Comment of Columbia Riverkeeper under CP13-483 et.al.

Public Comments on the Oregon LNG Bidirectional Project, Section 404/10/103 Permit Application NWP-2005-748 Submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Behalf of: Columbia Riverkeeper Sierra Club Columbia Pacific Common Sense Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations Institute for Fisheries Resources Northwest Steelheaders Association Save Our Wild Salmon Center for Biological Diversity Landowners and Citizens for a Safe Community Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition Food and Water Watch Native Fish Society Northwest Environmental Advocates Northwest Property Rights Coalition Northwest Environmental Defense Center Northwest Guides and Anglers Association Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility Forest Grove Oregon Citizens Against the Pipeline Willapa Hills Audubon Society Wahkiakum Friends of the River Oregon Coast Alliance 350PDX Tessa Scheller Roble and Catherine Anderson Cheryl Johnson January 15, 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. THE COLUMBIA RIVER ESTUARY.2 2. OREGON LNGS PROJECT7 3. COMMENTERS EXPERT REPORTS..10 4. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT.12 5. THE CLEAN WATER ACT & RIVERS & HARBORS ACT...13 6. PUBLIC INTEREST ANALYSIS UNDER THE CORPS IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS..15 7. THE PROJECT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE 404(b)(1) GUIDELINES..18 7.1. Purpose & Need18 7.1.1. The Proposal Will Increase Natural Gas Prices..20 7.1.2. Domestic Gas & Electricity Price Increases Are Not in the Public Interest..21 7.2. Alternatives Analysis23 7.2.1. Overview of Alternatives Analysis23 7.2.2. Alternatives to LNG Export...26 7.2.3. Alternatives to LNG Import...26 7.2.4. Alternatives Terminal Locations27 7.2.4.1. Oregon Ignores NOAAs Recommended Siting Criteria..28 7.2.4.2. Alternative Terminal Locations in Canada32 7.2.4.3. Alternative Terminal Locations in the U.S34 7.2.5. Terminal Design Alternatives39 7.2.6. Alternative Dredge Spoil Disposal Sites40 7.2.7. Alternative Pipeline Routes...42 7.2.8. Conclusion for Alternatives Analysis43 7.3. Loss of Corps Dredge Spoil Disposal Site..44 7.4. Terminal Dredging45 7.4.1. Physical & Chemical Impacts46 7.4.1.1. Turbidity, Temperature, & Dissolved Oxygen...50 7.4.1.2. Introduction of Toxic Pollutants from Bed & Shoreline Sediments...53 7.4.1.3. Impacts to Columbia River Navigation Channel..54 7.4.2. Biological Impacts.54 7.4.2.1. Loss of Habitat...55 7.4.2.2. Suspending Pollutants57 7.4.2.3. Light, Noise, & Vibration..58 Columbia Riverkeeper et al. Public Comments Oregon LNG (NWP-2005-748) Page i 7.4.2.4. Fish Entrainment58 7.4.2.5. Dredge Spoil Disposal...59 7.4.3. Economic & Human Use Impacts.59 7.5. Terminal Construction..59 7.5.1. Wetland Fill...59 7.5.2. Stormwater.63 7.5.3. Water Consumption...64 7.5.4. Air Pollution..64 7.5.5. Noise & Light Pollution.64 7.6. Terminal Operation...66 7.6.1. Stormwater.66 7.6.2. Wastewater.66 7.6.3. Water Consumption...68 7.6.4. Air Pollution .69 7.6.5. Noise & Light Pollution.73 7.6.6. Energy Consumption & Associated New Energy Infrastructure.74 7.7. Ore