8
S moke S ignals
MARCH 1, 2018
Proposed natural gas pipeline concerns Tribe
Jordan Cove project would
traverse ceded territory
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
Grand Ronde Tribal staff have
filed a motion to intervene in the
Federal Energy Regulatory Com-
mission’s process regarding con-
struction of a proposed natural gas
pipeline in southern Oregon.
The Jordan Cove Energy Project
would place a pipeline in areas that
include the Tribe’s ceded territory
from milepost 50 to 170 along Inter-
state 5 and span four treaty areas.
The project is currently in the
environmental impact gathering
phase.
“What we are doing is engaging in
the process, partly with FERC and
also with some of the state agencies
responsible for permits,” Ceded
Lands Program Manager Michael
Karnosh said. “We have also met
with different folks, such as the
project proponents and consultants.
At this point, we are gathering in-
formation and evaluating the big is-
sues for the Tribe in trying to protect
our resources that are down there.”
The Tribe’s primary concerns
thus far are potential effects to
cultural and natural resources the
project may have.
“There are also cumulative im-
pacts,” Karnosh said. “The con-
struction of a pipeline and terminal
has impacts, but also from infra-
structure and increased carbon
emissions.”
In September 2017, Jordan Cove
and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline
filed applications with the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
for the construction and operation
of a liquefied natural gas export
terminal in Coos Bay and a 234-
mile buried pipeline connector that
would transport natural gas from
the Malin hub in southern Oregon
to the export terminal.
The Malin hub is the main in-
terconnection serving California
and other western natural gas
markets.
Jordan Cove and Pacific Con-
nector are requesting that FERC
issue a draft Environmental Impact
Statement in 2018, according to the
project’s website, that would place
the project for a potential final in-
vestment decision in 2019 and an
opening date in 2024.
Next steps include the Grand
Ronde Tribal consultation team
presenting updated information to
Tribal Council, which was sched-
uled to occur on Wednesday, Feb.
28. The team includes employees
from the executive level as well
as Natural Resources, Legal and
Tribal Lands departments.
“We are going to discuss our
preliminary observations on what
agencies and project paperwork
was done right, and the gaps that
they have,” Karnosh said. “We will
continue to engage in the process.”
Once FERC issues the Environ-
mental Impact Statement, the Trib-
al consultation team will review it
and determine how best to proceed.
The process also is open to the pub-
lic and Karnosh encourages Tribal
members to learn more about the
project and submit comments or
concerns for the record.
More information regarding the
regulatory process can be found at
www.jordancovelng.com/project/
regulatory/.
“This will be a long and challeng-
ing process with a lot of agencies,”
Karnosh said.
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