Breaking news: NorthernStar moves against referendum bid
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 4:53 PM PDT
By Tony Lystra
Printable version
E-mail this articleNorthernStar Natural Gas is trying to block an effort to give voters a say in Clatsop County’s approval of its proposed Columbia River liquefied natural gas terminal.
The Houston company sought an injunction Tuesday in Clatsop County Circuit Court to stop a referendum from reaching the September ballot.
NorthernStar said it will argue that land-use decisions are not beholden to the referendum process and that the ballot measure is therefore illegal.
NorthernStar spokesman Joe Desmond said in a statement that the referendum “is a waste of money,” and that it “only forces the county spend public money on a special election — money that could be better spent on schools, roads or social services.”
The referendum’s backers said they weren’t surprised by the company’s move and that they believe NorthernStar will fail to keep it off the ballot.
“We think we’ve covered the legal bases,” said Marc Auerbach, one of the referendum’s supporters. “Of course, it will be up to a judge to determine that.”
Opponents of NorthernStar’s proposed import terminal filed a ballot referendum aimed at killing the company’s plans last week. They need to gather 600 signatures from registered Clatsop County voters by June 18 to get the measure put to a public vote.
According to NorthernStar, the proper venue for trying to overturn county land-use policy, the company said, is the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals. The project’s opponents have also filed an appeal to that agency.
The referendum seeks to overturn a provision in Clatsop County’s March decision to alter its land use policies so the terminal can be built. The Clatsop County commissioners agreed to let NorthernStar string a natural gas pipeline across land zoned for recreation and open space.
In doing so, the ballot measure’s backers argue, the county raised the possibility that other parks could accommodate pipelines as well. The referendum asks voters if parks are good place for pipelines. If voters say no, opponents say the county’s approval of the terminal would be overturned.
Desmond said the referendum would not “reverse the county’s overall approval” of its plans. He did not elaborate.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s edition of The Daily News.
gimpy wrote on Apr 16, 2008 6:06 PM:
Northern Star Arrogance wrote on Apr 16, 2008 6:36 PM:
db wrote on Apr 16, 2008 8:45 PM:
Joe, Joe, Joe -- it will be good to see you go. We will win.
Thank goodness for all those who have rallied against this LNG. Thank you all! "
Well, well, well... wrote on Apr 16, 2008 9:40 PM:
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