County seeks expert to assess LNG project safety

April 18, 2007
Clatsop County officials in northwest Oregon are seeking experts to conduct an independent public safety assessment of the Bradwood Landing LNG import terminal.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 18 -- Clatsop County officials in northwest Oregon are seeking experts to conduct an independent public safety assessment of the Bradwood Landing LNG import terminal to be developed by Northern Star LNG, Houston, on the southern shore of the Columbia River in Clatsop County.

As proposed, the project will have a single berth capable of handling tankers up to 200,000 cu m, two 160,000-cu m insulated LNG storage tanks, and seven submerged combustion vaporizers. Installed capacity will be about 1.3 bcfd (OGJ, Sept. 4, 2006, p. 85).

The county is actively involved in developing an emergency response plan with the US Coast Guard and state and local agencies. However, neither the county nor other local agencies have the expertise on staff to assess risks associated with an LNG facility, County Manager Scott Derickson said.

He added, "We believe that it is wise to bring in a consultant who understands these complex issues to give us an outside assessment of the risks and recommend any measures necessary or prudent to mitigate them."

The consultant will be expected to evaluate existing documents, including the American Bureau of Shipping Waterway Suitability Analysis, the Coast Guard Waterway Suitability Report, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission application; interview key individuals; and submit a written report of the findings and recommendations to the county manager by July 31.

The county is accepting proposals for consideration from qualified consultants until May 18. The request for proposals can be viewed online at www.co.clatsop.or.us.