COOS BAY — The city of Coos Bay isn’t throwing its support behind the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal project, but it could benefit from it.

The City Council voted 5-1 Tuesday to sign a deal with Jordan Cove Energy Project that would allow the city to recoup costs associated with the development of an LNG terminal on the North Spit.

The agreement says Jordan Cove would reimburse the city for training, equipment and personnel expenses in preparing for an accident at the proposed terminal or along the shipping channel.

Representatives from local emergency response agencies have been meeting with Jordan Cove for several years, said Frank Whipple, a Jordan Cove consultant. Coos Bay representatives have visited LNG facilities around the nation and spoken with emergency responders about the potential hazards involved with such facilities. They’ve also participated in meetings with other agencies to determine what equipment they’d need to respond to emergencies at the terminal or on LNG tankers.

Councilor Stephanie Kramer asked how many accidents have involved LNG facilities over the past 25 years. Whipple said there have been very few.

“There have been some incidents,” he said. “But most of them haven’t been in transportation mode.”

Whipple said some Coos Bay residents potentially could be at risk when LNG tankers travel up the bay past Empire, if there’s an accident.

Councilor Mark Daily asked for clarification on the kinds of plans Jordan Cove is developing for school evacuations if an emergency occurs. Whipple said there aren’t any.

Interim City Manager Rodger Craddock told the council that the agreement should not be viewed as an endorsement of the project, but rather as a way for the city to recoup potential expenses.

Daily, who was the dissenting vote, said the city should be compensated for staff time already spent on preparation work. Mayor Jeff McKeown said staff should look into that issue, but it was not included in the motion made by Councilor Gene Melton.

McKeown emphasized that the contract can be modified. He also said it made sense to have an agreement to ensure the city’s costs are covered.

“If there is a potential impact, we want to have a conceptual plan,” he said.

Councilor John Pundt was absent due to illness.

The city has no role in deciding whether the project should go forward. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has siting authority, though a hearing to decide on Jordan Cove’s application has not been set.