El Paso rep: Pipeline settlement has caused ‘worry, concern and anger’
by JULIE WOOTTON, Elko Free Press, August 4, 2010 [here]
ELKO - A settlement between environmental groups and El Paso Corp. over the Ruby Pipeline Project has caused “worry, concern and anger,” the president of El Paso Western Pipeline Group told Elko County Commissioners Wednesday.
About 30 people attended the commission meeting and heard about two-and-a-half hours of discussion about the Ruby Pipeline Project and, particularly, El Paso Corp.’s agreement with Western Watersheds Project and the Oregon Natural Desert Association.
El Paso Corp. didn’t expect “the firestorm that has erupted over this deal,” said Jim Cleary, president of El Paso Western Pipeline Group.
“You guys went into bed with the worst there is,” Commissioner John Ellison told El Paso Corp. representatives, referring to the company’s $20 million agreement finalized last month with the two groups.
Money will go into the Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Fund over a 10-year period and will be used for habitat protection. In exchange, the environmental groups will drop litigation opposing the pipeline project.
“Negotiating with Western Watersheds Project damages your reputation,” Commission Chairman Charlie Myers told company representatives.
Myers said representatives from El Paso Corp. thought it would be easier to fight individual counties than Western Watersheds Project. …
Commissioner Warren Russell said the majority of commissioners probably wouldn’t support the project today.
Jeff Williams, a member of Elko County’s Natural Resources Management Advisory Commission, said a neighbor “who offends another makes a proper restitution.”
“My question is just how sorry is El Paso Corp. for the problems they’ve caused?” he said, referring to the corporation’s agreement with environmental groups.
Williams said Elko County has shown a great amount of “western hospitality” to El Paso Corp., but should have also taught them “country ethics.”
“I want the gas line to go through, but wouldn’t want to put up with someone who is a friend one day and stabs you in the back the next day,” he said.
Elko County Planner Randy Brown said his staff was directed to help El Paso Corp. 28 months ago when the project was proposed. They have spent many hours helping the corporation acquire easements since then.
“We feel very slapped in the face,” he said about the agreement. …
Bill Wilkerson of Elko said he came to the meeting to get educated on the issues surrounding the Ruby Pipeline project.
“This isn’t right,” he said about the closed-door deal between El Paso Corp. and the environmental groups. He said he wants the agreement document to be made public. …
Cleary told commissioners the settlement will allow the project to proceed without litigation. …
Cleary said the fund won’t be used to outbid grazing permit licensees who are renewing their permits.
It’s also not the intent of El Paso Corp. to amend the Taylor Grazing Act, he said.
Ellison said El Paso will be held accountable for the agreement with the environmental groups. He said it’s the commission’s job to protect the way of life for ranchers and “if there’s no pipeline, then so be it.”
Cleary said the purpose of the fund “is not to put ranchers out of business.” … [more]