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