Check your rhetoric at the door


Wednesday, July 22, 2009 | 7 comment(s)

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Many months have passed since any politicians listened to local testimony about a liquefied natural gas terminal. People on both sides of the issue probably are yearning to be heard.

But before the Coos County commissioners open their public hearing on Thursday, let's take a moment to review what this hearing is not about.

It's not about tsunamis.

It's not about the hazards of handling LNG.

It's not about harbor safety, air pollution, terrorist attacks or the carbon footprint of gas-fired power generation.

It also isn't about how many jobs the terminal might create, how much property tax the terminal might pay, or other ways the terminal might aid or hurt the local economy.

Nor is it about whether Oregon (or America) needs imported natural gas.

No, it's not about any of those things. Rather, Oregon's Land Use Board of Appeals has directed the county to review three technical, rather arcane questions: wetlands preservation; protection of archaeological areas; and the applicability of county policies on wastewater discharge and foundation soils.

The hearing's narrow scope may disappoint some people. LNG inspires intense emotions, and some people on both sides are eager for a public soapbox.  But federal law and federal officials, not local sentiment, will decide this issue.

County commissioners, as locally elected officials, presumably are sensitive to local viewpoints. In a land-use hearing, however, state law laces them into a "quasi-judicial" straitjacket. If they deviate from the prescribed process, LUBA will make them do it over until they get it right.

Everyone has a free-speech right to express opinions. But Thursday's hearing isn't the place for a freewheeling forum. Let's all check our impassioned rhetoric and tangential topics at the door.
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The Brutal Truth wrote on Jul 29, 2009 7:29 AM:

Looks like Amadaus needs to pick up a dictionary.

amadeus wrote on Jul 27, 2009 3:57 PM:

you all (not you kay, We seem to be on the same page so much of the time) are missing the obvious in this story....arcane questions????????: wetlands preservation; protection of archaeological areas; and the applicability of county policies on wastewater discharge and foundation soils. ARCANE? to me, these are three of the MOST important issues. ARCANE? I think not.

Brawny James Dio wrote on Jul 22, 2009 4:09 PM:

Kay needs another nap... Public meeting doesn't mean you get to pop off. Land use hearings are very specific in topic and in comment. Sorry, but you have to keep your "I know more about natural gas marketing than a natural gas marketing company" info to yourself.

Steve Pickering wrote on Jul 22, 2009 1:51 PM:

This should be interesting.

Kay wrote on Jul 22, 2009 1:05 PM:

I'm sorry, but this is sticking in my caw. Who wrote these rules and regulations and ettiquette guidelines for what and who can speak at a public meeting?

Please put a name to it, because if you're old enough to read, you're probably old enough to decide for yourself what and how you intend to speak at a PUBLIC MEETING.

This infuriates me to be lectured by an Invisible Hand and to be told what I can and cannot say at a public meeting.

I think you've stepped outside the bounds on this one.

Fair AND Balanced?

Brawny James Dio wrote on Jul 22, 2009 11:30 AM:

Sadly, I forsee yet another meeting where the pro-LNG, pro-business side is on-point and compact in their statements, followed by needless ranting and lunacy from the fringe groups who believe they are above land-use laws and should be heard no matter what. I hope Nikki pulls out the egg timer...and sticks with it...because I certainly can't sit for hours listening to hippies whine and moan.

Kay wrote on Jul 22, 2009 11:22 AM:

Thank you Clark for reminding us girls and boys how to behave in publik.

We know not to embarass foreigners who have lots of money, and the locals who pave the way for them promising NO taxes for five years and other perks.

We will be good girls and boys and not speak the truth to any of them.

Watch out cuz the County Attorney has the cops on her speed-dial, and Witty has her egg timer.

And you ask US to act like adults?

Daddy, are we there yet?


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