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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Alleged Medford robber captured after fleeing Ashland police On landmarks, personal and geologic Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Speech and debate team claims Jean Ward title 10 things to know for Tuesday, Feb. 3 Education Speech and debate team claims Jean Ward title SOU board names officers, committees Parent files complaint against Ashland schools Learning on the job AHS speech and debate team headed north Environment Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Mt. Ashland Ski Area announces layoffs The top five conservation success of 2014 Protestors want Keystone pipeline plans stopped Business Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? 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Shayne Looper: More wedding equals less marriage? Dr. Elaine Heffner: What’s in a name? Food for Thought: Sweet potatoes are a versatile vegetable Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW Alleged Medford robber captured after fleeing Ashland police ... Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod ... Calendar: Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... Alleged Medford robber captured after fleeing Ashland police ... Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod ... Calendar: Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Experts couldn't answer pipeline questions Comment By Victor Chieco DailyTidings.com By Victor Chieco Posted Feb. 3, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Victor Chieco Posted Feb. 3, 2015 @ 12:01 am What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter . » Social News I, too, attended the public meeting in Medford on Jan. 22 organized by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, which included a representative of the Army Corps of Engineers on the panel of officials. What was encouraging about this meeting was the turnout, which was almost unanimously against the construction of the LNG export pipeline. What was both discouraging and truly frightening was the apparent inability of these professionals to answer the important questions raised by those attending. It was shocking each time someone asked about the potential destructive impacts of the pipeline and the Jordan Cove export terminal, and the response from those entrusted to protect our waterways was “I don’t know.” Among many excellent questions, the panel was asked if it knew why both California and Washington had denied permits for this pipeline — the answer was “no.” It would have been comical if it wasn’t tragic. Either they didn’t expect the audience to have carefully thought about the many issues raised by the construction of a 230-mile pipeline that will cross 400 different waterways and so were taken by surprise, or they truly don’t have answers to fundamental questions about how this pipeline will affect water temperature, the drinking water supply, sensitive salmon and trout habitat, silt level, fishing, not to mention a significant contribution to global warming. The issue of the use of eminent domain to take Oregonians’ private property for a Canadian company’s benefit — not public benefit or use — was one of many subjects beyond the purview of the panel. And if you think the Army Corps of Engineers only approves well-thought-out projects, just think “Katrina.” They have a long history of disastrous projects. "In a 1952 book, Sen. Paul Douglas noted that ‘the Army Corps have never been restrained in estimating the benefits which will result from their projects and ... in recent years have greatly underestimated the costs.’ In 2004 a study by Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) and the National Wildlife Federation identified 29 of the Corps's projects that they argued would impose environmental damage and waste a total of $12 billion.” (CATO Institute Tax & Budget Bulletin, No. 27, October 2005.) This was true in 1952, in 2005, and is true today. It behooves all of us who care about our local, state and global environment to get informed about this disastrous project to ship natural gas owned by a private Canadian company along a 230-mile pipeline across Oregon to Coos Bay and then to overseas markets via tankers. Written comments must be submitted by 5 p.m. March 13 to: 401 Public Comments, DEQ Eugene Office, 165 E. Seventh Ave., Suite 100, Eugene, OR 97401 or by email to [email protected] . I urge you to make your voice heard. Panel members (the first three listed) and others to contact: Mary Camarata, Project Coordinator: [email protected] 541-687-7435 Chris Stine, 401 Project Manager: [email protected] 541-686-7810 Tyler Krug, US Army Corps of Engineers: [email protected] 541-756-2097 Heather Wade, Dept. of Land Conservation and Development: [email protected] 503-373-0050 ext. 253 Bob Lobdell, Dept. of State Lands: [email protected] 503-986-5282 And last but not least: Gov. Kitzhaber: 503-378-4582 Victor Chieco lives in Ashland. By Victor Chieco DailyTidings.com By Victor Chieco Posted Feb. 3, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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