Anti-LNG coalition rallies at state capitol

An estimated 120 residents of Oregon and Washington rallied Monday on the steps of the Washington State Capitol to show opposition to a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal and pipeline proposed across the Columbia River from Puget Island.

NorthernStar's Bradwood Landing project would construct an import terminal on the site of an old sawmill and ship it to market via a pipeline running through parts of Clatsop and Columbia counties in Oregon and Cowlitz County in Washington.

State officials attended the rally and expressed concerns that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had approved NorthernStar's environmental impact statement (EIS) without sufficient analysis.

Jay Manning, director of the Washington Department of Ecology, told the demonstrators that both Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski were prepared to take FERC to court if the agency didn't reconsider its permit approval.

Also addressing the group was Rep. Dean Takko, D-Dist. 19.

"Rep. Takko has been instrumental in getting the governor to recognize that this is a situation we need to take seriously," commented Puget Island resident George Exum, also a member of Wahkiakum Friends of the River, which is opposing the proposed plant.