Oregon Public Broadcasting

Clatsop County voters will weigh in Tuesday on a referendum related to a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal, at Bradwood Landing, on the Columbia River. Rob Manning reports.

Last March, Clatsop County commissioners approved a land-use application for the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal.

That vote also changed the county’s comprehensive plan to open parkland to pipelines.  Opponents are now challenging that revision at the ballot box.

Brent Foster is with leading LNG critics, Columbia Riverkeeper. 

Brent Foster: “If we win, then Northern Star’s project would be illegal under local land-use law, and then the state would not be able to issue a number of the permits it needs to issue.”

The company behind the project, Northern Star, says tonight’s vote would not affect the state process.

The company’s spokesman says the county has already concluded it doesn’t have jurisdiction over a pipeline, and besides, he says Bradwood Landing would use private, rather than public land.

Later this week, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may vote to approve Bradwood Landing.  State permits would then be the last key step.