Washington State Grange weighs in on Northern Star

Opposition to the Northern Star LNG Terminal and Pipeline, Resolution #38-2205

Whereas:

Northern Star Natural Gas is seeking to develop a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal at Bradwood and a 34-mile sendout pipeline through SW Washington that will adversely impact the land values, customary use and property rights of many local landowners; and

Whereas:

Northern Star's project would use eminent domain against landowners and it's pipeline will damage productivity of the 100'-wide right-of-way for timber, agriculture and wildlife habitat; and

Whereas:

Northern Star's project is an unneccessary supply for Washington State, the gas from this terminal is for California who reject LNG terminals being built in their state; and

Whereas

Northern Star's terminal and pipeline are inconsistent with maintaining adequate public safety and security in the Lower Columbia river area. The 34-mile, high-pressure, non-odorized gas pipeline and the LNG terminal present significant unresolved safety and emergency response infrastructure concerns that Northern Star refuses to resolve in a timely manner; and

Whereas

Northern Star's terminal and pipeline undermine state and local economic interests as landowners, river users, and small businesses, will bear the economic cost of increased security and delays in river traffic creating increased shipping costs for any agricultural or other products being shipped on the Columbia River; and

Whereas

the LNG terminal will exacerbate pollution and damage critical salmon habitat in the Columbia River Estuary, a vital nursery for salmon; and

Whereas

the Washington State Grange Association recognized the need in the Pacific Northwest for clean, safe, affordable energy but finds Northern Star's project to be destructive, unnecessarily risky, and a cause for extra expense to agricultural and other products using Columbia River ports for shipping; therefore be it

Resolved

that Washington State Grange urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and all relevant Washington and Oregon agencies to deny site approval and all permits for the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal and pipeline.

Photos: Left: Skamokawa Grange members listen to LNG presentation, Right: George Exum of Wahkiakum Friends of the River.

At a recent forum, George Exum of Wahkiakum Friends of the River, provided some background on the controversy, and some information specific to the Bradwood Landing site. These are some notes from his talk.

LNG has been around awhile. There are currently 5 operating terminals in the US, all in the east.

3 proposals are active in Oregon: Warrenton, Coos Bay, and Bradwood. Why here? California has been successful in preventing terminals in that state. The Warrenton site is on its second developer. The first entity went backrupt.

The major user in the west is California. 2 million cubic feet per day. WA and OR 200,000 cubic feet a day. Current sources for WA and OR are Canada and the Rockies.

The Bradwood developers have stated that gas to the proposed terminals is for use in the NW, however, projected production far exceeds current use in the NW. Most of NW power is hydro-generated. ‘Excess’ gas would have to be sold elsewhere. Bradwood promotional material includes Nevada and California as ‘Northwest’. The 5 existing terminals in the east and gulf are operating well under capacity. Under a 6% increase per year, these existing terminals would suffice for the next 15 years.

Typical contracts are of 20 years duration for contracts for supply. This commodity is regulated by FERC. Prices are not regulated as other public utility prices are. LNG is an expensive product, due to the infrastructure, delivery and liquefying costs. A liquefying facility in the works has racked up 20 million dollars to date. Taxpayers are footing the costs for the companies permitting costs. Proposals that are not built skate on the permitting costs. These costs are all born by the end user, and are not regulated as other public utilities are. The dollars used in these processes would be better used in developing other energy resources, or fostering conservation efforts.

Northern Star does not have the assets to actually build the terminal. It is likely that they would make their money in selling the permit.

Part of these costs are in pipeline building. NW Natural and Transcanada are proposing piplines that can connect to California pipeline delivery through a junction proposed at Madras, Oregon. Over 700 pieces of private property are in the way of proposed pipelines. Eminent domain laws enable these corporate entities to acquire private properties with little recourse to the property owners. The need for this gas in the NW has not been proved.

Proposed pipelines are 36 inches in diameter. The gas will not be odorized until it hits the California border.

The Bradwood area is a critical habitat for rearing juvenile salmon and migrating spring Chinook 7000 cubic yards of material is proposed to be dredged from the area. This is a settling area in the river, a natural eddy where upstream material is naturally deposited. A test at Mile 39 of fatty tissue in fish reveals that this area is a repository for years of dioxin, etc.. from upstream and a previous industry at the Bradwood site.

River usage: A fifty foot exclusion zone will likely apply to LNG tankers. This ships will have to have Coast Guard escorts. Opportunites for other commercial ships to pass will be limited to specific areas and tides. These same tidal opportunities are used by sport and commercial fishers, further diminishing an already stressed fishery, and impacting recreational fishing and tourism.

The dock at Bradwood will further affect access to the river. Dr. Jerry Havens has done studies on the effects of spills and terrorist attacks on ships. Studies show that if there is a leak, 30 million gallons, people within one mile would have second degree burns within seconds if ignited immediately. If not ignited right away, the gas would collect in a vapor cloud, spreading the danger even further, to a three mile zone, bringing Cathlamet and Wahkiakum schools into the affected area.

If Bradwood is built to re-gassify, it will be the biggest source of CO2 in the county, diminishing air quality even more than the mill at Wauna.

The project so far:

The permitting process is well advanced for the proposed projects, both in Oregon and Washington, More hearings are scheduled regarding piplines and dredging. Further information will be updated on the Wahkiakum Friends of the River website.

Comments

[Jessica Fletcher]

We thank George Exum and Carol Carver for their commitment to researching this issue for the community. And thanks to Kathleen Morgain for the detailed post on LNG.