FERC Says “No Misconduct” by Oregon LNG

FERC Administrative Law Judge Bobbie McCartney issued a report last month saying that there was no evidence supporting allegations by area landowners that Oregon LNG had engaged in misconduct.

“The evidence of record does not support a finding of misconduct as to any of the allegations,” said the report, which was issued following public hearings during which landowners accused the company of trespassing, harassment and retaliation. It was also alleged that Oregon LNG failed to notify property owners of changes to the proposed route and about important meetings.

McCartney said she believed company officials offered “compelling testimony” substantiating their claims that changes in the pipeline’s route were made for environmental reasons, and not to retaliate against uncooperative landowners, as had been alleged.

She said there was little evidence to support charges of trespassing and added that an incident in which an Oregon LNG staff member recorded GPS data on the location of a private well—in violation of existing agreements granting access to the property—appeared to be an honest mistake.

Further, armed guards at a public information meeting—declared intimidating and offensive by landowners—were revealed to have been hired not by the company but by the high school on whose property the meeting was taking place.

McCartney concluded, “at the heart of many of the concerns raised by the participants in this proceeding is the compelling and quite understandable fact that most landowners don’t want an LNG pipeline project to come across their property or otherwise adversely impact their quality of life.... while the evidence of record does not support a finding of misconduct, the concerns and frustrations the participants have expressed in their testimony are very genuine and have been captured in the record of this proceeding for the Commission’s consideration.”

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