Senator Questions DOJ Attorney’s Role in Bradwood Landing Permitting Process

Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli is seeking support from fellow legislators in pursuing the release of public records concerning Oregon Department of Justice attorney Brent Foster’s involvement in the permitting process for the Bradwood Landing LNG project.

Permitting efforts for the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal were recently suspended after years of regulatory delay.

Attorney General John Kroger hired Foster, previously the executive director of frequent LNG project opponent Columbia Riverkeeper, as part of a campaign promise to crack down on polluters.

Foster resigned in April after misrepresenting his role during the investigation of a criminal environmental case.

Ferrioli is requesting 64 emails the DOJ withheld from a recent public records request—communications between Foster and other plaintiffs in the state’s appeal of federal approval of the Bradwood Landing project. The DOJ said the co-plaintiffs are not willing to waive their attorney client privilege and therefore it can’t release the emails.

Ferrioli is asking for support from other legislators to push the DOJ to comply with the request. He told the Oregonian that at stake was “whether there's a political agenda running behind the facade of agency process," adding that if the issue wasn’t cleared up, it could become more difficult for Oregon to attract investment from other companies.

Kroger has pledged to cooperate with Ferrioli and said he has requested a review of Foster’s work at the DOJ to determine whether his LNG-related dealings were proper.

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