NorthernStar will withdraw from LNG security talks

The Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Department probably won't provide security for shipments of liquefied natual gas (LNG) to the proposed Bradwood Landing plant.

Sheriff Dan Bardsley said Tuesday that it appears NorthernStar Natural Gas, the parent company of Bradwood Landing, is pulling out of negotiations.

County officials and NorthernStar personnel met two weeks ago for a negotiating session. Last week, county officials communicated their latest offer to NorthernStar negotiator Michael Sparks.

"I may be premature, but I talked at length yesterday with Michael Sparks (NorthernStar negotiator)," Bardsley said Tuesday. "He is preparing correspondence. The crux is that they're going to withdraw from negotiations with us."

Bardsley added that a difference in interpretation of appropriate costs has become a sticking point.

NorthernStar has offered to pay the salaries of deputies hired to provide the security service.

The county can use the officers while they're not providing security, but any extra expenses, such as overtime, incurred in that time should be the responsibility of the county, the company has said.

"I've said to you (members of the public at the county commission's Tuesday meeting) and to the board, there's not going to be one penny of cost to the taxpayers," Bardsley said.