FERC sets, strikes Bradwood LNG action

, 2008

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has indefinitely postponed consideration of permitting for a liquefied natural gas terminal and pipeline at Bradwood, across the Columbia from Puget Island.

FERC announced last week that it would hold a two-hour hearing on the permit applications of Bradwood Landing, LLC, a subsidiary of NorthernStar Natural Gas, LLC.

Bradwood Landing proposes to build a dock, holding tanks and regasification facility at Bradwood. It would construct and use a pipeline that would cross the Columbia near the mouth of Mill Creek and cross Cowlitz County to connect with an existing pipeline at Interstate 5. Another company has proposed a pipeline that could link to the Bradwood Landing pipeline near Clatskanie and head southeast across Oregon to connect to another pipeline in eastern Oregon.

FERC issued its final Environmental Impact Statement for the project in June.

"Based on the analysis included in the EIS, the FERC staff concludes that the proposed action would have limited adverse environmental impacts," the final EIS says in its address to the reader. "However, if the Bradwood Landing project is constructed and operated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and with implementation of NorthernStar's proposed mitigation measures, and the additional mitigation measures recommended by staff, environmental impacts would be substantially reduced."

Authorities from the State of Oregon and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in subsequent written comments asked FERC to address a variety of issues in the EIS.

NOAA's comments, filed July 14, list at least 10 mitigation recommendations that the agency wants revised.

"The FERC's conclusion that the project would have limited adverse impacts appears unsubstantiated without greater detail and description of the mitigation recommendation, which are needed to fully assess the environmental impacts."

On July 11, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski asked the FERC to withdraw the final environmental impact statement on the Bradwood Landing terminal project and not to make any further decisions until Oregon’s concerns are addressed and the state permitting process is complete.

“Oregon has the right under federal law to have our concerns addressed before any final federal determination is made, but FERC chose to disregard my request” Kulongoski said in a written statement. “FERC should not issue any license until it issues a revised DEIS and makes that available for public comment.”