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Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced legislation Tuesday that would remove siting authority for liquefied natural gas terminals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
They were joined by Sen. Maria Cantwell from Washington and Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, both from Maryland.
“Oregonians have said time and again that they don't want some federal agency 3,000 miles away forcing LNG terminals on them,” Wyden said in a written release. “I'm not going to stop until Oregonians get to decide whether or not they need LNG terminals and, if they do, where to put them.”
The state of Oregon has filed an appeal against FERC's authorization of the Bradwood Landing natural gas terminal near the mouth of the Columbia River.
The case is currently before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Attorney General John Kroger have also filed an administrative challenge to FERC's approval for the Jordan Cove terminal near Coos Bay.
That project includes 234 miles of pipeline, known as the Pacific Connector, that would cross Douglas County and terminate at Malin, on the California border.
Oregon officials say there has been no demonstrable need for the terminals
FERC says it doesn't need to determine there is a need before authorizing them to be built.
“It just doesn't make sense to take states out of decisions that will affect their residents for years or decades to come,” Merkley said in the statement.
Douglas County Commissioner Doug Robertson applauded the legislation, saying it would give states jurisdiction they had over siting matters before the 2005 change in law.
“I don't know where this will go, but it's a start,” Robertson said.
The Board of Commissioners previously passed a resolution opposing having the Pacific Connector pipeline go through Douglas County unless residents' concerns were addressed.
They were joined by Sen. Maria Cantwell from Washington and Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, both from Maryland.
“Oregonians have said time and again that they don't want some federal agency 3,000 miles away forcing LNG terminals on them,” Wyden said in a written release. “I'm not going to stop until Oregonians get to decide whether or not they need LNG terminals and, if they do, where to put them.”
The state of Oregon has filed an appeal against FERC's authorization of the Bradwood Landing natural gas terminal near the mouth of the Columbia River.
The case is currently before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Attorney General John Kroger have also filed an administrative challenge to FERC's approval for the Jordan Cove terminal near Coos Bay.
That project includes 234 miles of pipeline, known as the Pacific Connector, that would cross Douglas County and terminate at Malin, on the California border.
Oregon officials say there has been no demonstrable need for the terminals
FERC says it doesn't need to determine there is a need before authorizing them to be built.
“It just doesn't make sense to take states out of decisions that will affect their residents for years or decades to come,” Merkley said in the statement.
Douglas County Commissioner Doug Robertson applauded the legislation, saying it would give states jurisdiction they had over siting matters before the 2005 change in law.
“I don't know where this will go, but it's a start,” Robertson said.
The Board of Commissioners previously passed a resolution opposing having the Pacific Connector pipeline go through Douglas County unless residents' concerns were addressed.
