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Jordan Cove report due Friday
By Alexander Rich, Staff Writer
Thursday, April 30, 2009 | No comments posted.
Federal officials plan to release recommendations Friday to help the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decide whether to allow a liquefied natural gas terminal at Coos Bay.
Jordan Cove Energy Project's application must win federal approval before it can begin construction on a 160-acre site on the North Spit.
FERC makes the final ruling, but not before reading the final Environmental Impact Statement written by its staffers.
"It will make recommendations to the commission on what they ought to take into consideration," said Tamara Young-Allen, a FERC spokeswoman.
The document will address concerns raised during the comment period and mark all changes to information provided in the draft EIS.
"They will answer every comment," Young-Allen said. "Almost line by line and issue by issue."
The report also will identify the most environmentally friendly alternative and recommend conditions to limit damage to the local ecosystem.
Jordan Cove Project Manager Bob Braddock doesn't expect too many changes from the draft EIS, which set out a laundry list of construction requirements and maintenance procedures. He expects a similar number of project conditions and few alterations to the route of the proposed 230-mile pipeline.
"But I'm not sure what they will ultimately choose to do," he said. "It could go hog-wild and go into a different direction."
For FERC, it might be somewhat in uncharted territory. Shortly after President Obama came to office, the chairman of the FERC stepped down. His replacement, Jon Wellinghoff, objected to the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal proposed on the Columbia River when he was a just a regular commission member.
Jordan Cove will be the first LNG terminal application considered under Wellinghoff's leadership.
It's anyone's guess as to how his appointment will affect the board's voting, Young-Allen said, but it won't affect the EIS.
"They conduct the environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act," she said. "They follow those criteria."
Jody McCaffree, a local anti-LNG activist, said she has considered the FERC as little more than a rubber stamp in the past, but with Wellinghoff in charge, she's not so sure.
"I've heard different things from different sources," she said. "I truly don't know."
Whatever comes out in the final EIS and the FERC's decision, it is the end of the average citizen's involvement. It's fallen into the hands of lawyers, she said.
"Now it really has become the legal fight," she said.
Jordan Cove Energy Project's application must win federal approval before it can begin construction on a 160-acre site on the North Spit.
FERC makes the final ruling, but not before reading the final Environmental Impact Statement written by its staffers.
"It will make recommendations to the commission on what they ought to take into consideration," said Tamara Young-Allen, a FERC spokeswoman.
The document will address concerns raised during the comment period and mark all changes to information provided in the draft EIS.
"They will answer every comment," Young-Allen said. "Almost line by line and issue by issue."
The report also will identify the most environmentally friendly alternative and recommend conditions to limit damage to the local ecosystem.
Jordan Cove Project Manager Bob Braddock doesn't expect too many changes from the draft EIS, which set out a laundry list of construction requirements and maintenance procedures. He expects a similar number of project conditions and few alterations to the route of the proposed 230-mile pipeline.
"But I'm not sure what they will ultimately choose to do," he said. "It could go hog-wild and go into a different direction."
For FERC, it might be somewhat in uncharted territory. Shortly after President Obama came to office, the chairman of the FERC stepped down. His replacement, Jon Wellinghoff, objected to the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal proposed on the Columbia River when he was a just a regular commission member.
Jordan Cove will be the first LNG terminal application considered under Wellinghoff's leadership.
It's anyone's guess as to how his appointment will affect the board's voting, Young-Allen said, but it won't affect the EIS.
"They conduct the environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act," she said. "They follow those criteria."
Jody McCaffree, a local anti-LNG activist, said she has considered the FERC as little more than a rubber stamp in the past, but with Wellinghoff in charge, she's not so sure.
"I've heard different things from different sources," she said. "I truly don't know."
Whatever comes out in the final EIS and the FERC's decision, it is the end of the average citizen's involvement. It's fallen into the hands of lawyers, she said.
"Now it really has become the legal fight," she said.
What's next?
Friday: If FERC hits its goal and releases the final Environmental Impact Statement on Friday, it sets a deadline for July 30 for other federal agencies to complete their review. That doesn't mean the commission will rule in favor or against the Jordan Cove project July 30, though.
"It's at the commission's discretion," said Tamara Young-Allen, a FERC spokeswoman.
Copy of the document: The final EIS will first be made available on the FERC Web site, www.ferc.gov, with hard copies and CDs mailed next week. The document should be posted on the Web site at 9 a.m. Friday under the orange heading "What's New."
A possible decision? The FERC meets every third Thursday of the month, except in August. The agenda is posted the week before on the FERC Web site.
Friday: If FERC hits its goal and releases the final Environmental Impact Statement on Friday, it sets a deadline for July 30 for other federal agencies to complete their review. That doesn't mean the commission will rule in favor or against the Jordan Cove project July 30, though.
"It's at the commission's discretion," said Tamara Young-Allen, a FERC spokeswoman.
Copy of the document: The final EIS will first be made available on the FERC Web site, www.ferc.gov, with hard copies and CDs mailed next week. The document should be posted on the Web site at 9 a.m. Friday under the orange heading "What's New."
A possible decision? The FERC meets every third Thursday of the month, except in August. The agenda is posted the week before on the FERC Web site.
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