FERC approves Bradwood Landing LNG proposal

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last Thursday approved the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal.

The proposed project would deliver up to 1.3 billion cubic feet of gas per day to the Pacific Northwest. Spokespersons for Bradwood Landing, and its parent company, NorthernStar Natural Gas, have said there would be two tankers docking at the plant each week during production.

FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher said the terminal will help the region meet its energy needs and provide the US with direct access to the LNG markets in the Pacific region.

FERC's approval requires the applicants to implement 109 mitigation measures designed to enhance the safety and security of the facilities and to ensure the project has a limited impact on the environment.

Among these is a requirement that NorthernStar install a system capable of delivering filtered water from the Columbia River to the LNG carriers while they are at berth during unloading for ballast and engine cooling. The water is to be screened to prevent accidental entrapment of juvenile fish.

NorthernStar must obtain state-level permits before it can start construction. Company officials hope to begin work late in 2009 and be operational by 2013.

"This is a significant milestone for Bradwood Landing and makes it the project best positioned to help the Pacific Northwest meet their future natural gas needs," said NorthernStar CEO William (Si) Garrett in a company statement. "We will continue to work with the states of Oregon and Washington to secure the necessary state approvals and FERC conditions."

FERC also rejected requests from Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski for a supplemental environmental impact statement and from Columbia Riverkeeper for an evidentiary style hearing.

"We find that there is no material issue of fact regarding the impact, safety or environment issues of the Bradwood Landing Project that we cannot resolve on the basis of the written record in this proceeding," FERC said in its written statement.

The parties have 30 days after the order is issued to appeal FERC's decision.

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire called the FERC approval "troubling."

"Today's announcment hat FERC has given conditional approval for a liquefied natural gas terminal in Oregon and an underground pipeline in Southwest Washington is premature and troubling," she said in a September 18 statement. "I have directed Washington's Department of Ecology to ac as co-lead for the State Environmental Policy Act Process. I intend the SEPA process to answer the serious questions from both citizens and government agencies regarding environmental and safety impacts of the proposed pipeline. Only a thorough review will allow us all to judge the project."

Oregon Gov. Kulongoski said the state will request that federal officials conduct a new hearing on the project to ensure that concerns of the state and local communities are addressed. The hearing is step that must be taken before parties initiate legal action.

"Today's decision by the federal government lacks accountability to the environment and the people of Oregon," Kulongoski said in a statement. "The commission has decided to ignore the law and instead approve a project with incomplete mitigation plans and without regard to Oregon's important concerns."