noLNG

Letter: Save the river

By Peter Huhtala.

It may not be time to celebrate victory in our struggle to stop liquefied natural gas. But I gave a cheer on behalf of the people of the Lower Columbia when I heard that Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality refused to bow to NorthernStar's demands. ("Bradwood dealt triple permit blow," The Daily Astorian, Feb. 23).

The state agency insists that sound science form the basis of any permit that might be issued to the LNG company. And they won't be rushed.

The state wants proof that this unprecedented proposal would not harm salmon, and that other environmental and economic functions of the river will be protected. This is the right attitude.

Northern Star previously applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), where they were handed a permit that was conditioned upon the company deserving it at some future date. This was absurd.
More: http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=393&ArticleID=68224

Send NorthernStar south (LTE)

Send NorthernStar south
When an out-of-state company won't play by the rules set by Oregon lawmakers, it's the job of the state to send that company packing. Texas-based NorthernStar Natural Gas, backer of the proposed Bradwood Landing LNG terminal near Astoria, is a case in point.

As detailed in The Oregonian's Feb. 20 article, NorthernStar has repeatedly refused to gather data on Bradwood Landing's environmental impact, which the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality needs before it can approve any project of this size. NorthernStar has shown a complete lack of respect for state agencies and Oregon's environmental laws.

There's only one option left open to DEQ: Award NorthernStar a one-way ticket out of the Northwest.

NICK ENGELFRIED
Hillsboro 

A Game Changer

By: T. Boone Pickens

I've been in the energy business my entire career, and I can assure you this 81-year-old has chased down more deals than anyone you'll ever meet. A lot of those deals didn't pan out - that's just how the game is played - but every now and then a big kahuna comes along. When it does, you'd better jump on it.

Right now, as our country struggles to rebuild its economy and replace millions of lost jobs, that sort of game changer has landed right in our lap: America has more shale gas than it knows what to do with.

More:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/t-boone-pickens/a-game-changer_b_467831.html

Columbia restoration act introduced in Congress

By Erik Robinson / The Columbian | Posted: Thursday, February 25, 2010 9:50 pm

The federal government could provide as much as $40 million a year to monitor pollution in the Columbia River and clean it up, under a bill proposed Tuesday.

The Columbia River Restoration Act of 2010, introduced Tuesday in both chambers of Congress represents a substantial boost in federal support for addressing toxic pollution in the great river of the West.

"This is one of the great estuaries, not only of America but of the world," said U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver.

Mroe: http://www.tdn.com/lifestyles/article_6ec15cfc-2269-11df-94f0-001cc4c03286.html

Bradwood LNG opponents take case to commissioners once again

Published on Thu, Feb 25, 2010 by Rick Nelson

Read More News

Ask for more, opponents of the proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving plant told Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday.
County officials are negotiating with Bradwood Landing's parent company, an agreement to provide maritime security for LNG tankers headed to the proposed terminal.
    Three weeks ago, the NorthernStar negotiator told Sheriff Dan Bardsley the company would withdraw from negotiations, but the following week, the company asked to resume negotiations, and Bardsley and Commissioner Lisa Marsyla met during the past week with the negotiator.
The company wants the sheriff's office to have an additional seven or eight deputies who would man patrol boats to escort loaded tankers enroute to the plant. NorthernStar has offered to pay the salaries of the officers, but Bardsley has told the company he wants more to cover related costs, and that, he has said, has been a sticking point in the negotiations.

More: http://www.waheagle.com/news/article.exm/2010-02-25_bradwood_lng_opponents_take_case_to_commissioners_once_again

Clatsop County-Re-issue of the Bradwood Landing project Information Meeting

Comment period ends March 17, 2010, 5pm.

Information Meeting:

Date: March 3, 2010

Time: starts at 6 pm

Place: Knappa High School Gymnasium

Address: 41535 Old Highway 30, Astoria, Oregon  97103

FERC remains silent on LNG appeals

By Alexander Rich, Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Federal regulators still haven't decided whether to reconsider a developer's plan to build a liquefied natural gas terminal on Coos Bay.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had until Feb. 19 to respond to requests to rehear Jordan Cove Energy Project's application. Instead of giving an up or down vote, the commission issued a tolling order.

"By issuing a tolling order, the Commission gives itself more time to review the arguments raised in the petitions for rehearing," wrote FERC spokeswoman Tamara Young-Allen in an e-mail. "The Commission may then, at its own discretion, render a decision when it is ready to do so."

There now is no deadline for FERC to make a decision, Young-Allen added.

More: http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2010/02/23/news/ferc_remains_silent_on_lng_app_997.txt

Bradwood dealt triple permit blow

LNG company told water quality permit will likely be denied

By CASSANDRA PROFITA
The Daily Astorian

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has rebuffed three "demands" from the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas project developer and warned that a key water quality permit will likely be denied.

DEQ's Director Dick Pedersen told Northern Star Natural Gas Inc. in a Feb. 17 letter that the company still has not provided three-dimensional modeling of the LNG terminal's water-quality impacts, even though the state has been requesting the data since 2007.

The modeling data are "essential" to DEQ's permitting decision, he wrote, as they provide "biologically meaningful information" for the state's evaluation of the $650 million development, proposed for a site on the Columbia River 25 miles east of Astoria

Columbia River LNG terminal plan hits Oregon DEQ permit obstacle

By Ted Sickinger, The Oregonian

February 19, 2010, 8:25PM

Oregon environmental regulators have told the developer of a proposed liquefied natural gas import terminal on the Columbia River that they will likely deny the project's water quality permit in May in the absence of substantially more data on potential impacts to the river.

The demands highlight an ongoing regulatory showdown between the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, federal fisheries regulators and NorthernStar Natural Gas Inc. The Houston-based company has proposed building an LNG terminal at an abandoned mill site on the lower Columbia River, 25 miles east of Astoria.

More: http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/02/oregon_deq_stymies_lng_termina.html

Oregon Rejects Demands of NorthernStar LNG, 15 Other States File Amicus Brief Supporting Oregon’s Lawsuit Against NorthernStar

For Immediate Release:

 

Friday, February 19, 2010

 

Brett VandenHeuvel, Director, Columbia Riverkeeper – 503 348 2436

 

Dan Serres, Conservation Director, Columbia Riverkeeper - 503 890-2441

Portland, OR - NorthernStar’s proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal suffered two serious setbacks that may endanger the project. 

 

First, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released a letter today rejecting NorthernStar’s demand that DEQ issue permits in 2010. 

 

“We are very pleased that the DEQ has clearly signaled its commitment to good science and sound process.  The construction of an LNG terminal on the Columbia River would significantly impact our state’s land, air, water, and public safety,” stated Brian Pasko, Director of the Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club.

 

The LNG terminal has suffered multi-year setbacks as state and federal agencies have asked for complete and accurate data on the project’s harm to salmon and impact to the Columbia River Estuary.  NorthernStar, who recently stated they planned to start construction in 2010, demanded that DEQ issue permits within months.  DEQ rejected these unusual demands.

 

DEQ’s February 17, 2010, letter states, “[NorthernStar’s] three principal demands are that DEQ: (1) drop its request for three-dimensional modeling,” (2) approve the project “without the benefit” of a consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, and (3) “agree to issue its certification by July 2010.”  DEQ rejected each demand and said that NorthernStar would either provide the requested data and extend the permitting timeline or DEQ’s “decision will likely lead to a denial of certification.”

 

Brett VandenHeuvel, executive director of Columbia Riverkeeper, responded to DEQ’s letter.  “NorthernStar’s demands indicate desperation.  DEQ rejected these demands and has indicated that it’s willing to deny the project.”

 

In a second significant blow to the project, the Attorney Generals of fifteen other states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, and Ohio, filed an amicus brief against Bradwood LNG in a lawsuit challenging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) approval of the Bradwood project.  The amicus brief supports Oregon’s position that Oregon has authority to deny the LNG terminals. 

 

The amicus brief, filed by Joseph R. Biden III of Delaware, Martha Coakley of Massachusettes, and James “Buddy” Caldwell of  Louisiana, among others, supports the arguments of Oregon , Washington, the Nez Perce Tribe, Columbia Riverkeeper, and other organizations.

 

“We’re thrilled that so many other states, along with Oregon and Washington, recognize the problems with the Bradwood application,” stated Scott Jerger from Field Jerger LLP, who represents Columbia Riverkeeper and other organizations. 

 

An amicus or “friends of the court” brief may be submitted by non-parties who believe the issues in the case are so important that their interests are effected.