astoria
(turn off Marine Drive toward the river at the light by Kentucky Fried Chicken)

Dr. Havens is not for or against liquefied natural gas development. “My goal is to bring good science to the table in these matters, so that decisions regarding public safety are fairly and accurately deliberated.”

Bret VandenHeuvel, Executive Director of Columbia Riverkeeper will give an update on the LNG terminals and pipelines proposed for the Columbia River.

There will be an opportunity for Q&A following the presentations.

This event is FREE and open to the public. Bring your neighbors, bring your friends. This special evening will include refreshments and music by Ned Heavenrich, Dan Palenski and Larry Moore.

Sponsored by:
Columbia Pacific Common Sense
Columbia Riverkeeper
Cannery Pier Hotel
Columbia River Business Alliance
Hipfish
Northwest Property Rights Coalition

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Dr. Jerry Havens
Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering
University of Arkansas

Professor Havens holds the Maurice E. Barker Endowed Chair in Chemical Process Safety and the Environmental Fate of Pollutants at the University of Arkansas. He is recognized internationally for his expertise in atmospheric dispersion of hazardous chemicals and fire/explosion phenomena. The DEGADIS and FEM3A atmospheric dispersion models developed and or validated by Dr. Havens and his associates at the University’s Chemical Hazards Research Center are specified for use in LNG plant siting applications in the United States.

Cheniere's Sabine Pass LNG Terminal: A Little Look At Terminal Use Agreements

Terminal Use Agreements!

That's what the end result for NSNG/Bradwood and Oregon LNG is all about, those committed clients and their annual, expected product generation(Regasified Natural Gas) and expected revenue from each client.

Take a look, do the math and you will see the payoff and the incentive to do absolutely what's necessary to make thse projects happen and it appears the firstest with the mostest wins it all.

Don't be fooled into thinking these Energy Speculators are in this to be a kindly little way station to help us get Natural Gas to our friendly Natural Gas supplier.

From The Daily Astorian - Critics Debunk PUC Commission's Beyer

Monday, June 16, 2008 12:05 PM

Critics debunk Beyer's LNG paper - PUC chairman tells Kulongoski he thinks importing LNG is a good way for the state to ensure supply, price

By CASSANDRA PROFITA - The Daily Astorian

The chairman of Oregon's Public Utility Commission has told Gov. Ted Kulongoski he thinks importing liquefied natural gas is a good way for the state to ensure future supply and stabilize prices.

Contrary to the findings of the Oregon Department of Energy, which released a study last month concluding Oregon doesn't need LNG, PUC Chairman Lee Beyer said an LNG terminal will help meet increases in demand for natural gas and could offer some savings in transportation costs, though it would sell for about the same price as domestic gas.

"Other regions of the country are all looking to secure access to additional gas supply sources, such as LNG and nonconventional gas, to replace supplies from quickly diminishing domestic and pipeline import sources," Beyer said in a five-page memo to Kulongoski sent May 30. "The Northwest should do the same."......For Complete Article, Click On Title Above.

LNG:Bradwood/Northern Star NG And What Is Their "Commercial Client

From Northern Star Community Liason, Peter Hackett to my query as to exactly what is meant by the term.... "Commercial Client".

Strangely, no mention of the proposed Palomar Pipeline?
(Hackett says...We(You and Me) will have to call Palomar for the status of that project....?)

The pipeline has a tap to the GP mill in Wauna……………and another to all industries at the Port of St Helens as well.

Ethanol and NG fired power plants.

No contracts for sales of gas……………….that happens after permitting……….and contracts for supply.

Pipelines have open capacity……….........Bradwood is a Tolling Facility (This means that companies will sign long-term terminal use agreements that will give LNG sellers access to the US market, and US natural gas buyers access to the global supplies of LNG).…………we provide a service………..storage and regasification of LNG.

Natural Gas leaving Bradwood will go to Kelso and the Williams Pipeline……….NG currently in the WP will be eventually displaced by “price taking” , lower priced LNG that gets regasified at Bradwood.

Residential and Commercial natural gas customers that use Williams will be using NG from Bradwood, as contracts are negotiated for supply.

Natural Gas Utilities in the NW would be commercial clients…………………..GP could buy gas directly………….as well as the industries at the Port of SH

Know What This Is?

The inside of just one of 5 tanks on an LNG tanker to be filled to the top with Liquefied Natural Gas artificially kept super refrigerated to -260 degrees F.

Have you read much about "Open Ocean Piracy" these days?

You should.

Google it up.

Northern Star Letter to F.E.R.C. Clearly speaking For Clatsop County

Stating the applicant, Northern Star, get this, has voluntarily undertaken to work with applicable local authorities to obtain vatious state and local approvals. This would be obviously working with our esteemed and recently notorious Board of County Commissioners?

Yes, those same people, all, seemingly in some turmoil of their own if not collectively, of late, with one even commenting to a local Radio Communicator that our local planning staff had no experience, didn't know what they were doing and allegedly are in a conspiracy against him.

And these people are the same Northern Star Natural Gas/Bradwood landing are going to rely on in their decision to seek all local land use authorizations that would otherwise be required by Clatsop County.

And all holding the Life Quality of at least 33,600 people, for decades to come, in their hands for the sake of, maybe, 60 end jobs and a few unqualified promises and still many unknowns?