Astoria, OR – LNG opponents vowed to continue their struggle against the Bradwood LNG terminal and its sendout pipelines after Clatsop County Commissioners tentatively approved the Bradwood LNG terminal land use application today in Astoria despite public opposition and unresolved environmental and safety issues.   Cheryl Johnson, local resident and school librarian, expressed outrage at the commissioners for glossing over the public's safety concerns. 

 "Our Commissioners clearly did not act in the interest of the people of this County.  They have exposed us to enormous risks from this project without even resolving who will pay for added safety and security or how these gaps would be filled.   The communities of Warrenton, Astoria and Knappa are saying that our emergency response services and public safety infrastructure can't deal with this, and the Commissioners didn't even address their concerns."

 Brett VandenHeuvel, attorney for Columbia Riverkeeper added, "The Commissioners ignored state scientists, ignored their own planning department, and blatantly ignored the law."   George Exum, Chair of Wahkiakum Friends of the River who lives within a mile of the facility, echoed VandenHeuvel's concerns. "The Commissioners rushed forward without considering Oregon state agency comments that contradict many of the Commissioners' misconceptions about impacts to fish, public safety, and the Estuary as a whole.   We are absolutely disgusted that the Commissioners didn't take the valid concerns of local communities like our own into account."

 Brent Foster, executive director for Columbia Riverkeeper, derided the County's decision-making. "The four Commissioners basically bent over backwards to approve this project.   They made absurd justifications for their decision, finding that this facility – the largest industrial development in recent history on the Columbia with its 700,000 cubic yards of dredging – was a medium-sized project.   It would be laughable if it didn't put so many people and endangered salmon at risk."

 Opponents vowed to continue the struggle against LNG.  Laurie Caplan of Astoria's Rivervision expressed her resolve to continue the fight.   "We are convinced that this decision is incorrect, that no rational agency could believe that this project is safe or beneficial for our community.  It is more important than ever for State agencies and the Governor's office to protect Astoria, Warrenton and the Lower Columbia by denying this project."