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Douglas County commissioners voted Wednesday to oppose installation of a natural gas pipeline unless the company overseeing the project meets with landowners and satisfies their concerns.
Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman said the majority of Douglas County property owners affected by Williams Gas Co.’s plans to bury the pipeline through portions of the county between Coos Bay and Malin have contacted the Board of Commissioners to express their concerns and to ask for help.
Kittelman also said the benefits of the pipeline — both economically and through availability of the natural gas itself – would not affect Douglas County. She said the pipeline would negatively affect the value of land and impact private property rights.
Several people in the audience, wearing “no LNG” buttons in opposing the liquid natural gas line, began clapping and cheering after the resolution offered by Kittelman received unanimous support from fellow Commissioners Doug Robertson and Joe Laurance.
Groups of pipeline opponents had pressed the commissioners for months to take formal action against the pipeline.
“We’ve had ongoing concerns .. and have hit a brick wall in relaying those concerns,” Robertson said. “This, hopefully, will get a little more attention.”
The resolution was introduced a day after the commissioners voiced opposition to the project at a “Meet the Commissioners” luncheon in Canyonville. A number of the 40 people who attended the luncheon came to express their concerns about perceived safety problems with the pipeline they said haven’t been adequately addressed.
The commissioners said they planned to enlist support from Gov. Ted Kulongoski to raise concerns about the pipeline, as well. They said he had been largely silent on the issue and his involvement could carry great weight.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is reviewing the application from Williams Gas. States and local governments have previously been stripped by Congress of any rights in preventing construction of such pipelines.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman said the majority of Douglas County property owners affected by Williams Gas Co.’s plans to bury the pipeline through portions of the county between Coos Bay and Malin have contacted the Board of Commissioners to express their concerns and to ask for help.
Kittelman also said the benefits of the pipeline — both economically and through availability of the natural gas itself – would not affect Douglas County. She said the pipeline would negatively affect the value of land and impact private property rights.
Several people in the audience, wearing “no LNG” buttons in opposing the liquid natural gas line, began clapping and cheering after the resolution offered by Kittelman received unanimous support from fellow Commissioners Doug Robertson and Joe Laurance.
Groups of pipeline opponents had pressed the commissioners for months to take formal action against the pipeline.
“We’ve had ongoing concerns .. and have hit a brick wall in relaying those concerns,” Robertson said. “This, hopefully, will get a little more attention.”
The resolution was introduced a day after the commissioners voiced opposition to the project at a “Meet the Commissioners” luncheon in Canyonville. A number of the 40 people who attended the luncheon came to express their concerns about perceived safety problems with the pipeline they said haven’t been adequately addressed.
The commissioners said they planned to enlist support from Gov. Ted Kulongoski to raise concerns about the pipeline, as well. They said he had been largely silent on the issue and his involvement could carry great weight.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is reviewing the application from Williams Gas. States and local governments have previously been stripped by Congress of any rights in preventing construction of such pipelines.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
