Mothers' march warns against LNG "gorilla"

May 24, 2007

Residents of the Columbia River Estuary "evicted" NorthernStar Natural Gas from its downtown Astoria office Sunday afternoon during the Mothers' March Against LNG (liquefied natural gas).

A large crowd cheered the symbolic eviction proclamation and ignored the heavy rain as they marched peacefully through town, passing out No LNG brochures to passersby.

Vonda Brock was one of five area women who spoke at the end of the march at the AVA Gallery. Brock described NorthernStar's plan to use eminent domain to take land that's been in her family for five generations for an LNG pipeline. She held up a yardstick to show the 36" diameter of the high-pressure pipeline that would convey the liquefied gas through Oregon to California.

Donna Quinn spoke about tourism in the area, which now employs some 5400 people and generates $106.8 million in Clatsop County.

Quinn has learned that potential visitors want to visit the north coast for its scenic beauty, accessibility, and safety. All those are threatened by what she called the LNG "gorilla on the doorstep."

Puget Island resident Carol Carver dreads having the 120-foot high LNG tanks directly across the river from her home and the possibility of a vapor cloud from the site enveloping her home and the southern part of the Island.

Brownsmead resident and Astor Elementary School teacher Debbie Twombly said she's been worrying about the mile long vapor burn hazard zone since researching LNG.

Final speaker Kristen Lee urged everyone to contact their legislators and the Clatsop County Commissioners and to stay active in opposing LNG on the Columbia.

The Mothers March was featured on Portland's Channels 2 and 6 on their Sunday night newscasts.

The winners of the Best No LNG hat contest were Celia Gale and Becca Sutton.