The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Landowners along the proposed liquefied natural gas pipeline routes are invited to a public information meeting sponsored by the Columbia River Clean Energy Coalition. The meeting will be today (Thursday) at 6 p.m., at the Clatskanie River Inn, 600 E Columbia River Highway (Hwy. 30) in Clatskanie. All people interested in LNG pipeline issues are welcome.

"We're eager to inform local landowners about their rights and choices in dealing with the LNG and pipeline companies," said Olivia Schmidt, of the Coalition. Two LNG terminals and pipelines are proposed for Oregon along the Columbia River, at Warrenton and at Bradwood. Many landowners have already been contacted by Palomar Gas Transmission, NorthernStar, or Oregon LNG Terminal and Pipeline.

"LNG pipelines require huge easements, restrict future use of the land, and yet still require landowners to pay full property taxes, even if the land's resale value decreases," said Schmidt. At this meeting landowners can establish another chapter of Oregon Citizens Against the Pipeline (OCAP). Maps, LNG information, and NO LNG buttons will be available at the meeting.

OCAP groups are active in Yamhill and Washington Counties. Washington State has its own very effective landowners group, Landowners and Citizens for a Safe Community. Another Oregon group, the Northwest Property Rights Coalition, is based in Birkenfeld.

Speakers at the meeting will present updates about the proposed projects, including the state and federal oversight, legal challenges, and a summary of action taken by OCAP. Not all landowners along the proposed routes have received letters from the companies, so people attending the meeting are encouraged to bring other people who might be affected. For pipeline information, contact Olivia Schmidt at oliviariver@gmail.com or Dan Serres at dserres@gmail.com and 503-890-2441. For other NO LNG information, contact Laurie Caplan at 503-338-6508 or lcaplan@pacifier.com.