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Oregon LNG Threat in Warrenton Appears to Have Ended
In surprising and extremely hopeful news, Oregon LNG has withdrawn its application to develop an LNG (liquefied natural gas) export facility on the Skipanon Peninsula in Warrenton. Oregon LNG informed both the city of Warrenton and the state’s Department of Environmental Quality on Friday, April 15, that it would not continue with its appeal of the Warrenton hearings officer’s decision to deny the permit on the grounds of interference with fish habitat and recreational activity protected under the city’s comprehensive plan.
Hundreds of people and many local groups have fought this LNG proposal for a decade. The outcome is a remarkable victory for citizen involvement. Community activists in Astoria and all along the proposed 87-mile pipeline route can take credit for a stellar example of grassroots organizing.
Oregon Shores’ role has been working in partnership with Columbia Riverkeeper on the land use and legal issues raised for the permit applications for the proposed $6 million terminal and pipeline. Columbia Riverkeeper took the lead in opposing Oregon LNG’s land use application to the city of Warrenton for the site of the proposed export facility, with attorney Courtney Johnson, who represents us through our Coastal Law Project, providing key support. The city’s hearings officer found for us on several points and rejected the application.
Oregon Shores took the lead in opposing Oregon LNG’s appeal to the Warrenton city council. We would like to believe that the comments we submitted in opposition to the appeal terrified Oregon LNG into giving up….but really, while we take pride in our contribution to the cause, many dedicated people succeeded in organizing determined resistance that attacked the would-be developers on many fronts and appears to have fended off this potential environmental disaster. Oregon LNG was already facing votes opposing the project from the Astoria City Council and Clatsop County Board of Commissioners, which denied land use permitting for the pipeline.
We will be watching carefully to see if the company has any further tricks up its corporate sleeve, but this just may be the happy end of a long, long battle
