Open Letter to the Coos County Board of Commissioners Concerning the JCEP

4/4/2016

Jordan Cove's Desperation Continues ‏

From: Jody McCaffree
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2016 5:25 AM
To: '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'
Cc: Bobbi Brooks
Subject: IMPORTANT info re - Todays BOC Agenda items

Dear Coos County Commissioners:

I strongly object to agenda items 4(D), 5 and 6 that are found on today’s Coos County agenda for reasons that are explained in detail further below.

Item #4 Consent Calendar item #D:
Approval of Right-of-Way & Easement with Williams Pacific Connector Gas Operator, LLC – County Counsel. Ratification of Signatures on Escrow Account Agreements with Cascade Contract Collections & AmeriTitle – County Counsel / Treasurer

Item #5 PUBLIC HEARING:
Amending the Coos County Code, Article 4, Division 1, Permits for Work in Right of Way.

Item #6 LATE AGENDA ITEMS
A.    Request Approval to Sell County Forest Land - Forestry

As a public body who should be looking out for the public's interest, there should be no agreements or signing of any contracts of any kind that involve international companies such as Veresen's Jordan Cove Energy Project, without the oversight of state and federal agencies that have experience in state, federal and international laws governing such activities. You would be foolish to put our county and yourselves at such liability and risk.

Please cease and desist from any and all activity involving the proposed Jordan Cove / Pacific Connector LNG export project. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has currently denied this project and it would not be in the public interest for Coos County, a governing decision-making body, to continue to process applications, contracts and/or easements at this time for the project. There are multiple reasons for this including but not limited to:

1)    Multiple Gas Industry and Financial Reports have determined the Jordan Cove LNG project is not a viable project. This is due to a glut of LNG in the international marketplace that is projected to continue well into the next decade and possibly even longer depending on the impact LNG projects that are currently under construction will have once they begin operations. Please read my December 2015 comments that were submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission explaining these and other issues in more detail. For the complete filing go to:

·       December 14, 2015:
http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/file_list.asp?accession_num=20151214-5048
http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/file_list.asp?accession_num=20151214-5051

2)    Coos County as a United States local governing body must be in compliance with all U.S. federal laws and regulations including those found under the National Environmental Policy Act; the Coastal Zone Management Act; the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; the Estuary Protection Act; …etc. On March 11, 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an Order denying the Jordan Cove / Pacific Connector project. This should have prompted Coos County to stop any further work or permit processes on the project. Coos County is currently in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act.

3)    The proposed Jordan Cove and Pacific Connector project have not met the requirements necessary in order for them to obtain their Coos County conditional land use permits. This among other public processes would be required prior to Coos County processing any kind of right-of-way or easement agreements. When and where did the public hearing occur on agenda item 4 (D) concerning these right-of-way and easement agreements with Williams Pacific Connector Gas Operator, LLC? Why wasn’t I and/or other citizens who are on Coos County Service Lists for the proposed Jordan Cove / Pacific Connector project notified?

4)    The proposed Jordan Cove / Pacific Connector project would put citizens living in the county at extreme risk. Those risk have been explained in detail to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under Docket # CP13-483-000 and CP13-492-000. For one example see:

·       September 9, 2015:

http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/file_list.asp?accession_num=20150909-5185
http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/file_list.asp?accession_num=20150910-5011

It is the duty of those representing our County to do everything in their power to protect the public health, safety and general welfare of all the citizens living in the County.

The county has not made available enough information to the public concerning today’s agenda items, nor have they provided any findings that determined these items are in the public interest. The public has a right to have critical items such as these made available to them well in advance ( at least 21 days ) of County meetings/hearings and/or decisions on matters of importance such as these. All related documents and materials should also be included in with the Coos County Commission agenda packets. This did not occurred in this case. Item 5 involving proposed Ordinance 16-03-001L has no Exhibit “A” that is attached. ( See http://www.co.coos.or.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ClnlFtTTDlc%3d&tabid=141&portalid=0&mid=1169 )   The public cannot make a decision and/or provide meaningful comments on something they have not been given access to.

I strongly recommend that you also reject late agenda item #6 involving Order #16-03-025L which has to do with the selling of ten separate Coos County forest lands to a private/foreign entity. The County provided no visual map as to where all these various parcels are located, nor did they provide a finding as to how the permanent removal of Coos County forest lands would be in the public interest. The enormous cost to the county losing this much forestlands was not provided or considered. Where is the independent analysis showing the benefit/loss ratios and data? Critical decisions such as this that involve such a large percentage of county forest lands should not be ramrodded through as a late agenda item. That in itself is not in the public interest. The public has a right to know well ahead of time on items this critical so that they are able to provide meaningful comments. Citizens were not given ample opportunity to do that in this case.   Please give citizens that chance.

Sincerely,

Jody McCaffree
PO Box 1113
North Bend, OR 97459
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