10A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015
LNG: State and local governments have oversight role, too
Continued from Page 1A
that the project would have min-
imal impacts on commercial and
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“Commercial and recre-
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accustomed to the presence of
large tankers in the federal navi-
gation channel,” the draft review
states. “The Coast Guard’s safe-
ty and security measures would
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of the federal navigation chan-
nel or proposed turning basin
to temporarily move out of the
way of LNG marine carriers to
avoid the safety zone recom-
mended by the Coast Guard.
“However, this temporary
inconvenience would last only a
short time as the ship passes, at
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would be allowed to resume at
the original positions within the
river.”
While the terminal will lead
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on already congested Warrenton
roads, the draft projects that ter-
minal operations would not have
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The draft review estimates
that terminal construction over
four years would generate about
9,584 jobs, including 2,755 di-
rect jobs. Once the terminal is
built, Oregon LNG could em-
ploy about 145 workers.
Pipeline construction, which
would take about three years,
could generate about 256 direct
jobs.
“We conclude that the eco-
nomic impacts of the Oregon
LNG project would be posi-
tive,” the draft states.
Oregon LNG, a subsidiary of
Leucadia National Corp., a New
York-based holding company,
did not respond to an email seek-
ing comment on the draft review.
Lauren Goldberg, a staff
attorney for Columbia River-
keeper, a Hood River-based en-
vironmental group that has been
among the leaders of the opposi-
tion to the project, said she had
not yet seen the draft. The Daily
Astorian described some of the
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“The people of Clatsop Coun-
ty want clean water, safe commu-
nities, and strong salmon runs. Or-
egon LNG’s project undermines
these goals,” Goldberg said in an
email. “FERC has a track record
of ignoring well-founded local
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concerns from expert state and
federal scientists — about the
risks of LNG development.
“The draft environmental
impact statement adds to this
history of ignoring the best
available science and the people
who understand the most about
the Columbia River estuary.”
Geology, reliability,
safety
Given the risk of a devas-
tating earthquake linked to the
Cascadia Subduction Zone, and
the potential for tsunamis on the
North Coast, the draft found that
Oregon LNG would reduce haz-
ards through special construc-
tion techniques and monitoring
of operations.
The draft concludes that if
the energy company follows
through on such measures along
with staff recommendations, the
geologic risks would be reduced
to acceptable levels.
Activists have warned that
the project would unnecessarily
expose residents in Warrenton
and Astoria to danger from an
explosion or spill.
But Federal Energy Regula-
tory Commission staff concluded
that the project, if designed as
proposed by Oregon LNG and
improved through staff recom-
mendations, “would provide ac-
ceptable layers of protection that
would reduce the risk of a poten-
tially hazardous scenario from
developing into an event that
could impact the off-site public.”
Review, possible hurdles
While other federal agencies,
such as the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and
the Army Corps of Engineers,
provided input on the draft envi-
ronmental review, the agencies
could release separate conclu-
sions and recommendations
about the project.
The draft review references a
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the Army Corps of Engineers last
year challenging an easement the
Corps holds along the Skipanon
Peninsula to deposit dredging
spoils. A federal magistrate judge
ruled last week that Oregon LNG
waited too long to bring the claim,
potentially clouding whether the
energy company can fully use
land leased from the Port of Asto-
ria for the project.
State and local governments
also have an oversight role, and
could pose potential hurdles for
Oregon LNG.
Earlier this year, the state
Land Use Board of Appeals up-
held Clatsop County’s 2013 vote
to reject a permit for part of the
pipeline. The county had raised
possible safety concerns for resi-
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standards; and the potential risk
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escapes — during horizontal di-
rectional drilling for underground
pipeline construction.
The draft recommends that
prior to any construction, Or-
egon LNG show the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
that the Oregon Department
of Land Conservation and De-
velopment has found the proj-
ect consistent with the federal
Coastal Zone Management Act.
Part of the criteria the state is
expected to use in making that
determination is whether the
project has county approvals.
• Read the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission’s draft
environmental impact statement
on the Oregon LNG project at:
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/
gas/enviro/eis/2015/08-05-15-
eis.asp
Marina: Port still expects nearly $139,000 in losses from marina operations
at the east end, Port staff still
needs to ascertain whether
• 7.5 percent to two-thirds grant funds used for the paved
increases in daily moorage rates, area there prohibit parking rate
with sharper increases for ves- increases.
Jeff Keightley, who has op-
sels shorter in length.
Off the water, the new tariff erated Astoria Fishing Charters
doubles all-day parking fees for the past six years at the Port,
from $5 to $10, while adding a readied his boat late Tuesday
$100 charge for extra parking morning to take a family from
passes for annual moorages and 0LQQHVRWDRXW¿VKLQJIRUVDOP-
boosting monthly parking pass- on.
“I don’t think you can over-
es from $60 to $150.
Even with the increases, FDSLWDOL]HRQWKLV¿VKHU\LQ$X-
McGrath and Burk’s report gust,” Keightley said, adding he
said, the Port still expects nearly turns away customers daily and
$139,000 in losses from marina has thought about doubling his
RSHUDWLRQV LQ WKH FRPLQJ ¿VFDO guide rates. Keightley said he
wouldn’t bat an eyelash at a 50
year.
percent increase in the $1,100 a
year he pays to moor his guide
Support for increases
Port Commission Chairman boat at the west end.
Keightley, who said he tells
John Raichl said when the pro-
posed increases were brought to his customers to get a parking
the Marina Advisory Commit- pass and stay south of the rail-
tee, which includes commercial road tracks, opposes the parking
and recreational boaters, the increases. He said the real prob-
panel was not against the marina lem with parking is enforcement
fee increases, but opposed the north of the Astoria Riverfront
Trolley tracks.
parking increases.
“I don’t think there’s any
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said, they only opposed the enforcement on this side of the
parking increases at the west tracks, because you don’t know
end basin, saying it might drive how long people are parking,”
away customers. Meanwhile, Keightley said, referencing
Continued from Page 1A
chines that would take credit
cards. Staff has said the ma-
chines will make it easier for
people to pay to park and likely
increase compliance.
Burk last month said it would
take around-the-clock enforce-
ment to catch the guide boats,
which she estimated at maybe
10 a day during the busy season
based on the number of trailers,
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early as 4 a.m.
Commercial guide boats
need a business license to op-
erate in Astoria, Commissioner
Stephen Fulton said during the
July presentation, and the Port
should be using that avenue
to capture revenue from boat-
ers using the Port’s docks. But
6XH 'RKDQLXN D ¿QDQFLDO RS-
erations manager with Astoria,
said the city doesn’t break out
Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian
Cody Herman, owner of Day One Outdoors, cleans salmon at the West End Mooring which business licenses belong
to boats.
Basin cleaning station.
On Tuesday, Fulton said the
the sparsely marked zones of up more of the east end basin to pick up customers, drop them rate increases were probably not
15-minute, one- and two-hour ¿VKHUPHQ
RII DQG FOHDQ ¿VK DW WKH ZHVW properly noticed to the commu-
parking near the west end. The
end, a station meant for mari- nity and will likely result in push
Port would need a full-time Tragedy of the commons na tenants, sometimes without back, but were needed nonethe-
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Port commissioners have paying the Port for any ser- less. “We’re going to have to be
solve the issue.
responsible and maintain our fa-
repeatedly complained about vices.
And if the Port wants to add catching guide boats who they
The Port has ordered sever- cility,” he said, “and I think this
revenue, he said, it should open say come to the Port to park, al electronic parking pass ma- is a step in the right direction.”
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Sports Physical Clinic
Aug. 10 & 11
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Astoria High School
1001 W. Marine Drive, Astoria
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Stop by to complete your required sports physical with a CMH
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Concussion Clinic
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