No California Pipeline

In a suprising switch of functions, Coos County's hearings officer endorsed that the land use program for the Jordan Cove LNG final be rejected. Her judgement could mark a turning of the tide in the battle towards LNG in Southern Oregon. General public comment was skewed ten to one in opposition to the challenge in the course of hearings in September in Coquille. On the other hand, neither the impacts nor the advantages to be derived from the proposed port slip have been independently quantified.""The fact that the proposed slip will deliver some generic economic features above an unspecified timeframe is not adequate to present that there is a desire for this terminal configuration," Briggs continued. Briggs went on to say she agreed with opponents that "the Port has not adequately justified the influence of the proposal on commerce, particularly industrial fishing inside of the bay, and recreation. "There is evidence that the reduction of the eelgrass and the loss of forty acres of shallow water will adversely impact local fisheries."Briggs' conclusion about the impacts the LNG task on existing commerce and other makes use of of Lower Coos Bay was, "I cannot say that the applicant has attained its burden of demonstrating the Community Trust Legal rights have not been unreasonably affected."Also cited by Briggs as causes to deny the Port's allow application had been inadequate specifics from the applicant about the opportunity impacts of advancement on Henderson Marsh, and the impacts of redirecting storm h2o on Coos Bay..