Pipeline proposed on or near your land?
What you need to know.
Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is charged by Congress with evaluating whether interstate natural gas pipeline projects proposed by private companies should be approved. The Federal government does not propose, construct, operate, or own such projects. The Commission's determination whether to approve such a project may affect you if your land is where a natural gas pipeline, other facilities, or underground storage fields might be located. It is important for you to know:
- How the Commission's procedures work;
- What rights you have;
- How the location of a pipeline or other facilities is decided; and
- What safety and environmental issues might be involved.
To learn more about FERC's process click here.
Hazardous Liquid Pipelines and Intrastate Natural Gas Pipelines
Before hazardous liquid pipeline larger than 6 inches in diameter or intrastate natural gas pipeline over 16 inches in diameter can be sited, constructed, or operated in Oregon, application must be made to the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council.
In 1975, the Oregon Legislature established the Energy Facility Siting Council. The Council has the responsibility to make sure that large energy facilities are located, built and operated in ways that protect the environment and public health and safety. Provisions that make the Oregon siting process different from the permitting process in other states and different from the permitting practices of many other state and local agencies in Oregon. These provisions include:
- The use of specific standards for determining compliance
- A "one-stop" process in which the Council determines compliance with specific standards of the Council and other state and local permitting agencies
- Public comment periods at the front end of the process, followed by a more formal contested case proceeding
- Appeal directly to the Supreme Court for judicial review
The Council's responsibilities derive from the Oregon Revised Statute 469.300, and include siting large natural gas and oil pipelines, thermal electric power plants that are 25 megawatts or greater and their dedicated transmission lines, new oil refineries or large expansions of existing facilities, and underground natural gas storage fields.
To learn more about Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council and the citing process click here.
