noLNG

Don't Miss This Meeting!!!!

No LNG Action Alert

On Tuesday, March 28^th the Federal Dept. of Energy is bringing their LNG “dog and pony show” to the west coast.  They will be at the Liberty Theater, 12^th St and Commercial in Astoria, with presentations beginning at 9:00am.

Ø      US Dept. of Energy website states, “. . . regional meetings will be held to provide an opportunity for the public to attend and participate.”  But this event is scheduled on a Tuesday, not a Saturday or an evening when the majority of citizens would be able to attend.

Ø      The same website presents the forum purpose,  “to provide public education and foster dialog.”  But no questions will be taken from the floor.  Questions must be submitted online before or on cards the day of.  Questions they can’t or don’t want to answer can simply be thrown away.

Ø      How do we as a community get information on the effects of an LNG terminal on the Columbia River when the DOE website clearly states, “panel discussions, presentations, and questions pertaining to the siting of specific LNG projects are beyond the scope of these forums and will not be addressed.”

At the Boston DOE presentation on March 10, US Rep. James P. McGovern was allowed to speak after expressing dissatisfaction with the process, “I don’t think any rational, objective person looking at a site in Fall River …would want to site an LNG facility there.” (As reported in the Boston Herald News, 3/11/06.)

Unfortunately we cannot count on the elected officials of Oregon to speak up on our behalf.  The Oregon delegation has been silent and invisible on the issue of LNG proposals on the Columbia. 

It is imperative that WE speak up for our community, our river, and our future.

This is not an educational forum – this is an LNG indoctrination session.

What can YOU do?  Astoria is the ONLY event planned on the west coast by the DOE.

Ø      Plan to attend this event.  Register online at: http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/oilgas/storage/lng/lng_forums.html                      You can also register the day of the event beginning at 8:00 am.

Ø      Send in your questions – not the ones you think they will answer, but the ones you honestly want answered.

Ø      Attend and wear your RED shirts and pins.  (Don’t have a red shirt? Purchase one from RiverVision office.)

Ø      The day of the event: Join us at RiverVision office, 13^th St between Duane & Exchange St., at 7:15 am for coffee, muffins and organizing.

Ø      Or join us at 8:00 am (or as soon as you can get there) at 12^th and Commercial; bring your no LNG sign. (Don’t have a lawn sign? Purchase one from RiverVision office.) 

Please send this info. to everyone on your personal email list who:

            Cares about our community

                        Values the Columbia River

                                    Is concerned about our future!

For more information: 

RiverVision, 503-325-4485

NO GAS SHORTAGE IN U.S.

According to a report issued by the attorneys general of four Mid-Western states last week, the skyrocketing prices of natural gas this past winter were the result of gas trading manipulation and had very little to do with low natural gas supplies. While the report takes no position of Liquefied Natural Gas, the same "truisms" that have led to higher utility bills are being used to justify the import of LNG.

Stating that there is not, nor has ever been, a gas shortage flies in the face of conventional wisdom. To quote Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon at a press conference last week, "It's stunningly annoying to sit here and have to literally say the moon is not made of green cheese. Supply and demand did not cause the spikes."

To read the entire report go to Attorneys General Report

Fishermen's Rally for Salmom Solutions

Join U.S. Congressman David Wu , Oregon sate legislators, and West Coast fishing leaders for the FISHERMEN'S RALLY FOR SALMON SOLUTIONS on THURSDAY MARCH 23RD 1PM at the COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM in  ASTORIA, OR. There is a free Salmon Barbecue immediately following the rally.

Up and down the West Coast, fishermen and fishing communities are being hurt by the general failure of the federal government's salmon recovery efforts. Now, the administration is seeking to further limit- and even eliminate- sport and commercial fishing as the "solution" to dwindling Columbia and Snake River salmon runs. Join the rally and let your voice be heard!

From Rivervision

Brian Atwater

Mark Your Calendars for March 12, Redmen Hall, Skamokawa, 2 pm.!

Brian Atwater is an American geologist who works for the US Geological Survey and is a professor at the University of Washington. Time Magazine nominated him as one of the 100 most influential people in 2005. He has dedicated himself to studying the likelihood of large earthquakes and tsunamis in the Pacific Northwest and is a foremost authority on the Cascadia subduction zone. Atwater has just published a book called Orphan Tsunami of 1700 and copies will be available. He will be speaking about the earthquake that produced a tsunami so large that reports in Japan have noted it; as have American Indian legends. His research has produced evidence of a dramatic shift in land elevation in the Pacific Northwest in relation to the event. Atwater is also willing to respond to questions from the audience.  WFOR will have an information table at the Hall during this event. Help spread the word to attend this timely lecture.

February Newsletter

First off, thank you for everyone’s efforts.  Keep up the great work.  Thanks to Mike & Jane Rees of Skamokawa/Seattle for their efforts on our behalf in the Seattle area.  While we wait for Northern Star to finish preparations for submitting their application to FERC, we have to continue to keep sending letters and comments to FERC and other agencies.

We continue our coordinating work with other Washington and Oregon groups opposed to the destruction of the estuary  by LNG.   Although the projects on the Columbia are the furthest along in the process, we should not forget about the project that is going forward in Coos Bay.  Recently we have been in contact with a coalition of California and Oregon groups that have many concerns regarding the proposed 250 mile gas pipeline to link the Coos Bay facility with California markets.

As you may have seen from the huge ads and recent Daily News article, Northern Star (NS) is waging a public relations war. Perhaps you’ve been among those who have received “sensing telephone interviews” to help guide the direction of their advertising. Please react with letters to editor in The Daily News, the Eagle, the Chinook Observer, the Clatskanie Chief, and the Daily Astorian. Our neighbors and elected officials need to hear what we are thinking!

WFOR has yard signs ($5 donation), car window decals ($3), buttons and free 8  1/2 x 11 window signs available. Let’s show the county how many people are truly opposed to this proposed industrial development.  Email wahkiakumfriendsoftheriver@yahoo.com and leave your telephone number, to arrange to pick up the above.

There are lots to be done. Pick all or some of these actions below, and help build the energy to fight this proposal!

Mark Your Calendars for March 12, Redmen Hall, Skamokawa, 2 pm.!

Brian Atwater is an American geologist who works for the US Geological Survey and is a professor at the University of Washington. Time Magazine nominated him as one of the 100 most influential people in 2005. He has dedicated himself to studying the likelihood of large earthquakes and tsunamis in the Pacific Northwest and is a foremost authority on the Cascadia subduction zone. Atwater has just published a book called Orphan Tsunami of 1700 and copies will be available. He will be speaking about the earthquake that produced a tsunami so large that reports in Japan have noted it; as have American Indian legends. His research has produced evidence of a dramatic shift in land elevation in the Pacific Northwest in relation to the event. Atwater is also willing to respond to questions from the audience.  WFOR will have an information table at the Hall during this event. Help spread the word to attend this timely lecture.

Volunteers Needed:

• WFOR Steering Committee needs volunteers to help organize a community educational forum about LNG and why people are opposed to this type of industrial development.
• Oregon Coastal Zone Management 101 workshop on 2/24, 8:30-4:30 pm, Astoria. A volunteer needed to attend and report back to WFOR, so we better understand land use issues related to Bradwood. Must register by 2/22.

Email mailto:wahkiakumfriendsoftheriver@yahoo.com if interested in either of these jobs.

Currently it looks like NS will plan to file its application during March-April, 06. This date was originally in the fall of 05, so consider the delay a success.  Watch for messages from WFOR when they do file.

FERC: Since we have a couple more months before the application is filed, continue to send your comments to FERC and send them at the same time to newspapers.

Intervener Status:  The Wahkiakum County Commissioners voted against filing for intervener status at the recommendation of Prosecuting Attorney Fred Johnson at their meeting on February 7th, without notifying WFOR that this would be on the agenda. Send letters of protest.  If you meet the Commissioners of the Prosecuting Attorney on the street or at other events, make your thoughts known.  Why did  the decesion get based on discussions between the Prosecuting Attorney and FERC’s representatives?  Why would FERC ever advise a government entity to intervene in the process?  FERC gives almost no information on their web site regarding the intervenor process because they do not want entities to intervene.

Economic Study:  Riverkeepers has been unsuccessful to date in finding $10,000 in grant funding to have an economic study done to demonstrate the negative economic impact of Bradwood. Do we want to try to raise this funding or save our efforts for raising legal fees?  Share your opinion with WFOR co-chair, George Exum.
Northern Star recently announced an economic study claiming that their project will generate $75 million in the lower Columbia. We have not yet seen this document but it was presented to the Daily News by Bob Coppedge, the father of Gary Coppedge who is NS VP.  Neither Bob Coppedge nor his credentials are listed on the NS website even though all companies and personnel are listed.  Guess fatherhood has its benefits.  It is hard for us to comment on this document until we see it but in NS resource reports they mention that at least 70 % of the employment for the construction will be by people from the Portland area.  How does this economically help the Lower River communities?

Northern Star Update: NS has cancelled plans for a co-generation plant at Bradwood and returned to the idea of a closed loop submerged vaporizer to warm (gasify) the LNG.  This system would generate 120 gallons of water per minute that would be acidic and need chemicals to be added to make it more basic, before return to the river. NS talks about returning it at 60 degrees, which we seriously doubt would be allowed as earlier comments to FERC from fishery agencies have indicated that the water to be discharged into the Columbia must be at ambient river temperature.

Residents of the end of Puget Island report that sediment sampling is taking place right now.

NS has had a private company called Waterways Suitability Solutions do modeling at the Army Corps Vicksburg facility on maneuvering for ships at the site. The Army Corps has not received this information. FERC posted a notice today that they have received it, but it is classified so the public cannot see the results. However, rumor has it that ships under some scenarios wound up on the beach at the end of Puget Island.  We guess when NS has testing results that are not positive; they have them classified as confidential under CEII so that the public can not see them.  Send comments to FERC, NS, and legislators declaring that the public should be able to see the modeling results.  Ask them to explain why they are considered confidential!

Some positive news.  For anyone who has not heard, the financial backers for the proposed Port Westward LNG facility have withdrawn  their support. So it looks like proposed LNG development there is finished.

Continue to send comments to NOAA and ODFW declaring that you are opposed to using mitigation when it means that habitat will be destroyed for endangered salmon species by LNG development at Bradwood, OR.  *** Important point to stress is that you do not think fishery agncies should allow Northern Star  to continue to collect sedimsnt samples when the in-water window closes at the end of February.  This is the prime migratory time for spring chinook and this year,
it is anticipated to be a reduced run of fish.  So it is important that disruptions to the migration be kept to a minimum.

The next WFOR Steering Committee is planned for March 14. All interested are welcome to attend. Contact the email address above if you’d like to receive meeting reminders.  See you at the Atwater lecture March 12th!

Newsletter submitted by George Exum and Carol Carver.