PORTLAND (AP) — Federal officials could vote as early as next week on the proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas terminal near the mouth of the Columbia River.

To the surprise of Oregon interests and the developer, the terminal is on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski criticized the haste. Environmentalists said the commission is trying to whisk energy proposals into the out basket before the Bush administration expires.

“This is more of the same,” said Anna Richter Taylor, a spokeswoman for the governor. “FERC continues to move forward without regard for Oregon’s concerns.”

The commission has rejected Kulongoski’s request for a revamped environmental analysis.

“FERC is looking more like a kangaroo court every day,” said Brent Foster, executive director of the environmental group Columbia Riverkeeper. “They want to get this approved before the Bush administration leaves office, but they’re just bumbling their way through it and making it much easier to legally challenge.”

Spokesman Joe Desmond of NorthernStar Natural Gas Inc. of Houston said it was a surprise to see the project on the agency’s agenda so soon. Only on Monday, the company responded to the agency’s questions about how it would offset damage to the environment and endangered species such as salmon.

Desmond said the commission may do one of three things: address a procedural issue, ask questions of its staff, or vote on the project.

The commission has five members, all presidential appointees. Its agenda lists a two-hour session on Bradwood Landing. Under its rules, Thursday is the earliest date it could vote on the project.

Desmond said approval of Bradwood landing would be contingent on NorthernStar satisfying other federal agencies and the state government, which administers clean air, clean water and coastal zone management rules.

“We can’t break ground on the project until we satisfy all the conditions,” Desmond said. “It will take time to do that.”

The terminal would warm imported gas that has been cooled and condensed for shipment on tankers. Once processed, the gas would go into the regional pipeline system.