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Trees along pipeline route through national forest being marked Move by pipeline contractor angers opponents of the Jordan Cove project Comment By Troy Brynelson News-Review MailTribune.com By Troy Brynelson News-Review Posted Aug. 20, 2015 at 4:45 PM By Troy Brynelson News-Review Posted Aug. 20, 2015 at 4:45 PM » Social News Contractors have been seen marking trees to be cut down in the Umpqua National Forest to make room for the Pacific Connector pipeline, part of the larger Jordan Cove project, which has angered local environmentalists. Francis Eatherington, a regional adviser for Eugene-based environmental group Cascadia Wildlands, said she and a few others stumbled upon a stand of old-growth trees marked with blue spray paint July 22 while driving into the federally owned forestlands south of Tiller. Near Peavine Creek Campground, off Forest Road 3220, Eatherington and her group discovered subcontractors from Williams Company, the company looking to build the 230-mile gas pipeline that could run from Malin to Coos Bay, if the pipeline is officially given the green light. The group’s frustrations are two-fold. One, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must approve the Jordan Cove project after assessing the project’s environmental impact, yet the report that details that impact has yet to be released. Second, the marking occurred on public lands without the public’s input, Eatherington said. “We feel as though the decision has not yet been made to clear-cut this timber, and they shouldn’t be marking these trees with bright blue paint that’s going to last for decades to come,” Eatherington said, referring to the fact that the pipeline might not be approved, though the markings will last. “This is a public forest and it should be a public decision.” Authorities with the Umpqua National Forest said it was not uncommon for companies to begin marking trees before a final decision has been reached. Cheryl Caplan, a spokeswoman for the forest, said that marking the trees with paint isn’t a far cry from marking trails with paint or marking an incoming road. “It’s a way of business for us. I can understand people’s concerns about perhaps not being involved, because this is a very volatile project. FERC is making the decision. They’re handling the public decision on the project itself, whether to move forward on that or not,” Caplan said, adding that the Umpqua National Forest has since asked the contractors to use less paint on the trees. When reached for comment, representatives from the Williams Company said marking trees is all part of the years-long process that a project like this requires, and they insisted that they are following the rules. “We’ve been marking trees as part of this process for the last several years,” said Tom Droege, a spokesman for the Oklahoma-based company. “We must have permission from landowners to mark trees. ... No trees will be harvested without a FERC certificate and other necessary federal, state and local permits in place,” Droege said. FERC is expected to release its report on the project’s environmental impacts in the coming months. Reporter Troy Brynelson can be reached at 541-957-4218 or [email protected]. Or follow him on Twitter @TroyWB. By Troy Brynelson News-Review MailTribune.com By Troy Brynelson News-Review Posted Aug. 20, 2015 at 4:45 PM » 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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