FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, February 8, 2020

CONTACT:
Allie Rosenbluth, allie@rogueclimate.org, 541-816-2240

Oregon Denial of Jordan Cove LNG Project Upheld by Federal Government
Decision marks yet another blow against the proposed fracked gas project and LNG terminal in Southern Oregon

[Washington, D.C.] — The proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and fracked gas pipeline faced another massive blow today when the US Secretary of Commerce rejected a request to override the State of Oregon’s February 2020 denial of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) federal consistency review. This project cannot begin construction without approval of the CZMA federal consistency review. This is another enormous victory for communities across the region who have been fighting this project for over 15 years. 

“Pembina’s last-ditch effort to override Oregon’s authority to stop Jordan Cove LNG has failed,” said Allie Rosenbluth, Campaigns Director at Rogue Climate. “Oregonians and our state agencies know that this project is bad for our coast, climate, and communities. This victory is thanks to the thousands of people speaking out against this dangerous project. Together we will assure Jordan Cove LNG is never built and that our communities can focus on building local jobs in clean energy instead.”

“We are thrilled that Oregon’s decision is being upheld at the federal level to protect the coastal zone which runs from the peak of the Coast Range to the waves of the Pacific Ocean, from this dangerous and destructive project,” said Katy Eymann, President of Coos County organization Citizens for Renewables. “I am so thankful that the voices of many, many people living in our coastal zone have been heard and respected.”

The Coastal Zone Management Act provides that states may review projects requiring a federal permit for consistency with the state’s enforceable policies of its coastal management plan. In early 2020, Oregon found the Jordan Cove LNG project was inconsistent with the state’s coastal policies because of adverse effects to fisheries resources, endangered and threatened species, cultural resources, and several other grounds. 

The company appealed that decision, asking that the NOAA Administrator override the state’s objection. Today, the NOAA Administrator found that the company failed to meet its burden of showing that the project is consistent with the objectives of the CZMA. NOAA particularly noted the insufficiency of the record regarding impacts to endangered and threatened species, cultural and historic resources, and cumulative effects. 

“This company has tried to gloss over the devastating impacts of this project for years. NOAA’s decision represents a level of scrutiny deserving of such a massive and irreversible project, and finds the evidence lacking. Now that the state and the federal agency have spoken, it’s time for this project to be gone, once and for all,” said Courtney Johnson of Crag Law Center.

This is the second Oregon denial of Jordan Cove LNG upheld by the Federal Government in 2021. On January 19, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) upheld Oregon’s denial of the Clean Water Act 401 permit. Jordan Cove cannot be built without approvals from the State of Oregon under the Clean Water Act and Coastal Zone Management Act.

“This is some light at the end of the tunnel as we continue to fight for the safety of our communities and our water systems. This decision means that Pembina can’t roll over Oregon’s authority, rural communities, and Indigenous livelihoods. This happened because of the work of so many landowners, community groups, and Tribal voices coming together to advocate for our public and environmental health,” said Paul Wilson, Klamath Tribal member.

“Today’s decision is welcome news; however, because FERC continues to put the cart before the horse and approve conditional orders, we are still threatened with eminent domain,” said Deb Evans, an affected landowner challenging the 2020 FERC approval. “Congress and the Biden Administration need to insist FERC reverse or stay its decision until all applicable permits are approved.”  

“We commend the federal government for firmly aligning with impacted landowners, communities, the state of Oregon and the best available science in rejecting yet another required approval for this climate-destroying proposed project,” said Bethany Cotton, conservation director for Cascadia Wildlands. “It is long past time for the proponents to acknowledge they do not and cannot comply with key environmental safeguards and permanently withdraw the dangerous proposal – we encourage them to do so now.”

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 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Tuesday, January 19, 2021

CONTACT:
Allie Rosenbluth, 541-816-2240, allie@rogueclimate.org
Andrew Hawley, Western Environmental Law Center, 206-487-7250, hawley@westernlaw.org

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Upholds Oregon's Denial of Key Jordan Cove LNG Permit
Potentially fatal blow for fracked gas export terminal and pipeline proposed in Oregon

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) upheld the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s denial of a key permit for the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline. The Jordan Cove LNG project cannot move forward without a Clean Water Act approval from the state of Oregon. 

This is the latest in a series of regulatory losses for Jordan Cove LNG, representing a huge blow to the 15-year-old proposal that has been vehemently opposed by Tribes, impacted landowners, fishermen, climate advocates, and others. The project has also not qualified for other critical state, federal, and local permits needed to move forward.

In its summary of today’s meeting, FERC wrote: “The order finds that Jordan Cove and Pacific Connector never requested certification with respect to the Commission authorizations for the Jordan Cove Energy Project and that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality could not have waived its authority to issue certification for a request it never received.”

“The FERC decision is very encouraging. It is certainly our hope that Pembina will give up on this devastating project once and for all,” said Chairman Don Gentry of the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin Tribes.

“The evidence in the record was clear, FERC had no choice other than to deny Pembina’s request to waive Oregon’s 401 water quality authority,” said impacted Douglas County landowner Stacey McLaughlin. “Any approach to seeking approval of its Pacific Connector Pipeline and Jordan Cove Energy Project without proper permits compromises the safety of Oregon’s landowners. Pembina is proving it cannot be trusted—this is not a characteristic seen in a ‘good neighbor.’”

“The headwinds for the Jordan Cove project continue to blow strongly. FERC’s decision to uphold Oregon’s authority to deny a water quality certification for the project demonstrates that measures are in place to protect the Coos Bay estuary and rivers of southern Oregon,” said marine biologist and Coos County resident Dr. Jan Hodder.

“Today’s unanimous FERC decision shows that when our communities come together and speak out, we win! Thousands of southern Oregonians have raised their voices to stop this project for years and will continue to until the threat of Jordan Cove LNG is gone for good,” said Hannah Sohl, executive director of Rogue Climate. “Now we must focus on creating good, local jobs in clean energy and energy efficiency in Oregon.”

“Today’s decision is a huge win for clean water and healthy communities who’ve been fighting this harmful project for nearly 15 years,” said Robyn Janssen, director of Rogue Riverkeeper. “FERC’s decision to uphold Oregon’s 401 denial gives me hope that this is the end for Jordan Cove LNG.” 

“Today’s decision confirms Oregon's right to protect its communities and waters from big polluters like the proposed Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas terminal and pipeline,” said Andrew Hawley, attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center. “We have battled this harmful behemoth for decades and defeated it at every turn. With everything we know today about climate change this project must never again rise from the ashes.”

“Jordan Cove LNG would have threatened the drinking water of nearly 160,000 Oregonians. Today’s FERC decision is a win for public health,” said Damon Motz-Storey, Healthy Climate Program director at Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility. “Oregon’s right to deny Clean Water Act permits on the basis of unacceptable harm to our water resources is vitally important. This is a day to celebrate.”

“For 15 years this climate-polluting proposal threatened landowners, waterways, forests and imperiled species across southern Oregon,” said Dylan Plummer, grassroots organizer with Cascadia Wildlands. “Today, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief, and tomorrow we will redouble our efforts to end this project for good.”

"The latest rejection of the Jordan Cove project is yet another victory for our clean water and our communities. We've said time and again that this project will never be built, and today's announcement is just further proof of that," said Sierra Club senior attorney Nathan Matthews.

“Jordan Cove LNG was poised to become the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in our state of Oregon should it have been approved, responsible for 15 times more emissions than the now-closed Boardman coal plant’s annual emissions. This project was a disaster in waiting for the climate and communities in its path, and today’s news from FERC is a welcome relief after years of fighting this dirty project,” said David Turnbull, strategic communications director at Oil Change International. “Let’s hope this is the start of a new era at FERC, where communities and our climate are protected rather than ignored in the face of industry demands.”

###

Southern Oregon Streams Finally See Stronger Protections

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2020

Contact: Stacey Detwiler, Rogue Riverkeeper, 541-488-9831, stacey@rogueriverkeeper.org

Southern Oregon Streams Finally See Stronger Protections

[Salem, OR] - Today, the Oregon Board of Forestry voted unanimously to adopt a temporary rule to increase stream buffers along small and medium salmon and steelhead streams that flow through private forest lands in the Siskiyou region of southwestern Oregon. The temporary rule will go into effect later this year. Today’s decision brings protections for salmon and steelhead streams in the Siskiyou up to the same standards applied to the rest of western Oregon in 2017. 

For the last four years, southern Oregon communities have been fighting to ensure that the region isn’t left with a weaker stream buffer standard that puts clean water and the Rogue’s iconic salmon and steelhead at risk. Stream buffer standards establish how close industrial timber companies can cut down trees near streams, which can result in less shade and warmer, more polluted water. 

“Today, we can celebrate that the Rogue’s salmon and steelhead streams have finally received the same protections as the rest of western Oregon,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “However, we also know that these current practices are still not enough to meet clean water standards and there is a lot more work to be done.”

In 2017, the Oregon Board of Forestry (BOF) adopted new stream buffer rules for the majority of western Oregon forests, modestly expanding stream buffers for small and medium salmon, steelhead, and bull trout streams. However, the Siskiyou region including much of the Rogue watershed was excluded from these increased protections. For years, local communities, landowners, businesses and forest and water advocates fought to see a new, stronger rule applied so as to see the same protections as the rest of western Oregon forests. 

"As a local business owner, who relies on healthy salmon and steelhead streams here in southern Oregon, I'm pleased that the Board of Forestry has stepped up," said Will Johnson, local angler and owner of the Ashland Fly Shop. "Streams in the SIskiyou should never have been left behind and there's still a lot more we need to do to protect clean water." 

While this is a step in the right direction to better protect clean water in the Rogue, the temporary rule does not fix the significant threats to clean water from harmful forest practices in Oregon that are decades behind other states. Earlier this spring, Rogue Riverkeeper joined with other conservation organizations and timber industry advocates in an agreement to adopt a process that could lead to stronger protections and effective reforms of current forest practices on state and private forestlands. 

This new rule is a first step, but it will be a long road ahead to effectively reform current forest practices to protect healthy waterways, forests and communities. It will require significant work over the next two years to secure a lasting legacy of healthy forests, clean drinking water, and modernized forest regulations for all Oregonians.

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Southern Oregon Advocates Challenge Federal Approval of Jordan Cove LNG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Contact: Gabby Brown, Sierra Club, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org, 914-261-4626

Susan Jane Brown, Western Environmental Law Center, brown@westernlaw.org, 503-914-1323

Allie Rosenbluth, Rogue Climate, allie@rogueclimate.org, 541-816-2240

Southern Oregon Advocates Challenge Federal Approval of Jordan Cove LNG

Washington, DC -- Today, southern Oregon organizations filed a lawsuit challenging Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval of the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline. FERC issued its approval in March, conditioned on the project qualifying for critical permits from the state of Oregon. Three of those permits have already been denied or withdrawn.

A group of Oregon landowners impacted by eminent domain filed their own challenge to the project late last week. Many others, including the state of Oregon, multiple Tribal governments, and fishers and crabbers, had also all requested FERC revisit its ruling on the widely opposed project, and have 60 days from FERC’s May 22 denial of rehearing to file their own lawsuits.

The lawsuit, filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit by Rogue Riverkeeper, Rogue Climate, Cascadia Wildlands, Center for Biological Diversity, Citizens for Renewables, Friends of Living Oregon Waters, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Oregon Wild, Oregon Women’s Land Trust, and Waterkeeper Alliance, represented by the Sierra Club and Western Environmental Law Center, challenges FERC’s approval of the project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Natural Gas Act. The groups will argue FERC failed to consider critical information about the proposed facility and that it is not in the public interest. 

“Today, we’re standing up for the health of the Rogue River and the health of our communities in southern Oregon,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “With two permit denials from the state of Oregon, Jordan Cove LNG should never have made it this far. Together, our communities will make sure that this harmful project is stopped once and for all.”

“FERC should not have burdened Oregon’s environment, communities, and landowners by approving a pipeline that nobody needs and that Oregonians don’t want,” Nathan Matthews, Senior Attorney with the Sierra Club. “Jordan Cove has failed to obtain key permits from the state of Oregon because it is clearly not in the public interest. Had FERC done the full analysis the law requires, they would have come to the same conclusion.”

“Even though Jordan Cove failed to secure even one necessary state permit, that could change, and the project still requires federal approval,” said Susan Jane Brown, attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center. “Federal approval is the keystone to the Jordan Cove Project, and because of the project’s glaring climate, clean water, and other ecological impacts, we want to knock out that flawed federal approval.”

“Jordan Cove LNG would harm recreation, our local fishing industry and the health of the bay, in addition to threatening the safety of thousands in Coos County,” said Jody McAffree of Coos County organization Citizens for Renewables. “Over 15 years Jordan Cove LNG has not moved forward because people who live and work in the impacted communities have challenged the ill-conceived project at every turn. Now we’re taking our fight to the federal level and won’t stop until the project is gone for good.”

“The Jordan Cove LNG project would devastate the local environment and weaken efforts to combat the ongoing climate crisis,” said Jared Margolis, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. “The Trump administration can’t keep ignoring the harm fossil fuel development does to our climate and endangered species. This project should never have been proposed, and we’ll continue to fight it.”

“This project was previously considered and rejected by FERC because there was not sufficient need for gas to justify the adverse environmental and landowner impacts,” said Daniel E. Estrin, Waterkeeper Alliance general counsel and advocacy director. “Since that rare rejection almost four years ago, global demand for LNG exports has dramatically decreased, yet FERC attempts to bring this frightening zombie back to life. This reversal is the epitome of unlawful, arbitrary and capricious agency action, and would be a disaster for Oregon’s waterways and our climate. It will not stand.”

“Over 40,000 people sent comments and hundreds turned out to hearings across the four impacted counties to ask FERC to deny Jordan Cove LNG, which would risk our climate, clean drinking water, public safety, and more,” said Allie Rosenbluth of Rogue Climate. “FERC has failed to listen to the people of southern Oregon who stand united against Jordan Cove LNG. Now, our communities' concerns about this project will get their time in front of a judge."

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State of Oregon Submits Strong Request for FERC to Rehear Approval of Jordan Cove LNG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, April 20, 2020

CONTACT:

Allie Rosenbluth, 541-816-2240, allie@rogueclimate.org

State of Oregon Submits Strong Request for FERC to Rehear Approval of Jordan Cove LNG

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — The State of Oregon has now submitted a rehearing request urging FERC “to grant this request for rehearing, withdraw the Order, and issue an order denying the Authorizations” for the Jordan Cove LNG export project. In their request, Oregon State agencies argue that FERC improperly issued a conditional approval for Jordan Cove LNG despite multiple failures by Pembina to acquire necessary state permits. The State of Oregon argues: 

“FERC impermissibly issued the Authorizations in a manner that both violates and allows violations of federal environmental laws that the State implements, including the CWA [Clean Water Act], the CAA [Clean Air Act] and the CZMA [Coastal Zone Management Act]. The Authorizations permit the applicant to cause irreparable harm to the environment prior to the State’s exercise of its delegated responsibilities under these federal laws.” (State Petition for Rehearing at 14.)

After FERC approved the project on March 19th, Governor Kate Brown responded with a statement that she would defend the decisions that Oregon agencies make on the fracked gas export project: 

“I want to reiterate that I will not stand for any attempt to ignore Oregon’s authority to protect public safety, health, and the environment. I have asked the state’s lawyers to consider all appropriate legal action to assure that Oregon permitting processes will be followed. And let me be clear to the concerned citizens of Southwest Oregon: Until this project has received every single required permit from state and local agencies, I will use every available tool to prevent the company from taking early action on condemning private property or clearing land.”

"The State's petition for rehearing shows that Oregon's expert agencies plan to fight for clean water for fishing and drinking, landowners threatened by eminent domain, and a stable climate for our kids," said Stacey Detwiler, Conservation Director for Rogue Riverkeeper. "The State is standing its ground against Pembina and FERC, even in the middle of a global public health crisis. We appreciate and applaud this action."

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Oregonians Unite to Demand Rehearing on Jordan Cove LNG Federal Approval

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 20, 2020

CONTACT:

Allie Rosenbluth, 541-816-2240, allie@rogueclimate.org

Oregonians Unite to Demand Rehearing on Jordan Cove LNG Federal Approval

The Klamath Tribes, affected landowners, and public interest organizations request rehearing on fracked gas export terminal and pipeline in southern Oregon.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, the Klamath Tribes, impacted landowners, and over 25 public interest organizations submitted a joint request for rehearing to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on its decision to conditionally approve the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline. The broad coalition’s rehearing request challenges FERC’s imbalanced and inadequate review of the Jordan Cove LNG proposal. 

The joint rehearing request, filed by Sierra Club on behalf of organizations including Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman’s Associations and League of Women Voters chapters in the four impacted counties, asks FERC to withdraw its approval of Jordan Cove LNG and redo its environmental, public convenience and necessity, and public interest analyses of the project. The rehearing request argues that the project is not in the public interest because of significant adverse effects to public health and safety, Tribal resources, private property rights, the environment, and the climate.

"Today, as always, the mission of the Klamath Tribes is to protect, preserve, and enhance the spiritual, cultural, and physical values and resources of the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin Peoples by maintaining the customs and heritage of our ancestors,” said Chairman of the Klamath Tribes, Don Gentry. “The Klamath Tribes have resolved that all of its cultural resources are sacred, and are opposed to the many actions planned with the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline (PCGP) that will destroy or otherwise impact the sacred cultural resources. ”

This March, FERC approved Jordan Cove LNG with the condition that the project must qualify for critical permits from the state of Oregon, three of which have already been denied or withdrawn, before construction can begin. FERC made this determination as the country was adapting to address the global public health crisis of COVID-19, adding the threat of eminent domain and major pipeline and terminal construction to communities sheltering in place in southern Oregon. However, the FERC conditional approval does allow Pembina, the Canadian fossil fuel corporation behind Jordan Cove LNG, to start the process of seizing  private property of Oregon landowners against their wishes through eminent domain.

"It is unconscionable that a for-profit corporation can exercise eminent domain against Oregon landowners for a pipeline already denied multiple times by our own state government,” said Stacey McLaughlin, an impacted landowner in Douglas County. “The taking of our property so a Canadian fossil fuel corporation can export its gas to Asia makes a mockery of our Constitutional rights. Every American should be alarmed by this threat to our liberty.”

"Pembina has been unable to secure any of the necessary state permits to build in Oregon because there's no getting around the fact that this project would pose an unacceptable threat to Oregon's communities and waterways and is clearly not in the public interest. It's disappointing that FERC failed to recognize this, and we urge them to reconsider this misguided decision," said Sierra Club Senior Attorney Nathan Matthews. "Regardless, FERC's approval does nothing to change the fact that this fracked gas export terminal has no path forward and will never be built."

“Jordan Cove LNG would harm recreation, our local fishing industry and the health of the bay, in addition to threatening the safety of thousands in Coos County,” said Jody McAffree of Coos County organization Citizens for Renewables. “Over 15 years Jordan Cove LNG has not moved forward because people who live and work in the impacted communities have challenged the ill-conceived project at every turn. Now we’re taking our fight to the federal level and won’t stop until the project is gone for good.”

Last week, Jordan Cove LNG submitted its own rehearing request regarding FERC’s approval of their own project. The company is asking FERC to reconsider conditions including authorization from the State of Oregon under the Coastal Zone Management Act and compliance with the Traditional Cultural Property that protects cultural resources of Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw in Coos Bay.

"By challenging their own approval, Jordan Cove LNG is showing that they cannot meet Oregon standards and that they need the rules changed in order to move their project forward,” said Allie Rosenbluth, Campaigns Director of Rogue Climate. “The State of Oregon, and communities across the region, have already made it clear that there's no getting around these rules for this project that would cause irreparable harm to clean water, the climate, and coastal communities. It's time for Pembina to give up and withdraw this project immediately."

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Organizations opposing Jordan Cove LNG thank Oregon leaders



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Organizations opposing Jordan Cove LNG thank Oregon leaders

OREGON - Despite the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis, on Thursday, March 19 a politically unbalanced Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the Jordan Cove Energy Project and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline over the objections of numerous state, federal, and local stakeholders and decision makers (details here.)

Shortly after the FERC decision on Thursday, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) issued a statement on Thursday, explaining his opposition to the project:

“A few days ago, Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell stacked the decks when yet another Republican commissioner was confirmed to FERC, leaving the Commission unbalanced. This is despite current law that says the FERC should be an independent and bipartisan commission. Today, a stacked and incomplete FERC approved the controversial and complicated Jordan Cove project. There was no rush. A balanced and full FERC should have made the decision. If that's not bad enough, the Commission has decided to disregard local private property rights and environmental concerns identified by Oregonians. Both shortcomings and additional ones have been documented in the strong objections to the Jordan Cove project by three Oregon state regulatory agencies. All this adds up to a clearly rigged process designed to advance Trump-McConnell corporate interests over Oregonians. All these violations are contrary to everything the Oregon Way stands for – fairness, transparency and accountability. I now have to oppose this project.”

Senator Ron Wyden now joins Senator Jeff Merkley, Representative Peter DeFazio, Oregon State legislators Senator Jeff Golden, Senator James Manning, Senator Michael Dembrow, Representative Pam Marsh, Representative Tawna Sanchez, and the Jackson County Commissioners in opposing the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline.

Also, after the FERC decision on Thursday Oregon Governor Kate Brown, who has remained neutral on the project and has previously committed that the Jordan Cove LNG project must meet all state requirements for the protection of Oregon’s citizens and natural resources, issued a clear statement  about FERC’s decision:

“I want to reiterate that I will not stand for any attempt to ignore Oregon’s authority to protect public safety, health, and the environment. I have asked the state’s lawyers to consider all appropriate legal action to assure that Oregon permitting processes will be followed. And let me be clear to the concerned citizens of Southwest Oregon: Until this project has received every single required permit from state and local agencies, I will use every available tool to prevent the company from taking early action on condemning private property or clearing land.”

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) expressed his opposition to the Jordan Cove LNG project in a 2017 guest opinion titled “Create jobs without jeopardizing our future,” stating:

“Jordan Cove will contribute massively to pollution that is profoundly damaging our state and our world. Generations from now, our grandchildren will wonder why we continued to burn fossil fuels when the catastrophic consequences were so evident. Thus, it becomes clear that we have to shift from building large-scale fossil fuel infrastructure, including Jordan Cove, and instead invest massively in building the enormous backlog of infrastructure projects that will improve our state and nation, not damage it.”

Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-4) added his voice to those opposing the project in 2019, explaining:

“I do not support the Jordan Cove LNG terminal for the following reasons: The federal approval process is run by unelected political appointees, the project tramples on private property rights, and it will exacerbate the urgent and immediate threat of climate change.”

Oregon State Senator Jeff Golden (SD 3) and Oregon State Representative Pam Marsh (HD 5), decried the timing of FERC’s decision, noting Friday:

“[Jordan Cove LNG] has repeatedly failed to secure necessary approvals from Oregon state agencies. In the wake of outright denials and objections from the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Land Conservation and Development, Pembina withdrew their application to the Division of State Lands just before it would have been rejected. The fact is that on multiple fronts, the Jordan Cove/Pacific Connector Pipeline proposal falls dramatically short of the minimum environmental standards that guide Oregon’s decisions on natural resources...We will stand with Oregon state officials in taking every lawful step to prevent that from happening. And we will continue to stand with tens of thousands of Oregonians ready to take every lawful step to ensure that the Jordan Cove/Pacific Connector Pipeline project is never constructed.”

The Jackson County Commissioners have long opposed the Jordan Cove LNG project and sent detailed concerns to the Oregon Department of State Lands in 2019:

“The Jackson County Board of Commissioners is unanimously opposed to the Jordan Cove Pipeline project. The proposed Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline has not been adequately planned…”

*          *          *

Communities and individuals across Southern Oregon have opposed the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and fracked gas pipeline for more than 15 years. Tens of thousands of Oregonians from across the political spectrum have worked together to educate our neighbors and decision makers about the irreparable environmental, safety, social, and economic impacts of the project, which would become the largest single-source of climate pollution in the state if built. The State of Oregon has already denied critical state permits that Jordan Cove LNG cannot move forward without, even with FERC’s recent approval. 

During this very challenging time and on behalf of the numerous organizations, impacted landowners, businesses, and others who have worked tirelessly to defeat this handout to Canadian fossil fuel special interests, we thank our Oregon leaders for standing up for Oregonians, public and private lands, wildlife, clean water, and our shared climate.

Co-signed by:

Andrew Napell * Barbara Brown * C2 Cattle Co. * Clarence and Stephany Adams * Craig and Stacey McLaughlin * Frank Adams * John Clarke * Kenneth and Kristine Cates * Linda and Mike Craig * Larry and Sylvia Mangan * Jody McCaffree * Pamela Brown Ordway * Patsy R. and John M. Roberts, Jr. * Ron Schaaf and Deb Evans * Russ and Sandy Lyon * Tammy Bray and John Caughell * Wendy and William McKinley * Jim and Joan Dahlman * Mitzi Sulffridge * Nichols Bros. Inc. * Tim and Natalie Ranker * 350 Corvallis * 350 PDX * Cascadia Wildlands * Citizens For Renewables/Citizens Against LNG * Greater Good Oregon * Hair on Fire Oregon * Institute for Fisheries Resources * Landowners United * Oregon Coast Alliance * Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility * Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition * Oregon Wild * Oregon Women’s Land Trust * Our Land, Our Lives * Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations * Pipeline Awareness Southern Oregon * Rogue Climate * Rogue Riverkeeper * Sierra Club, Oregon Chapter * Stop Fracked Gas PDX * Trout Unlimited * Western Environmental Law Center

Pembina Requests a Federal Overturn for Denied State Permit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Thursday, March 19 2020

CONTACT:

Allie Rosenbluth, 541-816-2240, allie@rogueclimate.org

Damon Motz-Storey, 303-913-5634, damon@oregonpsr.org 

Pembina Requests a Federal Overturn for Denied State Permit

Also: US Senator Ron Wyden Declares Opposition to Jordan Cove LNG

[SALEM, OR] - After receiving an approval today from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that is dependent on state permits, Pembina filed with the US Secretary of Commerce in an attempt to overturn Oregon’s denial of Jordan Cove LNG’s Coastal Zone Permit. At roughly the same time, Senator Ron Wyden issued a statement opposing the Jordan Cove LNG project and decrying the preferential treatment being given to Pembina by the federal government.

“Pembina can’t simply ask the Secretary of Commerce to overturn Oregon’s denial of the Coastal Zone permit and expect to move this project forward,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “The state of Oregon has strong authority under the federal Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, as well as state property rights to deny this project, which has consistently failed to meet state standards put in place to protect clean water and public health. Without all of these required approvals from the state, Jordan Cove LNG has no viable path forward.”

The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) denied the Coastal Zone permit on February 19, 2020 because “the coastal adverse effects from the project will be significant and undermine the vision set forth by the Oregon Coastal Management Plan and its enforceable policies.” Three of the necessary state permits for Jordan Cove LNG have already been denied or withdrawn, including the Clean Water Act and Removal-Fill permits. 

In order to grant an override request, the Secretary must find that the activity is consistent with the Coastal Zone Management Act, or is necessary in the interest of national security. If the Secretary overturns the Coastal Zone permit denial, the State of Oregon can challenge.

“Oregon’s agencies have already made it clear that this project is not in the public interest,” said Coos County resident Darcy Grahek. “Pembina’s appeal to the US Secretary of Commerce doesn’t change the fact that this project would harm the coastal resources our communities and the local fishing economy depend on. We're counting on Governor Kate Brown to defend this denial and the Oregon coast.”

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Despite Oregon Permit Denials and Current Public Health Crisis, Federal Agency Approves Jordan Cove LNG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, March 19, 2020

CONTACT:

Allie Rosenbluth, 541-816-2240, allie@rogueclimate.org

Damon Motz-Storey, 303-913-5634, damon@oregonpsr.org 

Despite Oregon Permit Denials and Current Public Health Crisis, Federal Agency Approves Jordan Cove LNG

(Link to share)

[WASHINGTON D.C.] In the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic and national health emergency, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conditionally approved the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline today. The approval is conditioned on Pembina, the Canadian fossil fuel corporation behind the project, qualifying for critical permits from the state of Oregon, three of which have already been denied or withdrawn.  

The order has not been published, however, at a press conference this morning, FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee stated, “[Jordan Cove LNG’s] certification does include provisions to file documentation that it has received all applicable authorizations before construction begins on pipeline.”

“The Klamath Tribes is disappointed that FERC would approve a project that would harm the cultural and natural resources that are vital to our people and that we reserved to be protected through our treaty,” said Chairman of the Klamath Tribes, Don Gentry. “We will consider our options to protect those resources and we hope that the state of Oregon will stand with us.”

“It is outrageous that in this time of crisis, when many people cannot even leave their homes safely, the Federal Government is prioritizing a fracked gas pipeline and export terminal that local communities and the State of Oregon have firmly said no to,” said Sandy Lyon, an impacted landowner in Douglas County. “Pembina can now attempt to use eminent domain against Oregon landowners, but construction cannot begin without state approval. We will stand firm against this project and we are counting on Oregon to do the same.” 

After 15 years, Jordan Cove LNG has failed to qualify for any of the necessary state permits to dredge Coos Bay for an LNG export terminal and to trench across Oregon for a 230-mile fracked gas pipeline, threatening harm to Tribal resources, private landowners, drinking water, and fishing grounds along the way. 

At FERC’s last meeting, the commission voted 2-1 to postpone their decision because the state of Oregon denied a third essential state permit for the LNG terminal and pipeline, signaling a likely failure for the project despite FERC's approval. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality denied the Clean Water Act Section 401 permit on May 6, 2019. On January 21, 2020, anticipating another permit denial, Jordan Cove LNG withdrew its Removal-Fill application from the Oregon Department of State Lands.

“FERC’s approval does not change the fact that Oregon has denied this project. Pembina will never be able to show the state of Oregon that this project qualifies for permits under state laws that protect our communities,” said Hannah Sohl, Executive Director of Rogue Climate, a southern Oregon community organization. “Oregonians from across the political spectrum will continue to stand united until Pembina cancels the proposed fracked gas pipeline and export terminal for good.”

Oregon controls state-owned lands and waters that would be affected by this project and has permitting authority under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and Coastal Zone Management Act. 

"Pembina has been unable to secure any of the necessary state permits to build in Oregon because there's no getting around the fact that this project would pose an unacceptable threat to Oregon's communities and waterways and is clearly not in the public interest. It's disappointing that FERC failed to recognize this, and we plan to seek a rehearing on this misguided decision," said Sierra Club Senior Attorney Nathan Matthews. "Regardless, FERC's approval does nothing to change the fact that this fracked gas export terminal has no path forward and will never be built."

Impacted landowners, Tribal governments, environmental organizations, and other intervenors now have a 30-day window to appeal for a rehearing at FERC. The state of Oregon may also petition FERC for a rehearing.

“Evidence in the record clearly indicates this Canadian gas project is anything but in the U.S. public interest,” said Ron Schaaf, whose Klamath County land is on the pipeline route. “On behalf of landowners defending our rights, this decision will be challenged. Every American who cares about private property and states’ rights should be paying attention to the facts of this case.”

“It’s extremely rare for FERC to deny a permit for an export terminal like Jordan Cove LNG, but it has done so before, illustrating the project’s profound flaws,” said Susan Jane Brown, Public Lands and Wildlife Director and staff attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center (WELC). “The state has made clear this climate-destroying project will be too dangerous for Oregonians’ clean water and air. If the federal administration sees fit to ram this project through against Oregonians’ will, WELC and our allies are prepared to defeat the project in or out of the courtroom again.”

Over 40,000 people sent comments to FERC opposing Jordan Cove LNG, and hundreds showed up in opposition at public hearings in Coos, Douglas, Jackson, and Klamath counties last summer. 

“FERC has wrongly approved a pipeline that would harm our burial grounds, pollute our waterways, and endanger our community,” said Klamath Tribal member Ka’ila Farrell-Smith. “For years my Tribe, and others, have advocated to stop Jordan Cove LNG, and we will continue to stand up until this pipeline is stopped for good.”  

"This FERC decision doesn’t mean Jordan Cove LNG is moving forward because Oregon has already denied key permits for this project," said Dave Crane, a commercial fisherman from Coos Bay. "Nevertheless, the community needs to keep on fighting until Pembina cancels Jordan Cove LNG and leaves our bay alone."

Jordan Cove LNG Permitting Timeline

• In 2016, FERC denied this same project because “Pacific Connector failed to demonstrate a need for the project sufficient to outweigh the potential harm to the economic interests of landowners whose property rights might be taken by exercise of the right of eminent domain.”

• In 2017, White House Advisor Gary Cohn announced the Trump Administration’s intention to approve the Jordan Cove Project. 

• On May 6, 2019, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) delivered a severe blow to Jordan Cove LNG by denying the Clean Water Act Section 401 permit because the massive LNG export terminal and pipeline could not demonstrate that they would meet Oregon's clean water standards. 

• On January 21, 2020, Oregon Department of State Lands rejected a request from Jordan Cove to extend the permitting deadline for Jordan Cove LNG. Anticipating a permit denial, on January 24, 2020, Jordan Cove withdrew its state lands permit application entirely.

• On February 19, 2020, the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development denied the Coastal Zone Management Act Consistency Certification for Jordan Cove, marking the third key state permit the Jordan Cove failed to obtain.

• On Thursday, February 20, 2020, FERC voted 2-1 against moving Jordan Cove LNG forward. Commissioner Glick spoke out against the project stating, "[FERC really doesn’t] consider the environmental impacts in our decision-making process. Something is really rotten with that...This Commission has earned its reputation as a rubberstamp.”

###

The opposition to the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline consists of impacted landowners, Tribal members, commercial fishermen, youth, health professionals, and community leaders from four impacted southern Oregon counties and regional allies. We seek to protect our health and safety, resources, and way of life by ensuring that this harmful project is never built.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Votes 2-1 to Not Move Jordan Cove LNG Forward

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Thursday, February 20, 2020

CONTACT:

Allie Rosenbluth, 541-816-2240, allie@rogueclimate.org

Damon Motz-Storey, 303-913-5634, damon@oregonpsr.org 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Votes 2-1 to Not Move Jordan Cove LNG Forward

(Linked here)

[Washington, D.C.] - Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted 2-1 against Jordan Cove LNG. Commissioner McNamee stated that FERC needed more time to review permit denials from the State of Oregon, including last night’s Coastal Zone permit denial, while Commissioner Glick said the project was not in the public interest.

“This project has been hanging over our heads and threatening our home with eminent domain for over 15 years,” said Sandy Lyon, an impacted Landowner in Douglas County. “FERC should follow the lead of Oregon and deny Jordan Cove LNG for good. Our communities have made it clear and we deserve an end to this project.”

After 15 years, Jordan Cove LNG has failed to qualify for multiple necessary state and federal permits to dredge Coos Bay for an LNG terminal and to trench across Oregon for a 230-mile fracked gas pipeline, threatening harm to Tribal resources, private landowners, drinking water, and fishing grounds along the way. 

“The State of Oregon has made it clear in multiple denials that Jordan Cove LNG would harm our clean air, water, climate, and communities,” said Dr. Jan Hodder, a Coos Bay resident and marine biologist. “Jordan Cove LNG has no path forward without state permit approval and FERC should not even consider the project until Jordan Cove LNG can meet state standards.” 

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) denied the Clean Water Act Section 401 permit on May 6, 2019. This January, anticipating another permit denial, Jordan Cove LNG withdrew its Removal-Fill application from the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL). Just last night, the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) denied the Coastal Zone Management Act permit for Jordan Cove. DLCD asserted that the Jordan Cove LNG project cannot move forward without critical State permits, even if Jordan Cove LNG is approved by FERC.

Jordan Cove LNG still has not re-applied for a DEQ clean water act permit.  In a recent letter from Oregon DEQ to FERC, the state agency noted that it is unprecedented for FERC to make a decision on this type of large-scale project without re-applying for the denied 401 Clean Water Act permit, stating: “ODEQ is not aware of any FERC precedent where it has acted on a license for a LNG facility or a certificate of public convenience and necessity for an interstate natural gas pipeline before the applicant applied for water quality certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. 

“Federal law is clear: Oregon’s objections under the Coastal Zone Management Act and Clean Water Act mean that FERC cannot approve this project,” said Nathan Matthews, senior attorney with Sierra Club. “FERC does not get to second-guess or overrule Oregon on these matters. Jordan Cove has not provided and cannot provide information showing that the project will comply with Oregon and federal law. Rather than leave this application open waiting for additional information that will never come, FERC should deny the application outright, just as FERC did four years ago.”

In 2016, FERC also denied Jordan Cove LNG because the project was not in the public interest and because the company failed to provide the necessary information. Similarly, FERC Chairman McNamee voted “nay” on Jordan Cove LNG today because he still needed more information about the project.

“The Klamath Tribes hopes FERC will act swiftly to deny this project that would harm the cultural and natural resources that are vital to our people and that we reserved to be protected through our treaty,” said Chairman of the Klamath Tribes Don Gentry. “This project is not viable. We are committed to protecting our interests, as we have for time immemorial. Pembina should leave our communities alone by pulling out of this project entirely.”

Over 40,000 people sent comments to FERC opposing Jordan Cove LNG, and hundreds showed up in opposition at public hearings in Coos, Douglas, Jackson, and Klamath counties last summer. 

“Tens of thousands of people across the region have spoken out against this Jordan Cove LNG for over a decade. The State of Oregon has listened to our concerns and so should FERC,” said Allie Rosenbluth, Campaigns Director for Rogue Climate. “It’s time to put an end to Jordan Cove LNG for good this time so our communities can focus on creating local jobs in clean energy instead.”

“For years my Tribe, and others, have advocated to stop Jordan Cove LNG, and we will continue to stand up until this pipeline is stopped for good,” said Ashia Wilson, a member of the Klamath Tribes and freshmen at University of Oregon. “The State of Oregon’s actions leave me hopeful that when our communities come together, we can protect our home.”

Jordan Cove LNG Permitting Timeline

• In 2016, FERC denied this same project because “Pacific Connector failed to demonstrate a need for the project sufficient to outweigh the potential harm to the economic interests of landowners whose property rights might be taken by exercise of the right of eminent domain.”

• On May 6, 2019, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) delivered a severe blow to Jordan Cove LNG by denying the Clean Water Act Section 401 permit because the massive LNG export terminal and pipeline could not demonstrate that they would meet Oregon's clean water standards. 

• On January 21, 2020, Oregon Department of State Lands rejected a request from Jordan Cove to extend the permitting deadline for Jordan Cove LNG. Anticipating a permit denial, on January 24, 2020, Jordan Cove withdrew its state lands permit application entirely.

• On February 19, 2020, the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development denied the Coastal Zone Management Act Consistency Certification for Jordan Cove, marking the third key state permit the Jordan Cove failed to obtain.

• On February 20, 2020, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) did not issue an approval for Jordan Cove, citing a need to understand Oregon’s denial the night before. FERC provided no indication of when it would revisit Jordan Cove’s application.

###

The opposition to the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline consists of impacted landowners, Tribal members, commercial fishermen, youth, health professionals, and community leaders from four impacted southern Oregon counties and regional allies. We seek to protect our health and safety, resources, and way of life by ensuring that this harmful project is never built.

Oregon Denies Jordan Cove LNG on Eve of FERC Decision

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

CONTACT: 

Allie Rosenbluth, allie@rogueclimate.org, 541-816-2240

Oregon Denies Jordan Cove LNG on Eve of FERC Decision

[SALEM, OR] - On Wednesday evening, the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DCLD) denied the Coastal Zone Management Act “Federal Consistency Review” for the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline. This is another significant blow to the Jordan Cove LNG project, which, after 15 years and fierce opposition, has failed to qualify for critical state permits for the project. 

In their denial, DLCD determined that “the coastal adverse effects from the project will be significant and undermine the vision set forth by the Oregon Coastal Management Plan and its enforceable policies.” DLCD stated, “Jordan Cove has failed to establish consistency.”

This follows previous failures to qualify for permits from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Oregon Department of State Lands.

“Three strikes and you’re out! Jordan Cove LNG has failed to qualify for three critical permits from the state of Oregon. Jordan Cove LNG has no viable path forward. It’s time for Pembina to leave southern Oregon for good so our communities can focus on building local jobs in renewable energy instead,” said Ashley Audycki, Rogue Climate’s Coos Bay Organizer.

With this denial, DLCD has also asserted that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) cannot grant a permit to Jordan Cove LNG. FERC is set to make a decision on a federal permit for the Jordan Cove LNG project at their meeting Thursday at 7AM PST/10AM EST.

“Governor Kate Brown has stated that she would explore ‘all available options’ to defend the state’s well established authority to protect our communities’ land, water, air, and existing small businesses and jobs,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “The current federal administration may challenge Oregon DLCD’s action. However, the federal administration cannot trample the Oregon laws that protect our clean water, clean air, and state lands.”

“Oregon has rightfully asserted that FERC must not consider a permit for this project until Jordan Cove LNG has qualified for its state permits,” said Courtney Johnson, Executive Director and Staff Attorney at Crag Law Center. “Oregon has concluded that the Jordan Cove LNG project would have significant adverse effects on the state's coast and without permits from the state of Oregon, Jordan Cove LNG cannot move forward.”

“Oregon has spoken once again. Jordan Cove LNG does not meet Oregon’s standards that are in place to protect the South Coast and the commercial and recreational fishing industry that our communities rely on,” said Mike Graybill, Coos County resident and former Manager of the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. 

"I am both grateful and thankful to the state of Oregon for upholding the protections of the local citizens, fisheries, and wildlife that the Coastal Zone encompasses," said Chris Press, an impacted landowner in Coos County. "Oregon has made the right decision to stand with landowners and deny another permit for the Jordan Cove LNG export project.”

###

Facing Widespread Opposition, Jordan Cove LNG Withdraws Application to Oregon Department of State Lands

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hannah Sohl, Rogue Climate, hannah@rogueclimate.org, 541.840.1065 

Facing Widespread Opposition, Jordan Cove LNG Withdraws Application to Oregon Department of State Lands

[SALEM, OR] - Amidst enormous public opposition and just one week before the Department of State Lands (DSL) was set to make a decision on a critical Removal-Fill permit on the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline, Pembina has withdrawn their application to the agency.

On Tuesday, DSL issued a rejection of a request for Pembina to extend the agencies timeline, noting the Canadian fossil fuel corporation had still not provided adequate information after multiple extensions.

“It is outrageous that Pembina has withdrawn their application just a few days before the Department of State Lands was set to make a decision,” said Mike Graybill, Former Manager of the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and resident of Coos County. “Again and again, we have seen this Canadian fossil fuel corporation not playing by the same rules any other company would have to for a project of this size.” 

“I was one of hundreds who spoke out against this project at the Department of State Lands hearing in Klamath Falls because the proposed pipeline threatens our watersheds, forests, culture, ancestral homelands, burial sites and future,” said 17-year old member of the Klamath Tribes Ashia Wilson. 

“Jordan Cove LNG would do tremendous harm to Oregon communities in the path of the pipeline, and they clearly did not meet the bar to get this permit,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “This project is not consistent with the protection, conservation, or best use of Oregon’s waters. Director Vicki Walker and Oregon DSL created a fair public process, and now Pembina is backing out so that they don’t have to play by the rules.” 

The Removal-Fill permit is a critical state permit needed by Pembina to build its proposed fracked gas export terminal, dredge millions of cubic feet of sediment out of Coos Bay for LNG tankers, and construct a pipeline through and under hundreds of waterways in Southern Oregon. The project cannot move forward without it.

Under Oregon law, DSL has the authority to deny permits for projects that are not consistent with the protection, conservation, or best use of Oregon’s waters and that unreasonably interfere with navigation, fishing, or public recreation. 

Approximately 49,000 comments were submitted by impacted landowners, Tribal members and Governments, commercial fishermen, small business owners, health professionals, youth, and many more Oregonians concerned about the impacts the fossil fuel project would have on hundreds of waterways in southwest Oregon. Close to 3,000 rural Southern Oregon residents spoke out against the project at overflowing DSL hearings in Klamath County, Jackson County, Douglas County, and Coos County. In November, nearly 1,000 people rallied in opposition to Jordan Cove LNG at the state capitol building.

“Thousands of southern Oregonians showed up to hearings and submitted comments in opposition to this project,” said Hannah Sohl of Rogue Climate. “Pembina wasted more than two years of taxpayers’ time pushing for this state agency’s approval even though it was obvious the project could never meet the state standards that protect our fisheries, rural communities, and waterways.” 

Other permitting processes, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s certification under the Natural Gas Act, are still moving forward. However, the project cannot proceed without the Removal-Fill permit or the Clean Water Act permit that was denied by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in May 2019. Oregon DEQ denied the Clean Water Act Section 401 permit with over 200 pages of detailed findings that the massive LNG export terminal and pipeline could not demonstrate that they would meet Oregon's clean water standards.

“If they have to withdraw an application like this after 15 years of outside companies trying to get approval, then it's time for them to withdraw the project altogether.” Stacey McLaughlin, an impacted Douglas County landowner. “Leave Oregon farmers, fishermen, ranchers, and tribal members alone. It's time for Pembina to cancel this project. Oregon doesn't want this pipeline."

###

Impacted landowners, tribal members, fishermen, climate advocates, and more will be hosting a Press Conference in response to this application withdrawal at 9:30AM on Tuesday, February 4th at the Department of State Lands building in Salem.

Communities Raise Concerns Regarding Federal Agency Determination that Shuns Protected Species to Promote Jordan Cove LNG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, January 17th, 2020

CONTACTS: 

Stacey Detwiler, Director, Rogue Riverkeeper, 541.488.9831, Stacey@RogueRiverkeeper.org

Susan Jane Brown, Staff Attorney, Western Environmental Law Center, 503.914.1323, brown@westernlaw.org

Communities Raise Concerns Regarding Federal Agency Determination that Shuns Protected Species to Promote Jordan Cove LNG

[COOS BAY, OR] - Oregonians across the state responded today to the determination on Jan. 13 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline would not jeopardize protected species or adversely impact their habitat. Local experts and residents denounced the inadequate review process that ignored the inevitable major impacts on aquatic species from the 229-mile pipeline and major marine export terminal. Project opponents also expressed dismay regarding Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross’s obviously political comments in the NOAA news release promoting the fossil fuel project.

“NOAA Fisheries’ decision and the statement from Secretary Ross demonstrate that this was a political decision, not a science-based one,” said Susan Jane Brown, staff attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center. “NOAA Fisheries’ decision is not even based upon accurate information. Oregonians will have to rely on Gov. Kate Brown, our Oregon agencies, and the federal courts to protect Oregon’s imperiled aquatic wildlife and to stand up to the Trump Administration’s political support for this project.”

“The NOAA biological opinion overlooked the importance of the upper Coos Bay area, where the Jordan Cove LNG plant will be situated, as a feeding area for federally listed green sturgeon,” said Steve Miller, a Coos Bay fisheries biologist. "The construction of the pipeline and terminal, the dredging of the bay, and the LNG tanker traffic are all threats to recovery of the green sturgeon. The information provided to NOAA by Jordan Cove also lacked site specific information on stream and wetland impacts, including increased water temperature and sediment as a result of Jordan Cove LNG's actions, for both this species and coho salmon."  

The news came on the very same day that the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) announced a prohibition on harvesting wild spring Chinook salmon in the Umpqua River due to low fish count caused by increased water temperatures. In its comments last summer and again in December 2019 to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, ODFW highlighted major information gaps and potential negative impacts on Oregon’s fish and marine wildlife, issues that remain unresolved despite NOAA Fisheries’ decision.

“The Jordan Cove LNG project threatens the economy and communities of the south Coast which rely on healthy estuary and ocean systems,” said Natalie Ranker with Coos Bay community group Citizens for Renewables, “NOAA’s decision ignores the impact of the project to our local fisheries.” 

Communities throughout Oregon and Northern California have been speaking out against the Jordan Cove LNG project. They have urged Governor Kate Brown to publicly oppose the project, including on November 21st, 2019 when well over 750 people from across the region assembled for a rally and sit-in at the Oregon State Capitol to demand a stop to the project. Jordan Cove LNG would quickly become Oregon’s largest greenhouse gas polluter, equivalent to over 15 times the emissions of Oregon’s only remaining, soon-to-close coal plant in Boardman. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality denied Jordan Cove LNG their Clean Water Act 401 permit in May 2019, and the Oregon Department of State Lands is set to make their decision on the project’s “Removal-Fill” permit by January 31st, 2020. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will make its own determination soon after.

###

 Federal Environmental Impact Statement for Jordan Cove LNG remains deficient while required permit approvals still missing 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 15, 2019

CONTACT:

Stacey Detwiler, stacey@rogueriverkeeper.org, 541-488-9831

Dan Serres, dan@columbiariverkeeper.org, 503-890-2441

Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org, 914-261-4626

Federal Environmental Impact Statement for Jordan Cove LNG remains deficient while required permit approvals still missing 

[WASHINGTON, DC] -- Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and fracked gas pipeline. This project has faced fierce opposition for more than a decade by a grassroots coalition of impacted landowners, anglers, small business owners, tribal members, health professionals, and communities across Oregon and Northern California. 

The FEIS does not grant Pembina permission to build the Jordan Cove LNG project. The Canadian fossil fuel corporation is still missing federal, state, and local permits that are required for the project. The FEIS is prepared by the federal agencies involved in reviewing the project to assess its potential impacts to the environment, from drinking water supplies to healthy forests. 

In 2016, after a similar FEIS, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission denied this project because of adverse impacts to landowners and a lack of public need for the project.

"Myself and over 90 other landowners along the pipeline route are facing eminent domain if this project gets a permit from FERC," said Ron Foord, impacted landowner in Coos Bay. "I am concerned about our safety and groundwater, and quite frankly, FERC should deny the use of eminent domain to export gas because that's simply not for public use."

"FERC was right to reject this dirty fracked gas facility in 2016, and nothing has changed since then," said Sierra Club Senior Attorney Nathan Matthews. "This project remains a threat to clean water and the climate, and it should never be built." 

This spring, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) denied a critical Clean Water Act permit for the Jordan Cove LNG project specifically because “DEQ does not have a reasonable assurance that the construction and authorization of the project will comply with applicable Oregon water quality standards.” This state authorization is required for the project.

Today’s FEIS does not remedy the deficiencies identified by the Oregon DEQ, or other gaps in the analysis. As the FEIS repeatedly acknowledges, many elements of the proposed projects have yet to be developed or specified, such as plans to mitigate impacts on non-federal lands. Without these plans, there is no basis for the FEIS’s assertion that the project’s impacts--which the FEIS acknowledges will otherwise be long term and significant--will be mitigated. 

Pembina has still not reapplied for this Clean Water Act permit that is required for the project and has pushed back a decision on their Coastal Zone Management Permit from Oregon’s Department of Land Development and Conservation to 2020.

“FERC continues to gloss over Oregon’s findings that this project will harm the streams and rivers that our communities rely upon for drinking water and fishing. This project can’t proceed without approval from the state,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “Oregon must stay strong to its values of protecting clean water and a stable climate so Jordan Cove LNG never sees the light of day.”

In 2009, FERC released a similarly inadequate FEIS, which the State of Oregon ultimately challenged under the Kulongoski administration for failing to address Oregon’s substantive concerns and threatening to overstep the state’s authority under the Clean Water Act. In July 2019, Oregon agencies submitted over 200 pages of comments detailing gaps and flaws in FERC’s analysis.

“Our communities in Southern Oregon are counting on Oregon's leaders, including Governor Brown, to stand up to this dangerous, destructive proposal, like Governor Kulongoski did,” said Natalie Ranker of North Bend. “After 15 years and three inadequate Environmental Impact Statements from FERC, it's time for Oregon to stand up and reject this project.”

Hundreds are expected at the Oregon capitol building this Thursday, November 21 for a rally starting at 11AM to tell Governor Kate Brown the time is now to stand up against Jordan Cove LNG.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 17, 2019

CONTACT: Allie Rosenbluth, 541-814-2240, allie@rogueclimate.org

Communities across Oregon call for permit denial as Department of State Lands delays decision on Jordan Cove LNG

[SALEM, OR] The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) has delayed its decision on Jordan Cove LNG’s Removal-Fill permit to Friday, January 31 from the previous decision deadline of Friday, September 20. DSL’s extension will give the applicant more time to respond to substantive and technical comments generated by the public.

The permit under consideration by DSL would allow Pembina, a Canadian fossil fuel corporation, to excavate millions of cubic yards of materials from Oregon wetlands and waterways to export fracked gas overseas. Under Oregon law, DSL has the authority to deny permits for projects that are not consistent with the protection, conservation, or best use of Oregon’s waters and that unreasonably interfere with navigation, fishing, or public recreation. 

“This project will negatively impact existing commercial and recreational fisheries, which are important uses of the bay for the south coast,” said Mike Graybill, bay resident and local scientist. “DSL has a duty to uphold the public trust and should deny the fill and removal permit once and for all.”

Last January, over 3,000 impacted landowners, tribal members, commercial fishermen, youth, and local business owners turned out in opposition to the proposed fracked gas export project at DSL hearings for this permit in southern Oregon. In February, over 50,000 comments were submitted to DSL by people opposing the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and fracked gas pipeline. These communities are calling on the Department of State Lands to deny Jordan Cove LNG as soon as possible.

“By the state continuing to push their decision back, we remain stuck under the threat of this pipeline crossing our land,” said Joan Dahlman, impacted landowner in Douglas County. “After 15 years, property owners like me need Oregon to assure us that this proposed Canadian gas export project will not last another month.”

In May, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) denied the 401 Clean Water Act permit for Jordan Cove LNG, finding that “DEQ does not have a reasonable assurance that the construction and authorization of the project will comply with applicable Oregon water quality standards.” With its denial, DEQ released 200 pages of detailed findings about how the project does not meet Oregon’s water quality standards.

“The Department of Environmental Quality’s denial this spring makes it clear that there is no way for Pembina to build this project without significant harm to Oregon’s waters,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “DSL should use its authority to deny the removal-fill permit for this project, which is clearly not consistent with the protection, conservation, or best use of Oregon’s waters.”

The Jordan Cove LNG proposal would impact hundreds of rivers, streams, and wetlands, including the Coos, Coquille, Umpqua, Rogue, and Klamath rivers, while dredging activities in the Bay would destroy existing jobs in commercial fishing and crabbing. 

The project in previous iterations was denied twice by federal agencies and deemed to not be in the public interest. Opposition to the project has been growing steadily and substantially during local, state, and federal reviews of the proposal.

###

For Immediate Release, July 26, 2019

Contacts: Nick Cady, Cascadia Wildlands, (314) 482-3746, nick@cascwild.org
Robyn Janssen, Rogue Riverkeeper (541) 488-9831, robyn@rogueriverkeeper.org

 Board of Forestry Grants Petition to Protect Coho Salmon Sites from Private and State Logging

SALEM, Ore.— Late Wednesday afternoon after hours of deliberation, the Oregon Board of Forestry voted 5-2 to accept a petition for rulemaking on coho salmon. The petition was brought by 22 different conservation and fishing groups under a rarely used portion of the Forest Practices Act which requires the Board to consider forest protections on private and state land when species are listed under state or federal endangered species acts. The Board is required to identify “resource sites” for listed species and subsequently develop rules to protect these species if threatened by state and private logging practices.

While coho salmon have been threatened with extinction for years, the Board of Forestry has until now never initiated a state-mandated review of its rules to protect the fish. “The Oregon Forest Practices Act requires the Board of Forestry to address conflicts between logging and habitat for species at risk of extinction,” said Nick Cady, Legal Director with Cascadia Wildlands.  “The major ongoing conflict between logging practices and coho salmon habitat is finally getting the hard look it deserves.”

The Board has only undertaken such efforts for a handful of bird species and had never done such work for coho salmon, which are listed as threatened by the federal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The petition specifically asked the Board to (1) collect and analyze the best available information on coho salmon; (2) conduct a resource site inventory; and (3) adopt rules to protect resource sites and to develop a process to identify new sites in the future.

“This resource site process allows the state of Oregon to take a holistic look at the numerous different ways logging impacts salmon and its breeding habitat. Practices that perpetuate poor habitat conditions like intensive logging too close to streams and on landslide-prone areas, sediment from forest roads, and large areas dominated by clear-cuts and said Robyn Janssen with Rogue Riverkeeper. “Oregon’s rules for state and private timberlands are the weakest in the Pacific Northwest, and it is encouraging to see the Board take its first steps towards addressing these deficiencies.”  

Oregon has relied heavily on voluntary measures by timber companies to protect coho.  Between 1995 and 2017, taxpayers invested $65 million dollars of public funds on instream habitat restoration efforts.  However, Oregon’s weak forest practices rules still allow logging to degrade aquatic habitat critical to the recovery of coho salmon. “It is an obvious case of one step forward, two steps back. We need to address the root causes of fish decline. The public’s investments in habitat restoration activities cannot keep up with the pace or scale of the ongoing degradation from poor forest practices,” said Nick Cady. “The Board has a perfect opportunity now to address these inefficiencies and meaningfully address salmon recovery where it matters most.”

Jordan Cove LNG Response to Department of State Lands Information Request Insufficient

Oregonians Call for Removal-Fill Permit Denial Based on Recent DEQ Clean Water Act Permit Denial

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Allie Rosenbluth, 703-298-3639, allie@rogueclimate.org

[SALEM, OR] Less than a week after the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) denied a critical Clean Water Act permit for the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector pipeline, Canadian fossil fuel corporation Pembina responded to an information request from the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) regarding their application for a “Removal-Fill” permit to excavate millions of cubic yards of materials from Oregon wetlands and waterways to export fracked gas overseas.

DSL’s substantial concerns, issued in an April information request, includes the project’s impact on Oregon’s waterways, public safety, failure to demonstrate a need for the project, and the company’s lack of local land-use permits.

“The Department of Environmental Quality denied Clean Water Act permits for Jordan Cove LNG because there are not reasonable assurances that the project will comply with Oregon’s water quality standards, which the agency laid out in over 200-pages critiquing the project,” said Stacey Detwiler, Conservation Director of Rogue Riverkeeper. “We urge the Department of State Lands to hold this project to the same standards that the Department of Environmental Quality did last week and deny this permit.”

DSL requires that a proposed project "is consistent with the protection, conservation, and best uses of the waters of this state" and "does not unreasonably interfere with preservation of waters for navigation, fishing, or public recreation." DEQ has already determined that the project conflicts with these standards because it could dramatically harm water quality.

For 15 years the project has faced fierce opposition from communities throughout Oregon. Over 50,000 public comments were submitted to DSL by impacted landowners, anglers, small business owners, tribal members and Governments, health professionals, and many more Oregonians concerned about the impacts the fossil fuel project would have on waterways. Over 3,000 people, mostly rural Southern Oregon residents, spoke out against the project at overflowing DSL hearings in Klamath County, Jackson County, Douglas County, Coos County, and Salem.

"Pembina cannot paper over the impacts of their fracked gas export proposal,” said Allie Rosenbluth of Rogue Climate. “They continue to push their reckless LNG export and pipeline project even though it clearly conflicts with Oregon's clean water and climate goals. Our state should be focused on transitioning to renewable energy, not new fossil fuel projects."

DSL is one of several state agencies that can stop the Jordan Cove LNG project by denying this critical state permit. A decision from DSL is expected by September 20, 2019 unless the agency files for an extension.

###

Department of State Lands Raises Concerns and Requests Additional Information for Jordan Cove LNG Export Project Impacts to Oregon’s Waters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 12, 2019

CONTACT: Allie Rosenbluth, allie@rogueclimate.org, 703-298-3639

Stacey Detwiler, stacey@rogueriverkeeper.org, 541-488-9831

Department of State Lands Raises Concerns and Requests Additional Information for Jordan Cove LNG Export Project Impacts to Oregon’s Waters

[SALEM, OR] On Thursday, April 12th the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) published a letter raising significant questions about the Jordan Cove LNG export project’s application for a “removal-fill” permit to excavate millions of cubic yards of materials from Oregon wetlands and waterways to export fracked gas overseas. DSL specifically requested more information about impacts to Oregon’s waters from Pembina, the Canadian-based corporation behind the project. DSL has given Pembina 25 days to respond to substantial public comments.

Out of the 49,000 comments submitted by the public to DSL, the agency specifically requested that Jordan Cove LNG address the following concerns, including the failure to demonstrate a public need for the project, failure to demonstrate the project is consistent with the best use of Oregon’s waters, that the project will likely interfere with fishing, recreation, public recreation public health and safety, and more.

“Dredging out Coos Bay and damming, dredging, and digging below hundreds of waters and wetlands that flow into the Klamath, Rogue, Umpqua, Coquille, and Coos Rivers threatens clean water and the health of our communities,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “We urge DSL to hold Jordan Cove LNG to the highest environmental standards that protect Oregon’s waters and deny this permit.”

The public comments were submitted to DSL by impacted landowners, anglers, small business owners, tribal members and Governments, health professionals, and many more Oregonians concerned about the impacts the fossil fuel project would have on nearly 500 waterways. Over 3,000 people, mostly rural Southern Oregon residents, spoke out against the project at overflowing DSL hearings in Klamath County, Jackson County, Douglas County, Coos County, and Salem.

In the letter, the agency also raised questions about whether the project conforms with existing land use regulations. Jordan Cove LNG has failed to obtain critical land use permits for the project in Coos Bay and Douglas County. Additionally, DSL raised concerns that the applicant has not demonstrated that the project conforms to Jackson County’s comprehensive plan.

“It’s encouraging that DSL is paying attention to Jordan Cove’s failure to obtain local land-use permits in the coastal zone management zones,” said Tonia Moro, Medford-based attorney who has represented opponents of the Jordan Cove LNG proposal. “Jordan Cove’s problems with obtaining those permits have just begun.”

DSL requested that Jordan Cove LNG respond to all substantial public comments in the next 25 days. All missing information and responses from Jordan Cove LNG are due to DSL by August 9, 2019. DSL will make a final decision about Jordan Cove LNG’s removal-fill permit in September 2019.

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 Oregon Agency Says No to Jordan Cove LNG Project

Oregon denies critical clean water act permit for Jordan Cove LNG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 6, 2019

Allie Rosenbluth, Rogue Climate,  allie@rogueclimate.org, 703-298-3639

[SALEM, OR] - The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) today delivered a potentially fatal blow to the Jordan Cove LNG project and the Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline which has faced fierce opposition for more than a decade by a grassroots coalition of impacted landowners, anglers, small business owners, tribal members, health professionals, and many more Oregonians and Northern Californians.

In today's action, Oregon DEQ denied the Clean Water Act Section 401 permit because the massive LNG export terminal and pipeline could not demonstrate that they would meet Oregon's clean water standards. Jordan Cove LNG and the Pacific Connector Pipeline cannot be built without the state permit. With their denial, DEQ released 200 pages of detailed findings about how the project does not meet Oregon’s water quality standards.

DEQ notes that “DEQ does not have a reasonable assurance that the construction and authorization of the project will comply with applicable Oregon water quality standards.”

This decision follows a record-breaking public comment period that closed last August in which 42,000 people submitted comments raising concerns about the impact the Jordan Cove LNG project would have on fishing, recreation, public drinking water, and the economy of southern Oregon.

“Oregon’s decision shows that when we come together and speak out, we can win,” said Hannah Sohl, Director of Rogue Climate, one of the organizations involved in a broad coalition opposing the LNG project. “For years, a record number of Oregonians have urged Gov. Brown and Oregon agencies to put the public interest over the special interests of Canadian fossil fuel corporation Pembina. It is great to see Oregon DEQ do just that. Oregon should be focused on creating good-paying jobs in renewable energy, not on new fossil fuel projects that hurt us all.”

“Today’s denial is great news for our Klamath Tribal members and other Oregon citizens that have been concerned about protecting  fisheries and Oregon’s waters. The impact this project would have on our waterways is only one of many reasons the Jordan Cove LNG project should be stopped for good,” said Chairman Don Gentry of the Klamath Tribes. “The Klamath Tribes are very encouraged that the state of Oregon is making this move to protect clean water, cultural resources, and our traditional territory.”

"For 15 years, we have known that this project would harm our local Coos Bay area - threatening our public safety, our estuary, and our fishing," said Jody McCaffree, a Coos Bay activist who has fought the Jordan Cove LNG since first learning about it 15 years ago. "I am so relieved to see the State of Oregon take this stand for a healthy Coos Bay community and clean water in our state. We will remain vigilant until this project is dead and gone."

“Today’s decision shows that the state of Oregon is standing up for our clean water and our communities,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “Despite efforts from the Trump administration to weaken the Clean Water Act, this decision reflects the threat to our waters from the project and the impact of overwhelming public opposition.”

This decision comes on the heels of Pembina announcing last week that they are cutting their projected spending for 2019 in half and are delaying the proposed launch date of the export facility by a year as they wait for state and federal regulators to make decisions on project permits.

Other permitting periods like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) are still moving forward. The comment period on the DEIS is open until July 5th, and hearings are expected to take place across southern Oregon in late June. However, the project cannot be built without the Clean Water Act permit.

“Oregon DEQ’s decision to deny this permit will now allow Oregon landowners to get on with our lives after 15 yeaars of living under the threat of eminent domain,” said affected landowner in Klamath County,  Deb Evans. “We are incredibly thankful for Oregon DEQ’s decision to deny this permit.”

“We are pleased Oregon DEQ followed the law and the science. DEQ concluded the risks to our water, wildlife, and communities were simply too great to allow this project to go forward," said Andrew Hawley, staff attorney for the Western Environmental Law Center. "This decision shows that the Clean Water Act still works in Oregon to protect our citizens, our rivers, and our fish.”

“Today’s DEQ decision is a win for the public health of all Oregonians,” said Patricia Kullberg, MD, MPH of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility. “The Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline would degrade drinking water for nearly 160,000 Oregonians and threaten the health of babies, pregnant women, the elderly, low income communities and communities of color. This is what the Clean Water Act was meant to do: protect the environment and public health by keeping our water safe and clean.”

“We’re thrilled that the state of Oregon is standing up for Oregon’s drinking water, local fisheries, and world class waterways by denying this project,” said Sam Krop of Cascadia Wildlands. “This denial should show Pembina their fracked gas project isn’t wanted in Oregon.”

"As we've said all along, it's never a question of whether a pipeline and fossil fuel facility will threaten our communities and waterways, it's a matter of when. We applaud the recognition -- once again -- of the dangers Jordan Cove and the Pacific Connector pose, and for the DEQ rejecting them. Today's decision is a reminder that the people's power, no matter the attempts from corporate polluters and the Trump administration, will never be silenced," said Rhett Lawrence, Conservation Director with the Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club.

The DEQ denial is linked here. https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterDocs/jcdecletter.pdf

###

FERC Releases Draft Environmental Review of Jordan Cove LNG Project 

Twice-Denied Fracked Gas Project Faces Tremendous Opposition Across the Pacific Northwest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, March 29, 2019

Contact: Allie Rosenbluth, allie@rogueclimate.org, 703-298-3639

Stacey Detwiler, stacey@rogueriverkeeper.org, 541-488-9831

Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org, 914-261-4626

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the twice-denied Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Export Terminal and Pacific Connector Pipeline proposed for southern Oregon, opening a public comment period that will close July 5th. Public hearings will be held in southern Oregon in June.

In 2016, FERC denied this project, citing adverse impacts to landowners and a lack of public need for the project. This is one of the few fracked gas pipelines ever denied by FERC. Since then, the Canadian fossil fuel corporation behind the proposed project, now Pembina, has reapplied under the Trump administration. The proposed 229-mile Pacific Connector Pipeline and the associated Jordan Cove LNG export terminal would impact more than 485 waterways in southern Oregon including the Rogue, Umpqua, Coos, and Klamath Rivers, and would quickly become the single largest climate polluter in the state.

“FERC already denied this project because of the harm it would cause to me and other landowners impacted by eminent domain for this private corporation,” said Russ Lyon, an impacted landowner in Douglas County. “We are still here. FERC needs to reject permits again and end this nightmare.”

“This project threatens our watersheds, forests, culture, ancestral homelands, burial sites and future. We have been here since time immemorial and will not let our home be violated for a fossil fuel corporation’s short term profit,” said 16-year old Ashia Wilson of the Klamath Tribe’s Youth Council. “FERC and Governor Brown need to listen to my generation and my Tribe’s call to stop the project now.”

For over 14 years communities impacted by this project have been fighting to protect their land, clean drinking water, and climate. Now, opposition to the project is growing tremendously across the Pacific Northwest and the United States. Today’s DEIS release comes just one day after hundreds of Oregonians came to the Oregon State Capitol to meet with lawmakers to urge them to speak out against the project.This February, the Oregon Department of State Lands received over 50,000 comments in opposition to the project. More than 3,000 people spoke out against the project in public hearings, including impacted landowners, anglers, small business owners, tribal members, health professionals, and many more Oregonians concerned about the impacts the fossil fuel project would have on nearly 500 waterways. The Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, and Karuk Tribe all officially oppose the project.

“Southern Oregonians know that, despite Pembina’s advertising blitz and fancy new offices, nothing’s changed, and that the Jordan Cove LNG project still threatens our water, climate, economy, and safety,” said Hannah Sohl, executive director of Southern Oregon based community organization Rogue Climate. “That’s why tens of thousands of people have voiced their opposition to the fracked gas project over the last year, and will continue to do so throughout this FERC process. What our communities need is a faster transition to clean energy, not steps that take us backwards.”

Whether or not FERC grants Pembina their certificate of need, the State of Oregon has the authority to deny this project through the state permitting process. In 2011, Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality denied a Clean Water Act permit for the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal on the Columbia River because of impacts to waterways, even after FERC approved the project.

“Governor Brown has the responsibility to protect our communities and clean water,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “The state of Oregon should use its authority to deny critical state permits and protect our waterways from harm caused by federally-licensed projects.”

Prepared by federal agencies, the DEIS outlines some of the potential impacts the Jordan Cove LNG project would have on thousands of acres of forests, the public drinking water of over 150,000 Oregonians, the climate, and more. After the 90-day public comment period, FERC proposes to review comments, release a Final Environmental Impact Statement in November, then issue a final decision in January 2020 on the certificate of need for the project.

“The Coos Bay estuary is a highly productive ecosystem. It provides jobs through fishing, tourism, and outdoor recreation," said Mike Graybill, former Manager of the South Slough Estuarine Research Reserve in Coos Bay. "The dredging proposed for the LNG tankers would do permanent damage to the bay. Federal and state agencies should protect existing jobs and deny permits for Pembina’s export terminal and pipeline.”

"FERC was right to reject this dangerous fracked gas export terminal last time, when FERC explained that there was no evidence showing that anybody actually wanted to buy gas from this boondoggle," said Rhett Lawrence, Conservation Director of the Sierra Club's Oregon Chapter. "Nothing has changed since then. Today's DEIS provides no additional evidence of need or market support for this project. Oregon communities shouldn't be left to pay the price of our clean air and water just so that fossil fuel executives can build a pipeline that they hope somebody will someday want to use."

###

Jordan Cove Continues to Fail to Demonstrate That It Qualifies for State Permits

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2019

CONTACT:

Hannah Sohl, hannah@rogueclimate.org, 541-840-1065

Stacey Detwiler, stacey@rogueriverkeeper.org, 541-488-9831

Jordan Cove Continues to Fail to Demonstrate That It Qualifies for State Permits

Oregon Department of State Lands Requests Extension of Review for Pembina’s Application

[OREGON] -- As a result of the overwhelming number of public comments received by the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) in opposition to Pembina’s “removal-fill” permit application for the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and the Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline, DSL announced a six month extension for further review.

Throughout the 60-day public comment period on the permit, the Department of State Lands received over 50,000 comments in opposition to the project. More than 3,000 people spoke out against the project in public hearings, including impacted landowners, anglers, small business owners, tribal members, health professionals, and many more Oregonians concerned about the impacts the fossil fuel project would have on nearly 500 waterways. The majority of attendees at hearings in Klamath County, Jackson County, Douglas County, Coos County, and Salem demanded that the permit be denied.

Pembina must receive Department of State Lands approval for one of the largest dredging projects in Oregon history to drastically alter the Coos Bay estuary for the proposed liquefaction and LNG shipping terminal, as well as for the river crossings of nearly 500 Oregon waterways. The Department of State Lands has the authority and responsibility to deny this permit if the project would harm waterways or impact navigation, fishing, and public recreation.

“We urge the Department of State Lands to stand up for Oregonians’ clean water by denying this permit,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “Blasting, trenching, and drilling under and through nearly 500 waterways across the state would have irreversible damage to our clean drinking water and recreation-based economy.”

With this extension, Pembina is now more than one year behind its schedule for the Jordan Cove LNG project. The Canadian fossil fuel corporation was hoping to qualify for all state, federal, and local permits by the end of 2018. As of February, Pembina has not qualified for any state or federal permits and has even lost critical land use permits in both Coos and Douglas Counties. In 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruled that this project did not qualify for a permit. The company filed again when the Trump administration took office.

“Year after year, out-of-state corporate interests have been unable to demonstrate that this project will not harm water quality, existing jobs, landowner rights, energy prices, small businesses, and our climate,” said Allie Rosenbluth of Rogue Climate, a community organization based in Jackson County. “The only way Pembina will ever get permits is by throwing around special interest money through campaign contributions, lobbyists, and a barrage of misleading media ads. It is time for Governor Kate Brown and state agencies to stop this project once and for all. What we need is a faster transition to renewable energy and greater energy efficiency.”

“As a fishing guide, I know how important clean rivers are for Southern Oregon’s economy,” said Stuart Warren, owner and guide at Stuart Warren Fly Fishing. “The Oregon Department of State Lands needs to protect our existing jobs in fishing and recreation by denying this permit for Jordan Cove.”

“This project would cross 485 waterways and risk the drinking water of over 156,000 Oregonians,” said Dr. Melanie Plaut of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility. “State Lands must deny this permit because the pipeline and export terminal is not the best use of our waterways.”

The state of Oregon has the authority to stop these types of harmful projects that put clean water and the health of Oregonians at risk. The Department of State Lands can deny the permit if it determines that the 229-mile pipeline and export terminal would degrade water quality for fishing, recreation, and transportation. Today’s extension means that the Department of State Lands will be able to fully review the substantial comments submitted in opposition to the project.

DSL will announce their decision by September 20, 2019. More information from the Oregon Department of State Lands can be found at:  https://www.oregon.gov/dsl/WW/Pages/jordancove.aspx

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Oregon Wildlands Act Passes U.S. House of Representatives, Now Awaits President’s Signature

Measures will designate wilderness and wild and scenic rivers in Oregon including 140 miles of Wild Rogue tributaries

 Contacts:  
Zach Collier, Northwest Rafting Company, 541-399-6442
Robyn Janssen, Rogue Riverkeeper, 541-488-9831

Ashland, OR (February 26, 2019) – Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47), a public lands package that includes the Oregon Wildlands Act (S. 1548) and the Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Special Management Area Designation Act (S. 513/H.R. 1308). The legislation would add more than 1.3 million acres of public land to the National Wilderness Preservation System, 621 miles of rivers to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It also includes dozens of other bipartisan public lands measures that would conserve some of our nation’s wildest lands and rivers. The Natural Resources Management Act passed the U.S. Senate on February 12, 2019, and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“This legislation shows that Democrats and Republicans can work together to ensure overall better management and use of our public lands.” said Zach Collier, owner of Northwest Rafting Company. “I am appreciative of Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as well as Reps. Greg Walden, Kurt Schrader and Peter DeFazio for working hard to secure important protections Oregonians want for federal public lands and rivers in Oregon. Our congressional delegation has worked together for many years to make this happen.”

The Oregon bills have been pending in Congress for years despite broad public support from Oregonians across the state, including hunters and anglers, business owners, veterans, community leaders, and conservationists. The bills will protect some of Oregon’s most unique lands and rivers that are treasured by Oregonians as sources of clean drinking water, their economic benefits derived from outdoor recreation, and their wilderness character that provides a unique backcountry experience.

“Protected wildlands and waterways in Oregon are good for business, critical for great craft beer, and are part of our identity as Oregonians,” said Jamie Floyd, co-founder of Ninkasi Brewing Company. “That’s why we are ecstatic about Rep. DeFazio’s long-time efforts to pass the Oregon Wildlands Act, which will forever safeguard special places like Devil’s Staircase, the Rogue, Elk, and Chetco Rivers and other Oregon treasures.”

The Oregon Wildlands Act will designate the approximately 30,000-acre Devil’s Staircase Wilderness in the Oregon Coast Range northeast of Reedsport.  It will also safeguard 311 miles of rivers, including nearly 256 miles as Wild and Scenic Rivers, like the Molalla and Elk Rivers and 140 miles of tributaries to the lower Rogue River. The bill will also permanently withdraw portions of the salmon-rich Chetco River, the drinking water source for the City of Brookings, from mining claims. U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader have been steadfast champions of the protections in the reintroduced bill located within their congressional districts.

John Atkins, president of the Molalla River Alliance, added, “Congress just gave the Molalla River a big boost to become one of the nation's newest Wild and Scenic Rivers.  Approval of the Oregon Wildlands Act after so many years of federal inaction is a landmark bipartisan achievement.”

The Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Special Management Area Act would permanently safeguard an area in the North Umpqua basin that contains some of the best wild steelhead spawning areas in the Pacific Northwest and honor Frank Moore, a World War II veteran, and his wife of over 70 years, who are both legendary stewards of the North Umpqua.

“I’m very proud to have mine and my wife’s name associated with this bill. It’s important that we prioritize our land management policy to put the resources and our wild salmon and steelhead first. That’s the least we can do to ensure these treasured lands and fish will be around for future generations,” said Frank Moore, the namesake of the legislation.

Western Oregon boasts some of the most biologically diverse and undeveloped lands in the nation. From free-flowing rivers teeming with salmon to deep ancient forests to plants seen nowhere else on the planet, the area offers people a place to relax and listen to hidden waterfalls, and raft and fish in wild rivers.

Dan Courtney, Chairman of the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians, said: “The Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians applauds the passage of the Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Special Management Area. Our tribe wants nothing more than a healthy Oregon, with clean rivers and a rich biodiversity of our native fish populations. This special designation will help achieve that.  We thank Senators Wyden, Merkley and Representative DeFazio for all of their efforts here. We also thank Frank and Jeanne Moore for a lifetime of work to bettering our state and southern Oregon.”

Passage of these bills will be a boon to local economies. Visitors from across the country and around the globe come to explore and enjoy Western Oregon’s outstanding fishing, rafting, hiking, and other outdoor recreation opportunities. The Outdoor Industry Association recently found that outdoor recreation in Oregon generates $16.4 billion in consumer spending, 172,000 jobs, $5.1 billion in wages and salaries and $749 million in state and local tax revenue.  

The protections in this bill include Wild and Scenic River and Wilderness designations that specifically allow for continued access, hunting, and fishing. Nothing in this bill curtails fighting wildfire or fuels reduction. Both measures build on a rich legacy of river and wilderness conservation in Oregon. Oregonians hope to continue building on this legacy by protecting more of Oregon’s spectacular natural treasures.

The Natural Resources Management Act (S.47) now awaits the president’s signature.  Community members across Oregon are urging the president to sign the bill into law.

###

Broad Coalition of Grassroots Voices to Be Heard as Oregon Department of State Lands Hosts Public Hearings on Critical Permit for Jordan Cove LNG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 6, 2018

Contact: Stacey Detwiler, Rogue Riverkeeper, 541-488-9831; Hannah Sohl, Rogue Climate, 541-840-1065

Broad Coalition of Grassroots Voices to Be Heard as Oregon Department of State Lands Hosts Public Hearings on Critical Permit for Jordan Cove LNG

A wide range of grassroots voices opposed to the Jordan Cove fracked gas pipeline and export terminal will be heard as the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) today opened a 60-day public comment period for Jordan Cove’s Removal-Fill permit.

During this time, DSL will hold public hearings in Klamath Falls, Central Point, Canyonville, North Bend, and Salem.

Klamath County: Monday, January 7, 5:30-8PM, Klamath Falls Community College

Jackson County: Tuesday, January 8, 5:30-8PM, Jackson County Expo

Douglas County: Wednesday, January 9, 5:30-8PM, Seven Feathers Casino

Coos County: Thursday, January 10, 5:30-8PM, The Mill Casino

Salem: Tuesday, January 15, 5:30-8PM, Department of State Lands Building

DSL is one of several state agencies that can stop the Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal and high-pressure Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline. DSL has the power to deny the permit needed for dredging related to the project. A decision from DSL is expected no later than March 2019.

DSL is overseen by the Oregon State Land Board, made up of Governor Kate Brown, State Treasurer Tobias Reed, and Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson. Under Oregon law, DSL has the authority to deny permits for projects that are not consistent with the protection, conservation, or best use of Oregon’s waters and that unreasonably interfere with navigation, fishing, or public recreation.

“Jordan Cove would provide short-term profit to a Canadian corporation while Oregonians would pay the price in risks to our rivers, drinking water, climate and local economy. We need Governor Brown and our state agencies to stop this project and help our state transition to clean energy instead,” said Hannah Sohl, director of Rogue Climate, a community organization based in Medford.

The permit under consideration by DSL would allow Pembina Pipeline Corp., the Canadian fossil fuel corporation behind the Jordan Cove LNG proposal, to excavate millions of cubic yards of materials from Oregon wetlands and waterways to export fracked gas overseas. This proposal would impact more than 485 waterways including the Coos, Coquille, Umpqua, Rogue, and Klamath rivers, while dredging activities in the Bay would hurt jobs in commercial oyster beds and sensitive fisheries.

The project is opposed by a broad coalition that includes landowners, existing small businesses that would be impacted, native tribes, health professionals, climate action and water quality advocates, and more.

“This project would re-shape Coos Bay, increasing tsunami risk to communities and threatening commercial fisheries,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “Damming, dredging, and digging below more than 485 rivers and streams along the pipeline route, including the Rogue, puts our clean water at risk. We urge DSL to stand up for Oregonians and clean water by denying this permit.”

DSL also has the authority to deny the permit based on impacts to public health and safety. Dredging out Coos Bay will allow more water to move more quickly in the event of a tsunami, increasing risks to local communities. The export terminal would put thousands of Coos County residents in a hazardous burn zone, while the gas pipeline would cross some of Oregon’s most fire-prone forests. Just this October, a similar 36-inch diameter fracked gas pipeline exploded in British Columbia, starting a large wildfire and forcing the evacuation of nearby First Nations families.

“As a wildlands firefighter, I’m calling on Oregon Department of State Lands to reject the Removal-Fill permit for Jordan Cove. If you thought the fires of the last few years were bad, think about what could happen with a major gas line in the middle.” said Clarence Adams, who is also a landowner in the proposed route of the high pressure fracked gas pipeline. “The risks of the project sit on the backs of landowners both on and adjacent to the pipeline who will pay the price with our safety, property values, and drinking water security.

###

State Preserves Authority to Deny Clean Water Act Permits for Jordan Cove

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 September 28, 2018

 Contact:

Stacey Detwiler, stacey@rogueriverkeeper.org, 541-488-9831

Allie Rosenbluth, allie@rogueclimate.org, 541-897-4480

State Preserves Authority to Deny Clean Water Act Permits for Jordan Cove

 Medford, OR - Today, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) accepted the withdrawal and simultaneous resubmittal of Jordan Cove’s application for a critical Clean Water Act section 401 state water quality certification.

 The withdrawal of the Clean Water Act application comes just weeks after more than 42,000 public comments were submitted critiquing the project and DEQ released a long list of unanswered questions about the impacts of the project on waterways. DEQ now has a year to gather the information it needs to properly assess the potential harm to Oregon’s waterways and to determine if the project should be allowed to proceed at all.

 “The Clean Water Act gives each state the authority to protect its waters, wildlife, and communities from harm caused by federally-licensed projects,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “This project threatens the health of our rivers, and the communities that rely on them, and we will continue to urge DEQ to use its authority to review these impacts and confirm what we already know- this project is not right for Oregon.”

 The Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline would cut through more than 485 rivers and streams, including the Rogue, Klamath, and Umpqua rivers and put the drinking water for more than 116,000 Oregonians at risk. Construction would require massive amounts of dredging, diverting, and damming waterways that support threatened salmon habitat, as well as local businesses that depend on healthy rivers and streams.

 This decision reflects both the complexity of the project and the impact of overwhelming public opposition. An unprecedented 42,000+ comments were submitted by the public asking Oregon DEQ to deny water quality certification under the Clean Water Act. In August, more than 200 impacted landowners, youth, tribal leaders, health professionals, business owners, and environmental and climate advocates rallied in Medford to ask the Oregon DEQ to deny this permit.

 “Communities across Oregon have been calling on our state to stop this project for over a decade,” said Allie Rosenbluth with Rogue Climate. “Governor Kate Brown and our state agencies have substantial power to protect clean water and our climate for future generations. It’s time for our state to use that authority and stop this project for good.”

 With today’s decision to accept Jordan Cove’s withdrawal and resubmittal, Oregon DEQ preserves its ability to continue to review the project and its impacts to clean water.

###

Court of Appeals Upholds Oregon's Right to Protect Water Quality, Fish Habitat From Destructive River Mining

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 September 12, 2018

 Contacts:        

Pete Frost, Western Environmental Law Center, 541-359-3238, frost@westernlaw.org

Stacey Detwiler, Rogue Riverkeeper, (541) 488-9831, stacey@rogueriverkeeper.org

Jonathan Evans, Center for Biological Diversity, (510) 844-7118, jevans@biologicaldiversity.org

Nick Cady, Cascadia Wildlands, (314) 482-3746, nick@cascwild.org

 Court of Appeals Upholds Oregon's Right to Protect Water Quality, Fish Habitat From Destructive River Mining

 PORTLAND, Ore.— Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an Oregon law restricting motorized gold mining in sensitive salmon streams. In 2017, Oregon passed the Suction Dredge Reform Bill (SB 3) to protect water quality and fish habitat across the state from damaging suction dredge mining.

 A coalition of conservation and fisheries groups joined the case to help defend the Oregon law, including Rogue Riverkeeper, Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman’s Associations, Institute for Fisheries Resources, Oregon Coast Alliance, Cascadia Wildlands, Native Fish Society, and the Center for Biological Diversity.  The groups were represented by the Eugene-based Western Environmental Law Center and the Colorado-based Western Mining Action Project.

 “The court correctly ruled that states can protect water quality and wild fish from harmful motorized mining,” said Pete Frost, attorney for Rogue Riverkeeper and other conservation groups. “This decision supports a growing effort in western states to protect clean water and wildlife for everyone.”

 Suction dredge mining is a type of recreational gold mining that uses gas-powered, floating dredges to suck up the bottoms of rivers. This type of mining can trap and kill fish, smothers critical spawning gravel for salmon, and stir up legacy mercury and other toxic metals from historic mining operations.

 “Democrats and Republicans in urban and rural Oregon worked to pass Senate Bill 3 to protect Oregon’s rivers and fisheries,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper. “Today’s decision honors the legacy of Senator Alan Bates from southern Oregon who championed the rights of all Oregonians to clean, healthy waterways where iconic salmon and lamprey are protected from harmful mining practices.”

 SB 3 protects Oregon’s rivers and the communities that rely on them by prohibiting suction dredge mining in designated essential salmonid habitat. Outside these areas, suction dredge mining can occur under permit.

 “This is a major step in the battle to protect the health of our families, waterways and wildlife from this dirty, outdated form of mining that pollutes our waterways with sediment and toxic mercury and destroys irreplaceable cultural resources,” said Jonathan Evans, environmental health legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity.

 Peer-reviewed science shows that suction dredging can stir up toxic mercury buried in streambeds, as well as reduce salmon spawning success due to alterations in habitat. Additionally, in hot spots — such as the Umpqua and Rogue rivers — the number of dredges has created conflicts with anglers and other recreationists.

 "This victory comes as a huge relief," said Nick Cady with Cascadia Wildlands. "It would have been ridiculous to let gold mining in salmon spawning habitat proceed unregulated after all we have invested as a state in salmon recovery."

 The Suction Dredge Reform bill works to protect clean and healthy rivers that support Oregon’s recreation and commercial fishing industries. In 2008 the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife found that people spent $2.5 billion on fish and wildlife recreation in the state. 

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Jordan Cove LNG Rehearing Denied by Federal Agency, Southern Oregon Communities Prepare to Challenge Decision

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, May 21, 2020

CONTACT:

Allie Rosenbluth, 541-816-2240, allie@rogueclimate.org

Jordan Cove LNG Rehearing Denied by Federal Agency, Southern Oregon Communities Prepare to Challenge Decision 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -- Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced that it would deny all requests for rehearing for the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal. The State of Oregon, multiple Tribal governments, landowners impacted by eminent domain, fishers and crabbers, and environmental groups had all requested FERC revisit its ruling on the widely-opposed project. FERC Commissioner Richard Glick was the lone dissent, pointing to climate, private property concerns, and the low chance that this project will ever be built.

Communities across Oregon reaffirmed their commitment to taking every step to ensure that the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and pipeline will not move forward. This denial can be appealed to the United States Courts of Appeals. 

Jordan Cove LNG is still missing essential authorizations from the state of Oregon, which are required before the project can move forward. Governor Kate Brown has also pledged to use Oregon’s legal resources to defend the State’s authority to protect public safety, health, and the environment.

“FERC panders to the interests of the fossil fuel industry at all costs. Their arbitrary use of power to serve a Canadian corporation over the rights and liberties of Americans by taking private property through eminent domain is immoral,” said Stacey McLaughlin, an impacted landowner in Douglas County. “This is an egregious violation of our 5th amendment rights. We’ll see FERC in court!”

“The Jordan Cove LNG export project will never meet Oregon’s safeguards that protect our communities, our coastal fisheries, and climate,” said Todd Buchholz of the Coos Bay Surfrider chapter. “Just last week, the Canadian fossil fuel company behind the project, Pembina, packed up their offices in southern Oregon and left, showing that they are not a part of our communities and they know this project will never be built. It’s time for Pembina to pack up and leave Oregon for good.”

“As Commissioner Glick recognized in his dissent, Jordan Cove LNG has no customers,” said Nathan Matthews, Senior Attorney with the Sierra Club. “This project is a boondoggle, and FERC should not burden Oregon’s environment, communities, and landowners by approving a pipeline that nobody needs and that Oregonians don’t want. This project is still missing multiple state and federal permits, and we will continue to ensure that the project is not built.” 

“Today’s action by FERC underlines how important it is for the State of Oregon to defend the decisions made by our state agencies to protect our clean air and water, and the wellbeing of Oregonians” said southern Oregon Representative Pam Marsh. “Oregon’s congressional delegation should stand united in telling FERC that authorizing LNG export projects and fracked gas pipelines must not occur during the Covid-19 pandemic.” 

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Protecting waterways from the Pacific Connector Pipeline

Impacts to Clean Water, Rivers, and Fish

The Pacific Connector Pipeline and associated Jordan Cove LNG terminal would have significant impacts on waterways throughout southern Oregon. The company needs crucial Clean Water Act permits in order to construct the pipeline and terminal and the state has the authority to deny these permits if impacts to public waterways prove significant. Rogue Riverkeeper and a statewide coalition are determined to prove this is true. 

Impacts to waterways include: 

• Crossing of 485 waterways and 6 miles of wetlands;

• Trenching, blasting, damming, and/or drilling at each stream crossing resulting in degraded fish habitat and water quality, increased sediment pollution and turbidity;

• Removal of stream side trees resulting in reduced shade and increased stream temperature;

• Dredging of ~5.7M cubic yards of sediment from Coos Bay to re-shape the bay for LNG tankers that will destroy fish and shellfish habitat and result in increased tsunami hazard;

• Increased ship traffic in Coos Bay that will impact public access for fishing and recreation;

• Reduction in river and stream flows from water withdrawals for pipe testing;

• Crossing of rivers and streams that are drinking water sources for 12 public drinking water systems risking impacts to 156,000 Oregonians;

• Use of nearly 90 million gallons of fresh water for construction and pipeline testing purposes;

• Limits in recreational use of public waterways due to construction, sedimentation, ship traffic, water use, etc.

Press

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Contact:
Stacey Detwiler, stacey@rogueriverkeeper.org, 541-488-9831
Hannah Sohl, Hannah@rogueclimate.org, 541-840-1065

RECORD NUMBER OF COMMENTS TO OREGON DEQ ON CLEAN WATER PERMIT FOR
JORDAN COVE LNG EXPORT TERMINAL & PACIFIC CONNECTOR PIPELINE.

(MEDFORD, OR)

More than 42,000 comments were submitted to Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), overwhelmingly in opposition to the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline. This unprecedented number of comments ask the agency to deny the Clean Water Act permit required for the project. In the last month, thousands of comments flooded in after Oregon DEQ extended the comment period as a result of public pressure. The comment period closed yesterday, on Monday, August 30.

Opposition to the project continues to grow across the region. Last week, over 200 impacted landowners, youth, tribal leaders, health professionals, and environmental and climate advocates met in Medford to ask the Oregon DEQ to deny the Clean Water Act permit for the project.  

“This project would benefit a private corporation while the rest of us would bear the risks to our rivers, drinking water, climate and local economy. We need Governor Brown and our state agencies to stop this project and help our state transition to clean energy instead,” said Hannah Sohl of Rogue Climate.

Under the Clean Water Act, the state of Oregon has the authority to deny permits for projects that could harm clean water. Similar fracked gas pipeline projects across the country have been stalled or stopped completely when these permits are denied by state agencies. In 2010, Oregon DEQ denied this Clean Water Act permit for the Bradwood LNG export terminal and pipeline proposed for the Columbia River. The Bradwood project would have required far less dredging and impacted half as many waterways and wetlands as the Jordan Cove proposal.

“Our state has substantial authority to stand up for Oregonians and challenge harmful projects that put our clean water and our communities at risk by denying this Clean Water Act permit,” said Stacey Detwiler of Rogue Riverkeeper.  

The Pacific Connector pipeline, proposed by a Canadian corporation called Pembina, would cut through at least 485 rivers and streams in Oregon, including the Rogue, Klamath, Umpqua, Coquille, and Coos Rivers. Construction of the pipeline will require damming and diverting small streams, harming habitat for fish and increasing pollution. Under large rivers like the Rogue, the company proposes to use drilling technology prone to failure and massive releases of sediment and drilling chemicals. Additionally, the pipeline would require drilling through 12 public drinking water sources and an unknown number of private wells, putting more than 116,000 southern Oregonians’ drinking water at risk from the impacts of pipeline construction and chemical contamination.

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 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 15, 2021

CONTACT:

Emily Bowes, emily@rogueriverkeeper.org, 541-488-9831

Jonah Sandford, jonah@nedc.org, 503-768-6726

Hellgate Jetboat Excursions withdraws dredge and fill permit application 

After extensive public comment participation and a request for a public hearing, the Grants Pass-based jetboat company decides to withdraw their permit application to dredge several locations on the Rogue River.

[Grants Pass, OR] —On June 4, 2021, a public notice was jointly issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regarding  the jetboat tour company, Hellgate Jetboat Excursions, request to dredge nine locations within a 17-mile stretch of the Rogue River. Hellgate Jetboat Excursions had previously submitted a similar application for five locations in 2018 but withdrew the application only a few months later. Low flow conditions caused by high temperatures and lack of precipitation can make it difficult for the 50-foot boats to travel up and down the river in early September when the company’s regular season ends. By using excavators, prop dredging, and sand bags, the jetboat company planned to excavate the riverbed to be able to continue tours during drought conditions in late summer. 

The public notice stated that Hellgate was requesting to dredge up to 1,050 cubic yards of sediment at nine locations as needed annually. The selected locations are within designated Essential Salmonid Habitat (ESH) which also requires a permit for dredge and fill activities to be obtained from the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL). The DSL stated that the Hellgate application was lacking and deemed incomplete. However, the applications were put forth for public comment by the DEQ and USACE. 

Rogue Riverkeeper launched a campaign to bring the issues around this application to the attention of the public in coordination with Northwest Environmental Defense Center and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. A 30-day extension to the public comment period was requested because the proposed permit application contained complex technical, scientific, and recreational issues as well as Wild & Scenic federal protection concerns relating to the dredging and discharge of fill material in the Rogue River. Community members who use the river and live along it required adequate time to develop thoughtful comments in regards to this proposal and how it would impact them. 

After an extension was granted, over a thousand community members submitted comments to the agencies asking them to deny the permit until the insufficient information which was lacking in the application was provided for public review of the full impacts of the proposed activity. Commenters also requested that the agencies consider practicable alternatives and public benefit, and that the dredging activity should be fully evaluated to determine the potential harm to waters of the United States, a violation of the Clean Water Act. 

The USACE withdrew the application on December 3, 2021 from consideration when the company failed to respond to requests for additional information and the DEQ rejected the application without prejudice a week later on December 9th. 

“This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act and with drought conditions continuing to worsen each year it is important now more than ever to consider the impacts these types of activities have on the health of our watershed as it faces the increasing impacts from climate change. The health of our native salmon populations has an economic impact on anglers, rafting companies, fishing guides, and the other businesses that support the tourist industry in Southern Oregon. The Rogue River is an asset and resource not only for recreational opportunities but for drinking water, native fish species, scenic beauty and healthy local communities. Many businesses rely on its clean water for their livelihood and it does not seem appropriate that one single business gets to make decisions for the river that would impact everyone that uses it.” - Emily Bowes, Rogue Riverkeeper Conservation Director 

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The Jordan Cove LNG Export Project

Why the Jordan Cove LNG Export Project is bad for Oregon.

• Tramples on landowner rights. More than 600 landowners along the pipeline route have been held hostage for over a decade in dealing with the company's low ball offers and the threat of eminent domain. After 13 years, Pembina still has less than 35% of contracts with landowners.
    
• Threatens traditional tribal territories. Cultural resources, traditional tribal territories and burial grounds are threatened by both the the pipeline route and the export facility. The Karuk, Yurok, and Klamath Tribes have openly opposed the fracked gas project.
   
• It is a huge backward step on climate. If built, the Jordan Cove LNG terminal would become one of the largest sources of climate pollution in the state, amounting to up to 15 times the last remaining coal plant in the state of Oregon. Fracking wells that would supply this project have been documented to leak substantial amounts of methane – a powerful greenhouse gas. Studies show that "natural gas" or methane traps 86 times as much solar radiation than CO2 or carbon dioxide making it a climate killer. 
   
• Serious safety risk. LNG facilities and natural gas pipelines are highly explosive. In 2014, the Plymouth LNG facility in Washington exploded, injuring workers and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes. The Jordan Cove terminal would be built in a highly populated region vulnerable to tsunamis, while the pipeline, full of high-pressure gas, would pass through an area with a high risk of wild fires. Many of our fire prone forests are in rural areas where emergency resources are limited.
   
• Higher energy prices.  Exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) “puts pressure on prices and that wouldn't be good for consumers,” according to Avista Senior V.P. Jason Thackston in 2014.
   
• Threats to water resources. The pipeline will affect farms and fishing businesses as it disturbs more than 485 waterways and damages salmon and steelhead habitat.  “Horizontal Directional Drilling” would occur under the Klamath, Rogue, Umpqua, and Coquille Rivers, threatening our rivers with pipeline drilling accidents called “frack outs”. This drilling technique has led to major spills and water contamination in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The pipeline route would also cross 12 public drinking water sources with the potential of impacting nearly 116,000 southern Oregonians. 
   
• Major local impacts, few jobs. More than 1,000 temporary residents from outside our communities will descend on the region during the construction phase. Corporate CEO's promise that dozens of jobs will remain after construction, but history has proven that such promises are rarely kept.
   
• Junk science. An environmental impact statement by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on the last proposal was labeled “incoherent” by the Oregonian, especially since it left out the climate impacts from fracking, transporting, and liquefying the gas. The environmental review is nowhere near complete, with impacts to water quality, wetlands, and endangered species never having been fully analyzed by state and federal agencies, in part due to the company’s inability to provide key information on time.
   
• Clean energy development creates far more jobs than fracked gas.  Each dollar invested in clean energy creates two to seven times as many jobs as spending that dollar on fossil fuels. Businesses, elected officials, and community residents in the Rogue Valley have been working together to speed our transition to cleaner energy like solar and to greater energy efficiency. This project threatens all the progress we are making.

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 14, 2023

Contact: Emily Bowes, 541-488-9831, emily@rogueriverkeeper.org

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department shelves jet boat concession at TouVelle State Recreation Site

White City, OR – After several months of deliberation the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (“OPRD”) has decided to forego a commercial concession agreement at the 59-acre TouVelle State Recreation Site on the Rogue River. OPRD had previously engaged in a “Special Use Permit '' with commercial jet boat company, Rogue Jetboat Adventures, allowing the company to advertise their business, offer parking, ticket sales, and dedicated loading and unloading space within the park boundaries. This annual Special Use Permit expired in October of 2022 and OPRD began exploring a five-year commercial concession agreement.

In late fall, Rogue Riverkeeper requested that OPRD develop a process for the users of the recreation site to provide public input on the decision to open Touvelle State Recreation Site to long-term commercial use. In December of 2022, OPRD distributed a public survey and held a public listening session for members of the community to provide feedback on the potential impacts of a commercial jet boat concession agreement at Touvelle State Recreation Site on park user experience. Over 1,600 park users, adjacent landowners, recreationists, and the general public responded to the survey and almost 1,000 letters were sent to OPRD from Rogue Riverkeeper and Native Fish Society supporters. 

On February 13th, the Office of the Director of Oregon Park and Recreation Department released a statement that the department staff will not be pursuing any further development of the commercial concession agreement for commercial jet boats at Touvelle State Recreation Site at this time. OPRD District Manager Dani Padilla stated, “The park has to be ready, and we have work to do updating TouVelle before we consider adding new services.” Rogue Jetboat Adventures may still use the park boat ramp to service their customers but are restricted to the same rules as any other visitor to the park. This decision by OPRD does not affect any of the commercial jet boat activities on the Rogue River which is controlled by the Oregon State Marine Board. 

“Touvelle State Recreation Sites provides the public with some of the best access to the upper Rogue River and we should not allow one company to profit from public lands that are providing a service to those with less access to travel to other river access points, especially a company whose activities are known to potentially impact sensitive aquatic species and the riparian zone that is sensitive to erosion.” says Rogue Riverkeeper Conservation Director Emily Bowes.  

Many members of the community and local advocacy organizations like Rogue Riverkeeper and Native Fish Society plan to continue to advocate for stronger restrictions on commercial jet boat activity on the Rogue River to protect this valuable waterway that we all enjoy. 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 27, 2023

Contact: Frances Oyung, 541-488-9831 ext. 1019, frances@rogueriverkeeper.org

Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Ruling - Rogue Riverkeeper Statement

Passed by Congress in 1972, the Clean Water Act (CWA) was enacted to “restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters” thus making it illegal to discharge pollutants or dredge or fill material into protected waters. Waterways protected under this act are identified as navigable waters of the United States or “WOTUS”. Some waters very clearly have satisfied the definition of WOTUS while others, particularly wetlands, have difficulty fitting into the “navigable” definition and therefore require further assessment and definition if they are to be protected under the Clean Water Act. In the last fifty years there have been several attempts to clarify the WOTUS definition but in 2021 President Biden issued an executive order directing EPA to review and revise the regulations defining a water of the United States. On December 30th 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced the conclusion of its rule revision process. In the new 2022 WOTUS rule, the EPA defined five categories of waters that will now fall under CWA jurisdiction. 

With this new ruling the EPA also lays out how they expect this rule to function when determining if a waterway falls under protection of the Clean Water Act. The EPA will analyze  a waterway or waterbody for WOTUS status by first considering if a waterbody qualifies as any of the definitions outlined in the new ruling. If a waterbody does not fall under any one of the newly defined categories then the waterbody is not WOTUS and will not receive protection under the Clean Water Act. The original intention of having such an open definition of a water of the United States was to protect as many waterways as possible.  However under this new rule many waterways and water bodies will lose their protection if they do not fall under one of these categories. This could be the case with the iconic symbol of the State of Oregon, Crater Lake.

On January 18, 2023 this new rule was introduced to the Federal Register but will not go into legal effect until March 20, 2023. While the 2022 WOTUS rule marks the end of EPA’s most recent rulemaking process to redefine WOTUS, the definition is under fire from other sources as well. In October 2022, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Sackett v. EPA, where the Court was asked to revisit a previous ruling of WOTUS to further loosen the definition. The Court’s opinion in that lawsuit is expected to be issued later in 2023. But depending on what is in the Court’s final decision, it may be necessary for EPA to revise the definition of WOTUS once again otherwise further lawsuits from additional parties will seek to further weaken the WOTUS definition. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 31, 2023

Clarifying Recent Swim Guide Information Regarding Applegate Lake

Following a single sample taken by Rogue Riverkeeper on July 11th at Applegate Lake which did not meet the standard for water contact, Rogue Riverkeeper and the United States Forest Service (USFS) have subsequently sampled Applegate Lake several times at various locations and found the water to meet the standard for water contact. Swimming in lakes and rivers always contains some risk but at this time, there is no reason to consider Applegate Lake unsafe for water contact based on E. coli sampling.

E. coli sampling results from Rogue Riverkeeper are published in Swim Guide, a platform and app that provides basic information about water quality for 8,000 locations all over the world. Rogue Riverkeeper works with partners to sample and share data about E. coli. — a type of bacteria that is found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Levels of E. coli are used to indicate fecal contamination which is associated with the possible presence of pathogens that can cause illnesses.

Rogue Riverkeeper shares information via Swim Guide on E. coli analysis at approximately 20 different sites in the Rogue basin. The sampling used for Swim Guide compares the level of bacteria at the sampling sites with the Oregon recreational water quality standard to see if local waterways meet the standard for water contact.

The results posted to Swim Guide only reflect E. coli sampling. Rogue Riverkeeper’s sampling and Swim Guide do not address any other water quality issues. The samples taken are usually a single sample at a single location. Fecal contamination can vary greatly within any water body, thus, any single sample will have E. coli concentrations that can be very different in different locations of the water column in a single water body. There is no requirement for any organization or agency to test surface water for water contact safety, which is why Rogue Riverkeeper voluntarily offers Swim Guide for people to better inform their decisions on where to recreate.

If people have water quality concerns or have issues related to swimming, contacting the manager of the site where they had water contact may be advised. Depending upon location, that could be a city, county, state, or federal land manager. People should always use their own judgment in recreating and seeking medical care if necessary. If you feel you have contracted a waterborne illness please contact the Oregon Health Authority or your county public health department.

Rogue Riverkeeper is a program of the Ashland, OR based nonprofit organization, Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center.

Quote: “I encourage people to recreate in the Rogue basin including beautiful places like Applegate Lake, and at locations like Hart-Tish campground and day use area. Using Swim Guide, including its ability to review past results, is one tool for understanding a small aspect of water quality.” Frances Oyung, Rogue Riverkeeper Program Director

Quote: “I encourage people to recreate in the Rogue basin including beautiful places like Applegate Lake, and at locations like Hart-Tish campground and day use area. Using Swim Guide, including its ability to review past results, is one tool for understanding a small aspect of water quality.” Frances Oyung, Rogue Riverkeeper Program Director