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ASTORIA, Ore. - Clatsop County commissioners have again given land-use approval for a liquefied natural gas terminal along the Columbia River. Opponents say they'll appeal again.
Last year the commission approved zone changes to allow NorthernStar Natural Gas to build a $650 million terminal 20 miles east of Astoria on an old mill site known as Bradwood.
Opponents challenged that. In February the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals sent the matter back to the commission.
Opponents began chanting "recall" after the commissioners voted 4-1 on Thursday to accept the company's proposals and re-approve the project.
The opponents say the project doesn't fit the "small to moderate" designation in county law and fails to protect fishing.
County Counsel Jeff Bennett said the company made a "reasonable interpretation" of ordinances.
Brett VandenHeuvel, director of Columbia Riverkeeper, said the board made the same illegal decision it did before.
"They're reading Bradwood's lawyers' opinions as law instead of looking at what the law says and independently evaluating it," he said.
Project supporters and opponents rallied on street corners in downtown Astoria for the occasion, and more than 80 people crowded into the meeting room.
The approval featured testy exchanges and one threat to clear the meeting room.
"I am taking into consideration that this has historically been a development site," Commissioner Ann Samuelson said.
Commissioner Dirk Rohne, the only opposing vote, said comparing the LNG terminal to the historic mill town of Bradwood is "like comparing a gas station to Manhattan."
In federal court, Oregon Attorney General John Kroger is challenging the approval the project got from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He says the U.S. Justice Department has joined the appeal.
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Information from: The Daily Astorian, http://www.dailyastorian.com
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