Oregon LNG sues government over land dispute

Oregon LNG, developer of the LNG terminal proposed at the mouth of Columbia River, may not have access to the land where it proposes building the terminal.

According to court filings, the US government has a right over the proposed LNG site for disposing dredge spoils. Oregon LNG has sued the US to gain access to the land, however the lawsuit is still pending, and the resolution of the lawsuit may decide the fate of the LNG export terminal.

The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) received a permanent right, or easement, in 1957 to dump dredge spoils on the East Skipanon Peninsula in Warrenton, Oregon, the site of the proposed LNG terminal, in exchange for opening up the Skipanon River to navigation.

Commenting on the situation, Brett VandenHeuvel, Executive Director of Columbia Riverkeeper, said: “We’re pleased that the Corps is standing up to protect access to the Columbia River. It’s simple, you cannot build a massive LNG terminal where the federal government has an easement deposit dredge spoils.”

Legal proceedings in the case of LNG Development Company v. Army Corps of Engineers Case began in August 2014 when Oregon LNG filed a Quiet Title action in federal district court against the Corps. The Corps filed a motion to dismiss in November, and Oregon LNG filed an amended complaint in December. The land is owned by the State of Oregon, which issued a lease to the Port of Astoria, who in turn subleased the land to Oregon LNG.

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/23122014/oregon-lng-in-dispute-over-land-rights-1999/