Tuesday, January 6th, Donna Quinn showed her film Crossroads on the Columbia to a packed room at The Loft in the Red Building in Astoria, Oregon. Cinematographer Spence Palermo shot the footage with Quinn writing the storyline depicting the efforts of the local people who are against LNG development in Clatsop County.
Appearing in the film and narrating, in part, is recent appointee to Attorney General Kroger’s staff, Brett Foster. According to Cheryl Johnson, local activist and one of the evening MC’s, Foster also attended the showing of the film and was available to answer questions on the DOJ and where LNG projects are currently at in the state level.
Also appearing on the film and attending the film debut was newly elected County Commissioner Dirk Rohn, along with Astoria Port Commissioner Kathy Sanders. Rohn was on the County Planning Commission, which made many decisions in the permitting process regarding the Bradwood Landing LNG development. On the film Rohn describes his commitment to following the desires of his constituents regarding the recent defeat of ballot measure 4-131, a land use referendum pertaining to pipelines going through lands zoned OPR (open spaces, parks, and recreation).
The film gave a cursory overview of the two LNG developments progress up to the present time. Peter Hansen, spokesman for Oregon LNG, agreed to appear in the film and gave Donna Quinn an interview. Hansen’s interview is cut to about a minute and concludes with sea lions barking. Hansen said he was under the impression that Quinn was doing a true documentary about the development of LNG on the Columbia River, interviewing people from both sides of the dispute. He was disappointed to find out that the video was being used as a fundraising tool for Columbia Riverkeeper’s efforts to keep LNG development out of the state. Quinn stated at the end of the evening that all money received on the sale of the DVD would be contributed to Columbia Riverkeepers. Hansen said he hadn’t been offered a copy of the movie and couldn’t say much more until he had a chance to view it.
Joe Desmond also appears in the film. Unlike Hansen, Desmond was not interviewed and appears via stock footage. Again, at the end of Desmond talking the sea lions bark. Desmond said that he was unaware that the movie had been shot and had no idea that he was appearing in it. Since he had not seen the movie Desmond was unable to make a comment on his appearance in it.
Cinematographer Spence Palermo is best known in Oregon for his work on the film Ballot Measure 9 described as, “A fast-paced crash course in homophobic legislation and the religious right that details Oregon’s 1992 anti-gay ballot initiative.” Written, directed and produced by Heather MacDonald the film won the audience award for best documentary at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. A New York Times movie critic stated that:
“… [MacDonald] makes no pretense of even-handedness, she readily shows Mr. Mabon in a disparaging light. But the scenes in which he voices his opinions in small, half-empty rooms are dangerously misleading because the Citizens Alliance efforts proved so effective. “Ballot Measure 9” is best watched as a cautionary study of why this group was able to find such strength in numbers, and what to expect from similar local ballot referendums that have since cropped up in other states.”
Unable to attend the meeting because of flooding in the Elsie region, Representative Deborah Boone asked that the legislation she is sponsoring be read at the meeting. Called The LNG Protection Act the legislation states, among other things, that Oregon agencies can issue leases of State lands, water rights, or wetland fill permits only if there is a demonstrated need for LNG and if the price of LNG does not exceed domestic natural gas. The Oregon Department of Energy (ODE) would determine whether there is a need for LNG in Oregon.
While the crowd at the Tuesday meeting was told that the ODE had already declared LNG was not needed, the LNG corporations are making sure that the legislation comes under close scrutiny. Charles Deister, the project spokesman for Bradwood Landing stated, “The need for natural gas supplies has been well established with the Oregon Public Utility Commission by NW Natural and other utilities. This evidence was submitted as sworn testimony under penalty of law.” Also pointed out by LNG proponents was the fact that ODE’s reference to LNG not being needed in Oregon was based on the condition that additional nuclear and coal plants were built. At this time Columbia Riverkeepers, along with several other conservation groups, is opposed to additional building of either type of plant and have stopped several projects while still in their planning stages.
Another part of the LNG Protection Act calls for LNG facilities to be prohibited when the identified fire-risk zone for the LNG facility overlaps with a high sensitivity use, such as day care centers, hospitals, or elder care facilities. This common-sense requirement keeps LNG facilities away from vulnerable citizens in the event of a low probability but high consequence LNG accident or terrorist attack. Deister responded by stating that LNG facilities have operated safely in Oregon since 1969. Applying the proposed safety standards could shut down these critical facilities and more importantly, would effectively shut down commerce on the Columbia River for any cargo deemed hazardous including gasoline, diesel and fertilizer – common cargoes on the River.
Copies of Crossroads on the Columbia are available from the Columbia Riverkeepers website and are available for $12 with all proceeds to go to the non-profit organization. Locals interested in learning more about the efforts to keep LNG development from progressing are encouraged to attend the meeting at the Alderbrook Community Hall, February 9th, when the group will begin meeting on a regular basis. For further information contact Laurie Caplan, 503-338-6508, email .
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