The State of Oregon, and NOAA Fisheries, have joined the call for a new hearing on the Jordan Cove LNG terminal and the Pacific Connector gas pipeline.
Oregon’s decision is no surprise. Governor Kulongoski said he’d file a rehearing request a month ago when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the licenses for the two projects.
But NOAA’s involvement? No so expected. And it raises questions about whether something fundamentally wrong with how LNG issues in Oregon are decided.
A coalition of environmental groups is asking FERC for a new hearing on the Jordan Cove LNG and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. It’s the first step is what’s likely to become a long, hard fought battle over the projects.
FERC approved the licenses about a month ago. But the coalition says FERC needs to reconsider the decision and rewrite the Environmental Impact Statement.
Here are the main points of their request.
UPDATE: LC 85 has been introduced to the special session as SB 1020.
The Hey! Northwest Natural campaign is raising the alarm about a bill that would make it easier for LNG pipelines to be built in Oregon.
According to the group, LC-85 allows pipeline companies and utilities to get permits to fill wetlands on private land, even if the landowners object. They’re calling this a shortcut in the permitting process, putting LNG pipelines on a faster track towards approval.
The day after the FERC vote, Jordan Cove LNG Vice President Bob Braddock seems pleased and optimistic. “It’s pretty much what we hoped for and expected,” he says.
Yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted 3 -1 to approve the Jordan Cove LNG terminal at Coos Bay, and the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. The vote drew immediate opposition from Governor Kulongoski and several environmental groups. They will ask FERC for a rehearing and without one will appeal the case.
But none of that appears to have shaken Braddock’s confidence. Here are some highlights from our conversation this morning.
NOTE: I have a phone call and two e-mail requests into Jordan Cove for their reaction to today’s news. When they respond, I will add that to today’s coverage.
FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff.
FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff cast the only vote against the Jordan Cove LNG project and the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. Appointed to the Commission in 2006, he was named Chairman by President Obama earlier this year.
Wellinghoff also voted against the Bradwood Landing LNG project on the Columbia River near Astoria. He says the two projects suffer from similar problems.
Early this afternoon, Governor Kulongoski issued a statement calling on FERC to reconsider its decision to approve the Jordan Cove LNG project and the Pacific Connector Pipeline.
Kulongoski writes, “Today’s decision by FERC does not address Oregon’s very real concerns about the environmental impact of the pipeline associated with the proposed LNG facility. The information guiding this decision is woefully inadequate to license a project with such profound potential impacts on the lives of Oregonians and we will appeal to FERC to ensure the people of Oregon’s concerns are fully addressed.”
In addition, he says it was wrong for FERC to approve the license before the project had obtained state permits under the Clean Water and Clean Air acts, as well as the Coastal Zone Management Act.
The statement adds that if Oregon will appeal the decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals if FERC continues to support Jordan Cove LNG.
Today’s decision to approve the Jordan Cove LNG project is an important step, but not the final word in the long running battle over LNG in Oregon.
Let’s start with the headline of the moment. This morning, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the Jordan Cove project, and the Pacific Connector Pipeline, on a 3-1 vote. The plant would be built on Coos Bay. The pipeline will transport the gas more than 230 miles to a connection with an interstate gas pipeline near Malin, Oregon.
Almost immediately, a coalition of environmental groups said they would appeal.
The big unanswered question for now, what will Oregon do? Tony Green with the Attorney General’s office says discussions are underway this morning with the Governor’s office on a possible appeal by the state.
A few clues to how the Governor might decide.
This morning, the feds said “yes” to another LNG project in Oregon.
Voting 3-1, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the Jordan Cove LNG project at Coos Bay, and the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. Combined, the projects will move about a billion cubic feet of natural gas a day from the import terminal in Coos Bay to a connection with the interstate pipeline system near Malin, Ore.
Soon afterwards, a coalition of environmental groups announced they would appeal the decision. In a statement, Lesley Adams of Rogue Riverkeeper says, “It is inexcusable and dangerous that our federal government gives a green light to another project to import fossil fuels without a demonstrated need. As a result, FERC is unnecessarily placing rivers, salmon, public forests, communities and private properties at risk.”
A huge day in federal court for Pacific Northwest salmon. U.S. District Judge James Redden is holding a hearing on the Obama Administration’s recovery plan for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin. Redden has told lawyers to be prepared to discuss if the Obama plan has legal standing and if the plan does enough to protect the fish from the harmful effects of dams.
I’ll be attending this one and will report on it during breaks.
The Oregon Marine Board holds a hearing tonight in Eugene on a new rule to ban gas powered boat motors and float planes from Waldo Lake. If it passes, Waldo Lake would become the largest motor-free lake in the state. (See our other story this morning about how this plan may already be a done deal)
In Southern Oregon, it’s your second chance to attend an anti-LNG meeting. The groups sponsoring it are Citizens Against LNG, Columbia Riverkeeper, Rogue Riverkeeper and Umpqua Watersheds. They’re trying to stop plans for the Jordan Cove LNG plant and Pacific Connector Pipeline.
For more information: Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, or call 541-488-5789
A coalition of environmental groups is holding two meetings starting this weekend to talk about what’s going on with the Jordan Cove LNG project. It’s been almost seven months since the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued its final Environmental Impact Statement, so a ruling on the project could come soon.
Recently I wrote about a letter campaign to pressure FERC into making a decision this week. But FERC put it off for at least another month.
In addition to the proposed LNG plant near Coos Bay, the plan also includes the Pacific Connector Pipeline. This 234 mile pipeline crosses Coos, Douglas, and Jackson counties and into Klamath County near the town of Malin. It will connect the LNG plant to the interstate gas pipeline system.
The groups sponsoring the meetings are Citizens Against LNG, Columbia Riverkeeper, Rogue Riverkeeper and Umpqua Watersheds.
Here are the details:
Sunday, November 22
Monday, November 23
For more information on both events:
Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center
Or call 541-488-5789
