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CANYONVILLE — The Canyonville City Council lent its unanimous voice Wednesday night against a proposed natural gas pipeline that has become a contentious issue.
City councilors voted 6-0 approving a resolution introduced by newly sworn-in Councilor Buddy Kovachy urging local and state representatives to more thoroughly assess Oregon’s need for the pipeline.
The resolution will be sent to the county commissioners, Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Rep. Peter DeFazio and to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which would receive the formal pipeline application.
Kovachy cited in his resolution the 100-foot clearance required for the pipeline, that the areas would be sprayed with herbicide and that the pipeline crosses 160 miles of private property, acquired through eminent domain if necessary.
Known as the Pacific Connector, the 36-inch diameter pipeline would be jointly owned by the Williams Pacific Connector Gas Operator LLC, Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. and Fort Chicago Energy Partners LP.
It is proposed to extend for 223 miles from Coos Bay to Malin, 20 miles east of Klamath Falls, and would transmit about 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. Crossing between Winston and Myrtle Creek, the pipeline would also cross Days Creek nine miles northeast of Canyonville.
“I was very concerned about some of the potential hazards from this project, not only the potential to the environment, but to the private property rights of Oregonians,” Kovachy said during the meeting.
Councilor Louise Barton, who was sworn in to her first full term, said after the meeting she voted for the resolution against the pipeline because the pipeline will not serve Oregon interests.
“If this was a benefit to Oregon, I’m fine. But all they’re doing is using Oregon as a shortcut to get to California,” Barton said.
City councilors voted 6-0 approving a resolution introduced by newly sworn-in Councilor Buddy Kovachy urging local and state representatives to more thoroughly assess Oregon’s need for the pipeline.
The resolution will be sent to the county commissioners, Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Rep. Peter DeFazio and to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which would receive the formal pipeline application.
Kovachy cited in his resolution the 100-foot clearance required for the pipeline, that the areas would be sprayed with herbicide and that the pipeline crosses 160 miles of private property, acquired through eminent domain if necessary.
Known as the Pacific Connector, the 36-inch diameter pipeline would be jointly owned by the Williams Pacific Connector Gas Operator LLC, Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. and Fort Chicago Energy Partners LP.
It is proposed to extend for 223 miles from Coos Bay to Malin, 20 miles east of Klamath Falls, and would transmit about 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. Crossing between Winston and Myrtle Creek, the pipeline would also cross Days Creek nine miles northeast of Canyonville.
“I was very concerned about some of the potential hazards from this project, not only the potential to the environment, but to the private property rights of Oregonians,” Kovachy said during the meeting.
Councilor Louise Barton, who was sworn in to her first full term, said after the meeting she voted for the resolution against the pipeline because the pipeline will not serve Oregon interests.
“If this was a benefit to Oregon, I’m fine. But all they’re doing is using Oregon as a shortcut to get to California,” Barton said.
Ed Parker, Canyonville’s outgoing mayor and newly sworn-in councilor, said the potential loss in property value poses a threat to landowners if the pipeline crosses their property.
“From the city standpoint, if we have a constituent here who owns a piece of property, and we ask for an easement through his property ... that is an encumbrance on his property from then on out and it makes his property worth less,” Parker said.
Although there are examples of Canyonville gaining easements from private landowners, the city council has not resorted to eminent domain, Parker said.
“We would go to the property owner and say, ‘we would like to purchase an easement’ or ‘we would like you to give us an easement,’ and if it’s in the property owner’s best interests, he may do that,” Parker said.
Kovachy said the pipeline does not affect his personal property, but he wanted all aspects of the pipeline’s effect be considered when plans for it move beyond initial stages.
“I guess I’m concerned about things like this when they have the potential to affect a person’s right to use and enjoy their land as allowed under the law, and something like this is definitely going to impact a person’s property rights,” Kovachy said.
For more information about the pipeline or FERC, go to http://www.williams.com or www.ferc.gov.
• You can reach reporter Erik Skoog at 957-4202 or by e-mail at eskoog@newsreview.info.
“From the city standpoint, if we have a constituent here who owns a piece of property, and we ask for an easement through his property ... that is an encumbrance on his property from then on out and it makes his property worth less,” Parker said.
Although there are examples of Canyonville gaining easements from private landowners, the city council has not resorted to eminent domain, Parker said.
“We would go to the property owner and say, ‘we would like to purchase an easement’ or ‘we would like you to give us an easement,’ and if it’s in the property owner’s best interests, he may do that,” Parker said.
Kovachy said the pipeline does not affect his personal property, but he wanted all aspects of the pipeline’s effect be considered when plans for it move beyond initial stages.
“I guess I’m concerned about things like this when they have the potential to affect a person’s right to use and enjoy their land as allowed under the law, and something like this is definitely going to impact a person’s property rights,” Kovachy said.
For more information about the pipeline or FERC, go to http://www.williams.com or www.ferc.gov.
• You can reach reporter Erik Skoog at 957-4202 or by e-mail at eskoog@newsreview.info.
Source Document
To view the Canyonville City Council resolution opposing the Natural Gas Pipeline, click on the Adobe PDF link in the 'multimedia features' box above.
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