Ruling on the Ballot Referendum

Court rules that citizens ballot referendum attacking County LNG decision is legal, LNG opponents celebrate! 

Astoria, OR  Backers of a ballot measure referendum aimed at overturning Clatsop Countys approval of the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal on the Columbia River are celebrating a ruling by Clatsop County Circuit Court Judge Cindee Matyas holding that the referendum is legal and denying LNG backers challenge to the measure.  Columbia Riverkeeper and County residents Marc Auerbach, Debbie Twombly and Don West filed the ballot referendum to challenge Clatsop Countys decision to change County law in order to allow gas pipelines from LNG terminals to run through zoned parklands, recreation, and open space.  The judges ruling blocks a move by NorthernStar and proponents of the Bradwood LNG project to keep the referendum off the ballot and to prohibit volunteers from gathering signatures for the measure.

Columbia Riverkeeper attorney Brett VandenHeuvel, who also represented the chief petitioners behind the ballot measure referendum, applauded the judges decision. "NorthernStar filed this baseless lawsuit because they are afraid of letting the voters decide whether to allow large gas pipelines in parks.  Bradwood lost because Oregon's Constitution clearly protects the peoples right to vote on important decisions."

Debbie Twombly, Astoria resident and a chief petitioner, added, "They wanted to keep the public from voting on this since even they recognize that voters will decide against opening up our parks for high-pressure gas pipelines.  Even people who support the LNG projects do not support the Commissioners re-writing our laws to allow pipelines throughout our parks."

Marc Auerbach, also a chief petitioner and chair of the Northwest Property Rights Coalition, looked forward to the referendum campaign.  "The tainted approval of Bradwood was a mistake in law and a mistake in policy.  The referendum will enable the people to voice their opposition to this regrettable project and its disastrous pipeline."

Volunteers for Clatsop County Citizens for Common Sense are already amassing the necessary signatures for the referendum and will qualify the measure for the September 15 ballot.