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.

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