County Hearing on Jordan Cove
Oregon Shores has been engaged in a wide range of local land use issues relating to the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal, which Canadian multinational corporation Pembina seeks to build on Coos Bay’s North Spit. These issues involve the jurisdictions of Coos County, and the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend. The county has chosen to bundle at least two of these issues into one hearing, taking place on Friday, Nov. 15, beginning at 10 a.m. in the county’s Owen Building Large Conference Room (201 N. Adams in Coquille). Note that this is a new date--the hearing was originally scheduled for Nov. 6.
There are five issues currently before the county. The announcement of the change in the schedule left some uncertainty as to when the various cases will be heard. The two definitely scheduled for Nov. 15 are:
*The so-called “Early Works Alignment” issue concerning the pipeline associated with the LNG plant where it crosses the county (AM-18-010 / HBCU-18-002);
*The proposed widening of the Trans-Pacific Parkway to serve the Jordan Cove project, which would impact wetlands in Coos Bay (AM-18-009/RZ-18-006).
Less certain, but tentatively scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the same location:
*Coos County’s share of the Navigability Improvement proposals (which also affect the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend), which involve altering the bay bottom, probably through blasting, to improve access for giant LNG tankers, resulting in tremendous impacts to the estuary (AM-18-011/HBCU-18-003); and
*Permits to emplace portions of the pipeline in areas which are not planned for industrial facilities such as in floodplains or forest zones (AM-18-010/HBCU 18-02).
Finally, no date has been announced for a hearing and decision on the so-called “Omnibus 1" Remand (REM-19-001), which involves re-considering issues that Oregon Shores successfully appealed to the Land Use Board of Appeals when Coos County tried to approve the Jordan Cove facility the last time around.
If you want full details, or information on how to submit testimony, go here.
Note that for most of these issues, new verbal testimony will not be taken at the hearing, although it may be possible to submit written testimony. Again, see the county notice linked to above.
For more information about the hearing, contact Jill Rolfe, planning director, (541) 396-7770, jrolfe@co.coos.or.us.