On Aug 29, the Clatsop County Planning Commission rejected the advice of two staff reports and voted (4 to 3) in favor of land use amendments that would allow development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project at Bradwood Landing by developer NorthernStar Natural Gas Co. The Planning Commission will meet again on Sept 21 to draft their formal recommendation to the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners. The decision represents a setback in the campaign to opposed LNG development in Astoria; however, there are still a number of hurdles that the Bradwood Landing project would have to clear (at the local, state, and federal level) to receive necessary permits. A number of concerns about LNG have been raised including threats to: water quality, shoreline access, public safety, local economics, salmon populations, etc. Bradwood Landing is one of four project proposals to establish import LNG terminals in the Astoria area. The other proposed sites include Tansy Point, within the City of Warrenton, and the east and west banks of the Skipanon River mouth. On Sept 18, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will hold a public hearing on the Oregon LNG project proposed on the Skipanon Peninsula. Surfrider volunteers on the north coast are working to oppose LNG in the Astoria area. If you are interested in getting involved in this campaign contact pstauffer@surfrider.org. For more info on the proposed project see http://www.co.clatsop.or.us/index.asp