COOS BAY - Opponents of the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal in Coos County gathered Saturday to share information and discuss tactics for the upcoming land use hearing in Coquille. About 70 people were in attendance at the Hales Center at Southwestern Oregon Community College to listen to a panel that included familiar citizens, Jody McCaffree and Steve Jones, and several out-of-towners.

After a review of Citizens Against LNG's arguments against the project, the panel outlined how audience members should approach Tuesday's public hearing. Since the meeting is designed to take comments about whether the project abides by county building codes, the panelists recommended a narrow focus. Rather than rail against the possible dangers of an LNG terminal, Dave Lohman, a lawyer from Jacksonville affiliated with the group No California Pipeline, suggested opponents demand greater local accountability. He noted that the application submitted by Jordan Cove Energy Project, the prospective builder of the terminal, included a number of responses indicating potential county concerns would be addressed at the federal level.

“They are taking a local decision to state and federal agencies,” Lohman said. “This is reverse delegation.”

He also noted how the hearing will not include discussion of the terminal's unloading facilities, because that docking area is scheduled for discussion next month with the Oregon Gateway Marine Terminal project land use hearing.

“It's the old shell game,” he said. “This is very confusing. I don't know if it's intended or not, but it certainly is.”

Dan Serres, program coordinator of Friends of Living Oregon Waters, said Coos County commissioners should demand more information about the project before they OK it.

“This is not enough information to make a decision and there is no rational basis to defer this to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,” he said.

He encouraged those who plan to attend the meeting to speak only about the terminal project, rather than the pipeline that would extend from it, which is not under consideration at this time.

Rory Cox, California Program Director of Pacific Environment of California, attempted to rally the spirits of those in attendance by noting that two proposed projects in his state were abandoned earlier this year. He said those projects in Cabrillo Port and the Port of Long Beach failed because large numbers of people made their voices heard.

“That's what scares commissioners,” he said. “It really is about numbers of people.”

He also argued that rather than encouraging the development of a terminal employing carbon-based energy, the county should look at attracting renewable energy companies.

The public hearing Tuesday begins at 4 p.m. in the Coquille Community Building, 115 N. Birch St. Jordan Cove will have 45 minutes to present its application, after which proponents of the project will each have up to 10 minutes to present their comments, followed by neutral parties and finally opponents. After everyone who wishes to speak has finished, Jordan Cove will be given 15 minutes for a rebuttal. There will be a half-hour break from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Prior to the meeting, opponents of the project have scheduled a rally outside the community building.