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By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune May 03. 2015 4:48PM Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford Protesters gathered in Bear Creek Park in Medford on Sunday and marched up Barnett Road to voice their opposition to the construction of Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline through Southern Oregon. Photo by Larry Stauth Jr. Local activists consider Federal Energy Regulatory Commission certification of the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline almost a fait accompli. What leaders of the anti-liquified natural gas pipeline movement hope to see following a rally at Bear Creek Park on Sunday is for Southern Oregonians to apply pressure on state leaders to join their ranks as the process moves forward. "We need the state to help us out here," Shady Cove resident Bob Barker told a sun-drenched crowd of about 200. "The state really needs to know we are strongly opposed to this project. From the standpoint of approval, the various state agencies need to look at things thoroughly and have the opportunity to deny." The 232-mile Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline is part of the $7.6 billion Jordan Cove Energy Project, moving natural gas from North America's production points to an LNG terminal, where it would be shipped to Asia. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is reviewing the application. The group heard from local opposition leaders before marching to Barnett Road, where they waved "No LNG" placards. Barker said pipeline construction could be detrimental to both the Rogue River and surrounding watershed. "FERC is going to approve this project. There is no doubt about that," Barker said. "The question is when. Hopefully, the regulatory process will stretch on a while longer." The most recent target date for the final environmental impact statement is June, with FERC commissioners to rule on the matter in September. "It's very likely that date is going to get pushed back," Barker said. "We certainly hope so. As a property owner, you really don't have a lot of choice about this if you happen to be one of the unfortunate ones along the pipeline route. Federal law is such for pipelines that if FERC approves a project it is automatically deemed to be in the 'public interest,' which I don't think this project is. With that comes the power of eminent domain." Keno native Matt Langhorne, who now lives in Ashland, said the lifestyle of his family members is endangered by pipeline activity. "I grew up hunting, fishing, skiing, rafting, kayaking — all of that stuff is threatened by the LNG pipeline," Langhorne said. "My uncle owns a ranch in Roseburg, where the pipeline is going to go right through. It's a family thing. A generational ranch is now in jeopardy now because of eminent domain. My cousins who expected to take over the ranch when they grow up, they don't know what the future holds for them because of the pipeline. If we put this pipeline through Southern Oregon, it's an insult to all of our values. I know I share a lot of these values with the people that are here — Clean water, renewable energy, keeping Oregon green." Langhorne said it was important to reach out to legislators, but even more important to share views with friends. "We need to talk to everyone we're around," he said. "I've met so many people that don't even know about this pipeline, even people in Coos Bay and the coast. Spread the word. Tell them what you feel about it." Among the pipeline opponents in the audience was Kathy House, a former Texas resident who now lives in Ashland. "I lived in Beaumont, Texas, for about 10 years," House said. "Beaumont is a petroleum-based economy. It's like living in hell. It's a real, dirty, dirty industry. The smells and pollution give you headaches everyday. It's going to take millions of gallons water for construction. Does that mean we're going to have to get by with less water? I'm not giving up water for their gas." Harry Foster, a retired health care administrator who lives in east Medford, said one of the reasons he moved to Southern Oregon was fly fishing. "The LNG pipeline is just a very bad idea," Foster said. "The officials shouldn't be so quick to sell out the area for temporary jobs, jobs that will go away while the (environmental) damage will still be here." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/EconomicEdge http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150503/news/150509875 © 2016 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->