Site search
sponsored by
News
Sports
The Douglas County Planning Commission heard Thursday that construction of a 230-mile liquefied natural gas pipeline through Southern Oregon could encourage economic development and the creation of new jobs in the region.
The commission also listened as people whose properties would be crossed by the 36-inch, high-pressure line said they were worried about potential safety risks if there were a leakage or explosion form the pipeline. They also were concerned about the loss of the use of a portion of their property to accommodate the 50-foot swatch cut by the pipeline.
The problem with much of the testimony on both sides of what has been a long, contentious issue is that it wasn't relevant to what the Planning Commission was being asked to decide.
After a five-hour hearing that ended at midnight, the commission did not make a decision. Instead, it agreed to give those opposed to the pipeline until Aug. 6 to submit additional written comments and until Aug. 13 for the applicant to submit a rebuttal response.
The commission will meet on Sept. 3 to deliberate to a decision.
Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline is seeking a conditional use permit and a designation for a utility facility necessary for public service to allow the pipeline to be constructed along a 7.3-mile section of land at Camas Valley. The matter came before the Planning Commission because that section is included within Douglas County's Coastal Zone Management Area that has special regulations because of the sensitivity of the coastal environment, even though Camas Valley is 60 miles from the coast.
The overall siting approval for the pipeline planned between the planned Jordan Cove terminal at Coos Bay and Malin in Klamath County is being decided by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. That is a result of the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which took away local authority over the siting of liquefied natural gas terminals and gave it to FERC.
That didn't stop people on both sides from weighing in with their opinions on what they see as the good and bad implications of the pipeline.
Michael Crowe, one of the owners of FCC Commercial Furniture in Wilbur, said the pipeline would ensure a steady supply of natural gas for his business. A representative of Knife River said his construction services company hoped to be able to obtain some of the 1,400 jobs that would be created by the building of the pipeline.
Longtime real estate broker Georgia Stiles said she has walked along portions of two existing gas pipelines near the Roseburg Country Club and in Winchester. The proposed pipeline would not be any more dangerous than those lines, she said, and most people don't even realize they're there.
“There's no reason this can't happen,” Stiles said.
Joseph P. Quinn, who resides on Wildcat Road in Camas Valley, said he was concerned about the potential danger to the pipeline from an earthquake. He also worried about the steep terrain the pipeline would cross and the loss of trees to clear the path for it.
“This pipeline is coming down off ... Weaver Ridge. I walked the center line and it's as steep as a cow's face, 40 to 45 degrees, some places 1-to-1 solid rock. It's going to blow aside hundreds-of-years-old trees,” Quinn said. “There's there no putting those back, they're not coming back, not in our lifetime and not in our children's or grandchildren's lifetimes.”
Robert Oeleis, who resides on Highway 42 in Camas Valley, said he worries about the safety of the pipeline, as well. A volunteer firefighter, Oeleis said he and his fellow firefighters will need additional training to be able to handle the response to a potential gas leak or explosion.
He brushed aside assurances that the pipeline would be safe.
“I've had the pipeline gentlemen come talk to me and I'll say, how safe was the space shuttle when it blew up? It's going to happen sooner or later and that's why you have to train for it,” he said.
Darla Standley, who resides on Quiet Mountain Road in Camas Valley, told the commission she didn't support or oppose the pipeline. She said she was concerned about being fairly compensated for having the pipeline go through her family's property.
She said pipeline officials have been friendly and courteous in the conversations they've had so far. She said she hopes that spirit of cooperation will continue, but she wonders.
“Are they going to be fair with us? Are they going to keep their word when we have our tabletop visit?” she asked.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
The commission also listened as people whose properties would be crossed by the 36-inch, high-pressure line said they were worried about potential safety risks if there were a leakage or explosion form the pipeline. They also were concerned about the loss of the use of a portion of their property to accommodate the 50-foot swatch cut by the pipeline.
The problem with much of the testimony on both sides of what has been a long, contentious issue is that it wasn't relevant to what the Planning Commission was being asked to decide.
After a five-hour hearing that ended at midnight, the commission did not make a decision. Instead, it agreed to give those opposed to the pipeline until Aug. 6 to submit additional written comments and until Aug. 13 for the applicant to submit a rebuttal response.
The commission will meet on Sept. 3 to deliberate to a decision.
Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline is seeking a conditional use permit and a designation for a utility facility necessary for public service to allow the pipeline to be constructed along a 7.3-mile section of land at Camas Valley. The matter came before the Planning Commission because that section is included within Douglas County's Coastal Zone Management Area that has special regulations because of the sensitivity of the coastal environment, even though Camas Valley is 60 miles from the coast.
The overall siting approval for the pipeline planned between the planned Jordan Cove terminal at Coos Bay and Malin in Klamath County is being decided by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. That is a result of the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which took away local authority over the siting of liquefied natural gas terminals and gave it to FERC.
That didn't stop people on both sides from weighing in with their opinions on what they see as the good and bad implications of the pipeline.
Michael Crowe, one of the owners of FCC Commercial Furniture in Wilbur, said the pipeline would ensure a steady supply of natural gas for his business. A representative of Knife River said his construction services company hoped to be able to obtain some of the 1,400 jobs that would be created by the building of the pipeline.
Longtime real estate broker Georgia Stiles said she has walked along portions of two existing gas pipelines near the Roseburg Country Club and in Winchester. The proposed pipeline would not be any more dangerous than those lines, she said, and most people don't even realize they're there.
“There's no reason this can't happen,” Stiles said.
Joseph P. Quinn, who resides on Wildcat Road in Camas Valley, said he was concerned about the potential danger to the pipeline from an earthquake. He also worried about the steep terrain the pipeline would cross and the loss of trees to clear the path for it.
“This pipeline is coming down off ... Weaver Ridge. I walked the center line and it's as steep as a cow's face, 40 to 45 degrees, some places 1-to-1 solid rock. It's going to blow aside hundreds-of-years-old trees,” Quinn said. “There's there no putting those back, they're not coming back, not in our lifetime and not in our children's or grandchildren's lifetimes.”
Robert Oeleis, who resides on Highway 42 in Camas Valley, said he worries about the safety of the pipeline, as well. A volunteer firefighter, Oeleis said he and his fellow firefighters will need additional training to be able to handle the response to a potential gas leak or explosion.
He brushed aside assurances that the pipeline would be safe.
“I've had the pipeline gentlemen come talk to me and I'll say, how safe was the space shuttle when it blew up? It's going to happen sooner or later and that's why you have to train for it,” he said.
Darla Standley, who resides on Quiet Mountain Road in Camas Valley, told the commission she didn't support or oppose the pipeline. She said she was concerned about being fairly compensated for having the pipeline go through her family's property.
She said pipeline officials have been friendly and courteous in the conversations they've had so far. She said she hopes that spirit of cooperation will continue, but she wonders.
“Are they going to be fair with us? Are they going to keep their word when we have our tabletop visit?” she asked.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
