FERC Announces Palomar Pipeline Alternative Route

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released a scoping letter today, asking for public comments on several new alternative routes for the proposed Palomar Pipeline. The alternatives include:

Maupin Bridge Alternative- Palomar is evaluating a route that would include an overhead crossing of the Wild and Scenic Deschutes River adjacent to the highway bridge in the City of Maupin.

Warm Springs Reservation Alternative- Palomar is also looking at an alternative that would lead the pipeline across the Warm Springs Reservation, avoiding an eastern portion of the proposed route across Mt. Hood and the Wild and Scenic portion of the Deschutes River. This option would cross the Crooked River National Grassland.

The FERC has also invited the public to attend two open houses:
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 7pm
South Wasco County High School
699 4th Street
Maupin, Oregon

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 7pm
Madras High School
390 SE 10th Street
Madras, Oregon

Bark does not support these alternatives. We maintain that a pipeline corridor across the Mt. Hood National Forest is not aligned with the current goals of clean water, old growth forests and quality recreation access.

Comments are due on July 13, 2009. You can file your comments electronically at www.ferc.gov or mail an original and two copies of your comments to Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St. NE; Room 1A, Washington, DC, 20426. It is important to reference Docket No. CP09-035-000 on your comments and label one copy of your comments to the attention of OEP/DG2E/Gas Branch, PJ-11.2. If this is your first time submitting comments with the FERC and would like help, please don’t hesitate to call Bark at 503-331-0374.