Status check from Landowners and Citizens for a Safe Community

Margie Castle of Landowners and Citizens for a Safe Community sent us this summary of where things stand, for which we thank her very much!

Much is happening that needs to come to your attention. I'll set it up as bullets and hit the highlights.

• NorthernStar is on a fast track of submitting reports, comments and information to the FERC. It is in your best interest to refer back to previous emails and find the one sent on how to access information on the FERC website. It is also in your best interest to send in letters of comment. If you don't have the directions for navigating the FERC, let me know. The docket number is CP06-365.
  State and Federal agencies are holding NorthernStar accountable and not letting them slip through any of the required permitting processes.
  The channel deepening project was completed and accepted using information on CURRENT ship traffic and does not include increased ship traffic or new and bigger types of ships. This seriously impacts NorthernStar. The NorthernStar proposal increases traffic by 2 to 3 ships per week (104 to 156 ships per year) with a size range of 900 to 1200 feet in length. Not acceptable under the current project recommendations.
  NorthernStar has yet to file a full response to the Coast Guard letter dated July 24, 2006. This is the letter that clearly states delays of all other ship traffic will occur.
  NorthernStar is visiting public agencies (i.e. Land Conservation) asking what mitigation projects they are currently working on and offering to foot the bill or pledge money toward the project. This is their way of buying acceptance of their destroying our land, environment and way of life. All pledges have the big string attached of "if they get their permits"
  After putting our names, addresses and tax lot descriptions out to the public on the FERC website and in public meetings/open houses during the pre-filing process, NorthernStar has now decided our privacy needs to be protected and we are only to know if the final route is, indeed, on our property if we can identify it by the tax description. If you want to know if your property IS on the final route, let me know and I'll connect you with our people who have the information.
  We now have copies of the program run on the History Channel concerning the danger of LNG. Let me know if you would like to arrange for a showing with friends in your home. We cannot show it in a public venue due to copyright laws.
  We also have a copy of a talk given by Loretta Lynch, past Director of the California Public Utilities Commission under Gray Davis. We showed it last Thursday evening  at our public meeting and are willing to show it again. She clearly lays out the lack of need for an LNG terminal anywhere on the Pacific coast. Her presentation is worth watching. Loretta went with a group of us to meet with Kulongoski's chief of staff, Peter Cogswell.
• The Thursday, December 7th meeting was well attended. Thank you to Howard Meharg and Jonathan Fant , candidates in the  recent primary/general elections. They were the only ones to answer our challenge to elected officials. Gentlemen, you will be remembered if you run again. Both pledged continued support. Mr. Fant offered suggestions and connections to other organizations. Dean Takko did respond he was unable to attend.
• NorthernStar has named their project "Bradwood Landing" because of the warm, fuzzy feeling that name evokes in the general public. It creates a mental picture of serene woods, gently flowing waters and the sounds of nature ever present. Don't let it fool you. The name of the location is Bradwood, Oregon. We need to make sure the public doesn't buy into the psycho-babble. Call it Bradwood or NorthernStar's proposal, not Bradwood Landing.
• NorthernStar submitted a letter of comment that was about 264 pages in length. Included were copies of letters in support of their project. Most of them were form letters signed by union members from southern Oregon with a few sprinkled in from our region. Please respond by posting your return comments against the project.
• Elected officials are still not taking a stance even with the election over. Several received large donations from unions and the River Pilots Association. Please remind your officials who really  elected them. Remember, we aren't against the unions or jobs, just against this project, eminent domain and the loss of our personal rights. Continued  calls, letters, and emails are needed to our elected officials. Keep them up to date. Pressure them to take a stand, one way or the other. If they stand against us, at least we'll know.
• Take pictures of your land where the pipeline is expected to go. Due to the heavy rains this year, much sliding is taking place. Have pictoral evidence to support your stance against the project--this may save your property.
• Media Blitz--what to do with all the glitz you've received in the mail. Your options are:
  
  • Trash it Put a 39 cent stamp on it and return to sender. You may write on the opposite side your opinion. The post office will NOT deliver if you just write return to sender. You need the stamp due to bulk mailing rules.
  • Put all of it in a large envelope along with your letter to your Senator/Representative/Mayor/Commissioner/whoever and mail it all to them
  • Put it in a large envelope along with your letter and mail it all back to NorthernStar.
  • Put it in a large envelope along with your letter to the newspaper/editor and mail to your local paper The object being to alert the above that we are not impressed nor sold on NorthernStar.

• As a group, it is our goal to mount a media campaign against NStar. However, the cost of a single running of a full-page, black and white ad is over $2000 so we are looking at several avenues to get the word out to the public. Some ideas include several smaller ads over time; billboards; access to reader boards at area businesses (do you know someone willing to take a public stance and put the message up?); and signage on private property along high traffic routes.  We raised a little over $400 Thursday night, which is a good start. Please send in your donation to:

LCSC
4503 Ocean Beach Hwy
Suite 108 PMB#531
Longview,WA 98632

• There are 13+ proposed energy related projects from Kalama, Washington to Warrenton, Oregon including a possible new pipeline connecting the Mist caverns to the TransCanadian Pipeline to California. Add to that the push for an  LNG terminal in Coos Bay, Oregon. All these projects are presented to the general public as necessary to meet the energy needs of the Pacific Northwest. How much energy do we need? How big a population do they think we have? How stupid do they think we are? Think about it--we've been shipping excess power out  of our region for years.  Therefore, what is the true stand for eminent domain when the benefit is not for our region? Do we have a legal leg to stand on in regards to this issue? Don't let them sell us another Trojan bill of goods. These are excellent points to raise in your letters.

All of us serving you through Landowners and Citizens for a Safe Community wish you and your loved ones restful relaxing times with friends and loved ones through the holiday season. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakuh and the best in the New Year!