July 14, 2006
By STEVE KADEL
H&N Staff Writer
A half dozen citizens voiced fears about environmental damage or property
condemnation Thursday during a public hearing on a proposed natural gas
pipeline.
The Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission hosted the session at Oregon Institute of Technology. The agency
will decide whether to approve the pipeline planned from Coos Bay to Malin.
Potential developers say the line is needed to replace two other routes whose
gas supplies are dwindling. Natural gas would be shipped to Coos Bay in
liquefied form before being reconstituted to be sent through the pipeline,
according to the proposal.
Steve McKinley testified that the preferred route goes through his septic
system's leach field. He also said the 36-inch-diameter steel pipe would be
difficult to bury on his property because the water table is 2 feet below the
surface. Katherine Clark, another property owner, said the route “will make
a diagonal clear across my land. It will affect my hill property and the
watershed there, and the alfalfa property.”
Other speakers made similar comments, saying they feel little can be done to
stop the pipeline, despite a statement by FERC environmental project manager
Paul Friedman that “we're at the very beginning of the project. We have a
long way to go.”
Some who testified expressed frustration because the hearing's format did not
allow answers to their questions. Instead, Friedman said, answers would be
provided to the public record at a later date.
Susan Scrimsher noted developers “are dangling $2 million in taxes” as
Klamath County's share of tax revenue from the line.
“Oregon is up for the big bucks and I feel very powerless,” Scrimsher said.
“I do not feel it is correct that people are allowed to
come onto our land and condemn it,” added Wanda Baker, who owns 205 acres in
Douglas County.
However, Tom Rios took a different stance.
“We can certainly use the jobs,” he said. “I'm for it for that
reason.”
Developers estimate the project will create 1,000 jobs during peak construction. Pipeline construction would begin in 2009 if FERC approves the project, with pipeline operation to start in fall 2010.