Feds uphold Oregon’s denial of permit for Jordan Cove natural gas terminal

COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) — Federal authorities on Monday upheld the state of Oregon’s finding that a major West Coast liquified natural gas pipeline and export terminal proposed in Coos Bay is not consistent with its coastal zone management plans.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Jordan Cove’s Canadian backers, Pembina Pipeline Corp., had appealed the state’s finding to the U.S. Commerce Department.

The company hoped the Trump Administration would override the state’s federally delegated authority to determine if projects are consistent with the Coastal Zone Management Act.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declined to do so, saying the company had failed to show that the project is consistent with the law.

Pembina did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It’s the latest hurdle the $10 billion terminal and pipeline project have encountered. On Jan. 19, federal regulators upheld the state’s earlier decision against granting the project a clean water certification. The state has also denied a necessary dredging permit for the project. Without those approvals, the project, which has been in the works for over 15 years, cannot move forward.

Jordan Cove would be the first such LNG overseas export terminal in the lower 48 states. The proposed 230-mile feeder pipeline would begin in Malin, in southwest Oregon, and end at the city of Coos Bay on the rural Oregon coast.

Project opponents cheered Monday’s decision.

“Pembina’s last-ditch effort to override Oregon’s authority to stop Jordan Cove LNG has failed,” Allie Rosenbluth, campaigns director at Rogue Climate, said in an emailed statement.

Pembina could reapply to the state for both its clean water and coastal zone certifications, although it’s not clear it would get different outcomes.