started to brew, brought on by no other than Spiro Vassilopoulos the oil and gas developer who, remember hails from Texas and Wyoming. Spiro threatened then promised to sue if the groups tried to hinder Coalbed Methane development in B.C.

As the project tried to move forward another local group came into the equation, they were the Comox Valley Watershed Association. This group decided to join with West Coast Environmental Law to hold public forums on the impacts of Coalbed Methane projects to the area.

Prior to the meeting, via e-mail message to the staff at West Coast, one of the VWVulcan partners Spiro Vasslopoulos, threatened to sue Heather Johnstone of the Comox Valley Watershed Association and West Coast for defamation.

The threatened lawsuit did not materialize. The threat was used to dissuade the groups from holding the public meeting in the first place. Vassilopoulos admitted in another e-mail that such litigation probably would not succeed.

As part of the threat Vassilopoulos arrived at the forum with a court reporter and videographer, which the groups negotiated with him to remove, such actions could of possibly detoured people from asking questions about Coalbed Methane development in their area. Vassilopoulos actions cost West Coast an enormous amount of time and money. VWVulcan also contacted West Coast supporters and ask them not to support West Coast's work.

Spiro now on his own, applied similar tactics in our area; he insinuated to certain union people who want to build the LNG facilities that I was representing the union and that I was against his proposals, knowing full well where my husband worked. Spiro's plan to cause a rift between myself and my husband, and my husbands work failed.

I ask the readers if this is the kind of company that they want in Columbia County. I ask the taxpayers of the Port District is this the kind of company that they want to have their Port back, with their tax dollars? I believe that there are legitimate companies out there to do business with, ones that do not use thuggery and unscrupulous tactics, and has monetarily value. Spiro half owner of Port Westward LNG LLC  has used these types of tactics in the past, can the Port of St. Helens trust Spiro with our monies?

If you do not approve of this company and the way they do business, please attend the Port meetings at Columbia City's head office every other Wednesday. (2nd  Wed of the month. at 8:30 am and 4th Wed at 7 P.M. And express your opinion. Or by writing the Port, addressing the letter to the board of Port Commissioners.

Call the Port for possible meeting place changes!
                    (503-397-2888)                       
Port of St Helens

To Write:
Port Commission
Port of St. Helens
P.O. Box 598
St. Helens, OR 97051    (503) 397-2888


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