Proposed Jordan Cove Project Now Out for Stakeholder Comment

Rendering courtesy of Jordan Cove Energy Project.

On March 29, 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas export facility and pipeline. FERC will accept public comment on the DEIS until 2 p.m. Pacific time on July 5, 2019.

At the same time the public is reviewing and commenting on the DEIS, Oregon state agencies will conduct their own reviews of the large, detailed document. Each state agency involved in some way with the proposed project will review the DEIS for issues related to their area of expertise. For example, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will focus on how the project affects air and water quality. The Department of Land Conservation and Development will evaluate if the project is consistent with Oregon’s Coastal Management Program. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife will analyze the project’s effects on native species that live or visit affected areas.

The purpose of the multi-agency review is to support and reinforce all applicable state laws, regulations, and standards that may apply to the project and submit comments that address specific issues pertinent to the agency’s mission.

Other participating agencies include the Department of State Lands, the State Historical Preservation Office, the Oregon Department of Aviation, the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, and the Oregon Department of Energy. ODOE is responsible for compiling the different agencies’ reviews and submitting them to FERC by the comment deadline.

State agencies’ review of the DEIS is in addition to other responsibilities they may have for the proposed Jordan Cove project. State agencies’ permit processes vary and are summarized on ODOE’s dashboard for Jordan Cove-related information.