Northern Star LNG will stoop to the lowest means in order to achieve their purpose of siting a Liquid Natural Gas facility on the Lower Columbia River at Bradwood, Oregon.  Reported in newspapers throughout Oregon and Washington, Northern Star clearly demonstrated that the highly speculative industry had far less scruples than they have money. Columbia Land Trust already had the Svensen Island property appraised and had acquired grant funds to acquire 210 acres, and discussed a conservation purchase with its owners, Charles and Marie Haglund.

Northern Star stepped in and offered far more money (undisclosed amount) to purchase the land from the landowners, doing so, Northern Star could claim the land and use it in mitigation issues dealing with the Bradwood site. Nothing more than a media smoke screen to sway public opinion in Northern Stars' favor.

Columbia Land Trusts' motives were to be a Steward of the land, protecting crucial habitat, while Northern Stars motives are for siting issues, and corporate greed. This move by Northern Star would exchange natural "critical" habitat areas, which will be destroyed by Northern Star at the proposed Bradwood site.

Like all corporate industries, Northern Star is no different in the way they choose to handle important issues, which may slow down or stop the development of their proposed LNG facility.  The answer to every obstacle that they are faced with, is answered with the promise of a to good to be true deal, and what they offer best, the promise of a lot of cash to buy off potential opposition.

Northern Star has stayed true to corporate Americas' physiology if you can't achieve your goal by hoodwinking the mass population then you resort to the standard practices' of Corporate America. You discover what issues are more visible and which issues appeal to the masses. Secondly you scrutinize the different objectives of every organized group no matter how small they are. Thirdly you begin to throw into the mix what we can do for your individual group agenda, with the promise of money to full fill the groups goals.

This is exactly what Northern Star has done to four major groups, the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, ODFW and the US Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Although all groups have denied supporting Northern Stars' proposal at Bradwood it is evident that all groups are salivating over the promise of huge amounts of monies, all groups are openly eyeing the prospect of being the recipient of a substantial amount of donated money, money received at what cost?

"Mitigation" is the most used and easily maneuvered tactic in the corporate world, no matter what you want or what your objective is, you can succeed with a simple word "mitigation." Corporations are always willing to trade less valuable land, almost anywhere for the right to destroy critical habitat, and make it look like corporate is actually doing you a favor.

I have to give credit where credit is due; Northern Star is not like the other carpetbaggers that have descended on the Lower Columbia, in hopes of securing a fortune with LNG prospects. Northern Star is a more business like corporation with high dollar suits and smooth-tongued representatives. This company does not have to resort to threats to fulfill their agenda, they appeal to peoples' basic wants of a better life for their families and that equals money and a lot of it.

Northern Star will eventuality buy off the local, and state bureaucracies as well, with the promise to add revenue to their under budgeted departments. Still in all, they are nothing more than a higher class of greedy corporate carpetbaggers.

I find it asinine that Northern Star and others believe that they can make up for the impact on the river due from their proposed dredging at the facility and apparent destruction of the critical habitat that the proposed site entails. It is apparent that the Columbia River and its aquatic populations are suffering from such activities from the past and present.

So what makes Northern Stars' proposal so great? I can answer that one simply; they are greasing many palms of our elected officials, and the palms of so-called wildlife agencies. Again money talks:

As for Representative Brad Witt, he has supported LNG on the Lower Columbia from the get go, in fact Mr. Witt has supported LNG with disregard to facts, concerning issues from safety to local costs. On the issue, Mr. Witts' loyalties lie with special interest groups who supported his election campaign, with the promise of construction jobs if the proposal is a go.

Many construction workers that I have talked with do not support LNG, would not want to live by it, and hopes it never starts up, but they want to build it, so they have a job.  I hope that these folks stop and think about their neighbors, who will have to live by these highly dangerous facilities.  There is no price great enough to compromise even one persons' life. 

It is regrettable that the aquatic species of the Columbia River and the beauty of the State of Oregon will have to withstand yet another blow to their very existence, a blow which is unnecessary, Oregon does not need LNG for energy, it is unfortunate that the Columbia River and the State of Oregon must shoulder the ill effects of LNG while this product LNG will be transported to beautiful sunny California. I would hope that all Oregonians who love and admire the natural beauty and wildlife that this state offers, get involved, and help stop this assault on the Lower Columbia by these LNG companies who care less about natural beauty, wildlife and especially you!