Oregon AG asks FERC to halt LNG action

Oregon Attorney General John Kroger has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to stay its September ruling in favor of a liquefied natural gas project until the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rules on the state's challenge. Kroger is leading a state appeal of FERC's decision to approve a proposed LNG terminal on the Columbia River near Astoria. In his motion filed Friday, Kroger wrote FERC must stay its approval because the board didn't comply with the Endangered Species Act and neglected to wait for state approvals before granting the developer a license. The LNG terminal would import, store and process supercooled liquefied natural gas for movement through pipelines. Kroger has said it's a mistake for Oregon to rely on imported natural gas as it seeks energy independence...AP