The Clatsop County Commissioners started their part in the permitting process for liquefied natural gas receiving terminals at a workshop Wednesday, as the commissioners reviewed different land-use policies and other issues that Northern Star Natural Gas LLC should address in its application for an LNG facility in Bradwood.

Cathy Van Horn, of the Oregon Department of Energy, explained the county’s role to the commissioners. For proposals like this, developers can either get all the necessary zoning lined up at the local level, which in this case would be the county, or have the land- use plans approved by the state’s Energy Facility Siting Council, or EFSC.

In their notice of intent, which is the first official proposal a company gives the state before it files an application, the Bradwood developers said they plan to use the EFSC route, Van Horn said.

Still, the state is asking Clatsop County, as an advisory group, what concerns and land-use policies or regulations would apply to Bradwood.

“We’re looking to you to give us that spectrum,” Van Horn said.

“The committee takes the local jurisdictions very seriously,” she said, adding that the county’s comments are key to the review.

County Administrator Scott Derickson asked whether the state could approve the project, even if commissioners didn’t think it meets county planning regulations.

“Ultimately the decision will come from EFSC and not Clatsop County,” Derickson said.

The best solution would be if Northern Star came to the energy siting council with all the zoning requirements in place, Van Horn said. If the zoning isn’t in line, however, the company could apply to the council and claim the project meets underlying state land use goals; if the council agrees members can approve the Bradwood facility.

Mitch Rohse, a consultant to Clatsop County on land-use issues, gave the commissioners an overview of Bradwood’s land use policies and issues that the county might be concerned with, emphasizing that it was a preliminary and not exhaustive list.

Bradwood is an old mill site across from the northern edge of Puget Island. The site is diverse, with steep cliffs on one side and a tidal marsh on another, Rohse said. Six different zones apply to various areas.

Some of the zoning issues that Rohse brought up include the fact that the site’s mill pond is currently designated aquatic development but will be converted to marine industrial once it’s filled in, there are dredged materials disposal overlay zones set aside for dredge spoils, and the company would have to do an impact assessment to see how the project would affect estuary resources and habitat.

Still, Rohse said after his presentation that the zoning changes required don’t appear to be major.

“I don’t think it would be difficult, technically or legally,” Rohse said. He presented a list of some of the county’s concerns, including safety, security, economics, environmental impacts and the impact on public services.

Derickson suggested adding a paragraph on the county’s cover letter stressing that the state needs to hear and address the county’s concerns, adding that the county can’t say that enough times through the permitting process.

The commissioners will take public comment on the subject until the end of July, and will try to schedule a July commission meeting closer to the Bradwood site.