Pembina and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) are playing games to discourage turnout at hearings this month on the Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline and export terminal. We can’t let that happen.
Will you come to one of the following hearings?
Coos County: Mon. June 24, 1-8pm, Southwestern Oregon Community College Hale Center, Coos Bay
Douglas County: Tues. June 25, 1-8pm, South Umpqua High School, Myrtle Creek
Jackson County: Wed. June 26, 1-8pm, Ramada Hotel and Conference Center, Medford
Klamath County: Thurs. June 27, 2019, 1-8pm, Klamath County Fairgrounds, Klamath Falls
FERC will be taking individual testimony to court reporters (rather than a normal hearing format) any time between 1pm and 8pm. If you can, come either at 12pm for a press conference, or 5:30pm for a rally with music, art, and speakers!
Since FERC rejected a permit application for Jordan Cove in 2016, the Commission has been stacked with new White House appointees who have made a career of representing the interests of big energy companies, and Pembina has asked them to approve its “new” application.
Thousands of southern Oregonians from across the political spectrum have turned out to peacefully show united opposition to Jordan Cove LNG at past federal and state hearings because the project threatens our landowner rights, water quality, existing jobs and small businesses, climate, and tribal territories.
FERC and Pembina obviously don’t want to hear or see that opposition. So the agency says that each individual who wants to speak against the project will be taken, one at a time, in front of a court reporter who will record their comments. FERC and Pembina may be hoping that southern Oregonians will be discouraged by this odd format and won’t show up at all.
But these “hearings” are not only a chance to send a message to the federal government. A large turnout of commenters will also remind Gov. Kate Brown and our state agencies that the state needs to stand with our communities and not with giant corporate special interests and their lobbyists.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality recently denied Jordan Cove a Clean Water Act permit, but Pembina is expected to reapply.[1] Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of State Lands has to decide on the company’s application for a permit to dam, dredge, and dig below hundreds of rivers and streams.[2]
Thank you for continuing to show up. I hope to see you at the hearings!
Hannah