Ron Sadler of North Bend, a retired from the Bureau of Land Management, has written two sharp critiques of plans to pursue specific permits for a project currently being challenged by the Attorney General. From the Register Guard
Oregon’s attorney general, joined by a consortium of non-governmental organizations, has challenged the adequacy of the environmental impact statement on the grounds it is inconsistent with the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations, and has shown a willingness to pursue further litigation should the appeal be denied. Thus, everything is on hold pending resolution of the appeal or litigation…
For example, the Port of Coos Bay has applied to the Oregon Department of State Lands for a permit to dredge and dispose of 5.6 million cubic feet of material from the floor of Coos Bay to construct a slip dock at the proposed Jordan Cove LNG terminal. In addition to Department of State Lands personnel, this application will be considered by numerous other state agencies such as the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Energy, the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, the Coastal Zone Management Agency, and others.
The concept of spending scarce funds and expertise processing a permit for a specific portion of a project while the attorney general is challenging the validity of the entire project itself is incomprehensible — but, unfortunately, it is reality.
It is long past time to take a serious look at revamping our state management processes to meet modern-day needs. We simply cannot afford, either economically or environmentally, to do otherwise.
Sadler, also contributed a letter to the editor at The World newspaper
Why is the Port of Coos Bay so ready and eager to inflict such massive impacts on our already compromised estuarine ecosystem in order to facilitate construction of a facility that is, by FERC’s own documentation, no longer needed?
Nice work, Mr Sadler
Thank you Ron, for your voice and your concern and your knowledge.
It is always a relief to know there are some citizens paying attention and able to articulate it for the rest of us.
I have never had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Sadler but I have read pleanty of his work. Here is a man, agree with him or not, who is certain that his brain is engaged before speaking or writing. Several local politicians could learn from him. Too bad he does not want the SCDC manager position. We could get a few jobs locally with a man like Sadler at the helm.