by Carol McAlice Currie May 1st, 2009 http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905010321
Lolita Carl, a fifth-generation farmer in Marion County, was amused to learn that Rep. Tobias Read, D-Beaverton, was upset when his home was picketed by opponents of a bill to aid the development of liquefied natural gas pipeline and terminals in Oregon.
She said he should take that sensation of personal violation and multiply it about 1,500 times to get how she, her family and other Oregonians feel about companies who want to build LNG infrastructure on their land and across other parts of this beautiful state. . .
"It affects all property owners. Everyone's backyard is threatened by this bill, and we need to be passionate about stopping it."
Paul and Karen Dryden, who own a 60-acre farm south of Woodburn, agree.
. . . "We've worked our entire life to own this farm, and now that it's finally paying off, someone from out of the area wants to come and threaten it all. We want to keep this farm for future generations, and when someone wants to cut a freeway-sized swath through the middle of our prime acreage, we see nothing but damaged land and economic loss despite their promises to repair any impact they cause," Karen Dryden said.
Both families say property owners need to stand in opposition to House Bill 3058, which this week was referred to the House rules committee by Read, whose office said "he has no position on the bill at this time, believing that there are more amendments to come and be considered."
As written, the bill would change the definition of "applicant" when defining who can apply for a wetland-fill or removal permit on private or public land for a utility project.
Currently, only a landowner, someone with the landowner's permission or a utility that has condemned land in court can apply for a permit.
If the bill becomes law, a utility or pipeline company, such as Texas-based Northern-Star Natural Gas, could apply for a permit to sink pipeline or build a terminal before they had the landowner's permission or had the land condemned in court. . .
"It's unprecedented," said Brett VandenHeuvel, executive director of Columbia Riverkeeper. "They're proposing 600 pipelines to crisscross the state, and lawmakers are willing to trade off the future of farms and public land for some short-term construction work. . .
"Why is anyone trying to fast-track LNG terminals and pipelines?" VandenHeuvel asked.
"They're enormously unpopular, they harm salmon and habitat, they're going to have a huge negative economic impact, and yet they're now one step closer to reality. It's shocking."
Oregonians, take notice. This applies to you.
