Back in March, the Federal Energy Regulation Commission voted to approve the Jordan Cove natural gas project.
Designed to move fracked natural gas to an export facility in Coos Bay where it can be shipped to markets in Asia, the project would feature a 230-mile feeder pipeline cutting across southwestern Oregon.
Federal approval required state approval: Federal approval came with the stipulation that Pembina Pipeline Corporation—the Canadian company spearheading the project—also get approval from state regulators.
Approval for several key permits has already been denied by Oregon regulatory agencies.
Developer then gets fed to waive state denials: In April, Pembina asked the FERC to waive its condition that the company get a water quality permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Claiming that the approval of this appeal would be illegal under the Clean Water Act, Oregon filed a protest last week against Pembina’s request.
In spite of the state’s opposition, federal approval means Pembina can now use eminent domain to seize land along the pipeline’s intended route.
Lawsuits filed last week by landowners, advocacy groups: Claiming that the project does not justify taking their property, local landowners sued the corporation last week, according to a recent report from Courthouse News Service.
Quoted in this article is Democratic Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, who believes that “Kicking off eminent domain proceedings now to rip the homes and private property away from Oregonians battling the economic fallout of this public health crisis fits the textbook definition for being both tone-deaf and mean-spirited.”
The FERC approval of the project was met with several requests for a rehearing filed by local landowners, state officials, tribal governments, and environmental advocacy groups. Two weeks ago, the FERC issued an order denying these requests.
Also, in response, a group led by Rouge Climate and joined by Rogue Riverkeeper sued in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, claiming that the FERC ignored critical information to approve a project that is not in the public interest.
“FERC has failed to listen to the people of southern Oregon who stand united against Jordan Cove LNG,” said Allie Rosenbluth of Rogue Climate, a plaintiff in the lawsuit. “Now, our communities’ concerns about this project will get their time in front of a judge.”
By JD Brookbank
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