GSX-US: County pipeline hearing extended

ENVIRONMENT: Pipeline officials say they may not need permits for Sumas-Cherry Point line.

Aubrey Cohen
The Bellingham Herald
August 19, 2004

Whatcom County officials and representatives of a proposed natural gas pipeline disagreed Wednesday over possible impacts of the line and over whether the county had already granted it permits.

The proposed Georgia-Strait Crossing Project, a partnership of Williams Pipeline Co. and B.C. Hydro, would run from Sumas to Cherry Point, then to Vancouver Island to supply power plants.

Whatcom County Hearing Examiner Michael Bobbink held a hearing Wednesday on shoreline permits for the plan. Bobbink scheduled a continuation of the hearing for 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 to get more information, and said he will accept written public comment until Sept. 1.

Steve Snarr, senior counsel for the project, said the county automatically issued shoreline permits for the project, by code, because it did not make a decision within a prescribed time limit. County planner Jeff Chalfant disagreed, saying the time period does not apply because the pipeline is a major development.

Pipeline officials also have argued they may not need state or county permits because the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruled in April that the state Department of Ecology waived state and local authority over permits regarding coastal regulations because it missed two deadlines.

Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor Randy Watts said the state's decision about whether to appeal the FERC ruling is somewhat contingent on the county's view of the proposal's compliance with shoreline rules.

County shorelines planner Jim Thompson argued Wednesday that the pipeline does not comply with shoreline rules because, among other things, alternatives have not been fully explored, it would not benefit Whatcom County, it would conflict with other uses, and it could harm sensitive shorelines, plants and animals.

Allowing a pipeline through Cherry Point would effectively open up the entire county to pipelines, Chalfant said, "because there is no more sensitive area in Whatcom County."

A dozen county residents also spoke against the plan, largely because of damage they fear it would cause to Cherry Point.

"It is our duty to protect this kind of unique place, not just for the county or Washington state, but for this entire nation and for future generations," said Kay Schuhmacher of Point Whitehorn.

Eliana Steele-Friedlob, also of Point Whitehorn, pointed to a 1997 Williams Northwest natural gas pipeline explosion that caused thousands of dollars in property damage east of Everson.

"We all know Williams has a history here," she said.

Snarr said FERC and the state Department of Ecology thoroughly reviewed environmental issues, and also found all reasonable alternatives to the pipeline had been explored.

He said the pipeline would benefit the county and state by providing natural gas to Cherry Point industry and San Juan County, paying $8 million in sales and use taxes during construction and $1.7 million a year in property taxes, employing local construction workers, supplying useful environmental data and cutting pollution from dirtier sources of power on Vancouver Island.

Reach Aubrey Cohen at aubrey.cohen@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2289.

The Bellingham Herald

Comments
Please write to Michael Bobbink, and copy Whatcom County Council
Michael Bobbink, Hearing Examiner, 311 Grand Ave., Bellingham, WA 98227 HearingExaminer@co.whatcom.wa.us
Whatcom County Council, 311 Grand Ave., Bellingham, WA 98227
council@co.whatcom.wa.us (include GSX in the subject line)

Whatcom County Staff Report recommending rejection of GSX shoreline permit application (Word doc)