The Biological Assessment will be used by FERC, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) to create a Biological Opinion which will encompass the final environmental plan for the Bradwood terminal and determine that the project is consistent with federal environmental goals.

The Biological Assessment is a disclosure document prepared to address information necessary for formal consultation between a federal agency (FERC and/or a project applicant, in this case Bradwood Landing) and NMFS and USFWS (the "Services"). Bradwood Landing worked early in the project development phase to ensure that the potential impacts of its project on listed species are adequately addressed.

The 3,700 page Biological Assessment includes Bradwood's voluntary Salmon Enhancement Initiative (SEI), which at $59 million, represents the largest private commitment to improve watershed health on the Lower Columbia River. Using NMFS' own methodology to model the benefits of the SEI, the program is projected to improve salmon survival by 1.77 million juvenile fish per year. This would represent 50 percent of NMFS' own survival improvement target for ocean-type fish, such as salmon.

Together with the Biological Assessment, Bradwood submitted its environmental Compensatory Mitigation Plan to FERC. The mitigation plan is a key part of the Biological Assessment, and will used by state and federal agencies to determine compliance with mitigation standards. Bradwood's mitigation plan far exceeds state and federal requirements and together with the voluntary SEI comprises Bradwood's overall environmental commitment.

"Bradwood Landing is committed to sustainable development and a lasting legacy of environmental, excellence," said NorthernStar Natural Gas CEO William "Si" Garrett. "Our project includes comprehensive mitigation measures and a long term environmental commitment that ensures a significant and sustained net benefit to salmon productivity and the Lower Columbia ecosystem."

On March 20, the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners approved Bradwood's consolidated land use application after a nine-month public process. The LNG terminal and its associated 38 mile pipeline would provide a new source of natural gas directly into the Oregon and Washington natural gas market. It would create more than 450 jobs over three years of construction and 65 permanent jobs while contributing more than $7.8 million annually in taxes to Clatsop County. Wednesday's submission of the Biological Assessment and Mitigation Plan are a further step in the permitting of the Bradwood Landing terminal which could begin construction in 2009 and be operational by 2013.

"Our terminal will provide a needed new supply of natural gas to the Northwest, help stabilize energy costs, create jobs, pay for all necessary safety and security upgrades on the Columbia River and provide a net ecological benefit for the Lower Columbia River. This is truly a new model for sustainable development and corporate responsibility," said Garrett.