The Liquefied Natural Gas facility at Bradwood Landing in Oregon is one of four that have been proposed for the lower Columbia area. So far, it is the only one to attract the funding necessary to construct such an expensive project. Northern Star Energy filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on June 5. 2006, to build an importation facility at Bradwood and a 35 mile pipeline running through Cowlitz County, to connect with the existing Williams pipeline, that runs North and South on the east side of Interstate 5. 

The Dept. of Homeland Security has identified such facilities and pipelines as prime terrorist targets. In relation to that, whenever these large tankers come into port they have an armed Coast Guard escort. The buffer zones that are now being observed at the four existing facilities in the US are wider than the shipping channel in the Columbia, meaning river traffic would be stopped and the river would be cleared every time a tanker came in, which has been estimated at 125 times a year. The Coast Guard is withholding the Waterway Suitability Assessment report, citing national security.

Our local group, Landowners and Citizens for a Safe Community, was formed originally from landowners, such as myself, who oppose having a 30 inch gas line running through our properties. There are many safety issues, including building it on unstable ground, mapped as debris fields from ancient landslides. I walked with their geologists along the route that they want to take, through our property, identifying concerns and suggesting alternatives. They made it clear to us that they have only one route in mind. At that point, we quit cooperating. If we lose this battle, our land will be taken from us under the Eminent Domain laws.

We worry about the dangers inherent in locating both the import facility and the pipeline in an area known for its scenic beauty and the effects on the residents if an accident were to occur. Similar, but smaller, pipes have burst in Algeria and Nigeria, with the latter resulting in complete devastation over an area of 14 square miles. If that were to happen on our property, it would wipe out the community of Lexington, the fastest growing area in our county. And we're told that if the gas didn't explode, but just drifted on the wind, it would suffocate everything in its path. The Kelso School District has purchased property in Lexington for a new grade school. Our commissioners say that the State Department of Ecology refused to do the study necessary for the pipeline, leaving it to the Cowlitz County Planning Department, with its four employees. This is an untenable position.

An interesting sidelight, uncovered by one of our members via the internet came from the LNG Journal. It states that Northern Star appointed High-Point Rendel to undertake the preliminary design and layout of the terminal at Bradwood. High Point Rendel is a company from the UK, that has as a major share-holder, the Al Rushaid Group of Saudi Arabia.

Our group is working with Columbia Riverkeeper and several other groups, filing for intervenor status, so we can express our concerns to FERC. We have amassed a wealth of material supporting our view that it would be a grave mistake to build these facilities in the Columbia River area. We would welcome the opportunity to have you attend one of our meetings, or we could come to your office to present you with our material.

Robert Kiser