Peter Huhtala - Columbia River Is A Public Trust

(Thoughts on Wednesday's LUBA remand hearing - besides my great respect and appreciation for all who testified.)

Peter Huhtala - Columbia River Business Alliance
July 10, 2009

I watched with amazement as Ed Sullivan, attorney for Houston-based LNG speculators, attempted to give improper direction to the Clatsop County Commission (“LNG (the sequel) ignites county hearing,”July 10, 2009).

“You’re not here to apply the will of the people,” he said. Mr. Sullivan apparently reached a point in his illustrious career where he needed to be reminded that the foundation of Oregon’s land use law is to serve the public interest.

This is all the more evident when a proposed use includes the gift of public resource – the Columbia River.

Mr. Sullivan’s client, Northern Star LLC owns no part of this great waterway, yet they’re angling for exclusive use of a significant portion of its ecosystem.

Their use would pre-empt long-standing uses including fishing.

Construction and operation would kill salmon – a species with an even longer-standing use of the river.

The Columbia River is a public trust. The Commissioners who have unprecedented say over its fate have been delegated that authority by the will of the people.

Mr. Sullivan received his reminder of this fact with the roar of collective outrage as he incorrectly characterized the decision before the Commission.

The hearing is quasi-judicial but the choice of interpretation is political.

Houston’s Northern Star should lose, based both upon facts and local sentiment.

We will see if the elected commissioners each understand their role as stewards of the public trust who were elected to do the will of the people. The deliberation and vote on Thursday July 16, at 6 pm in the Judge Guy Boyington Building may be the most significant of their careers in public service.

Let us express our standing in this matter by ensuring standing-room-only in witness to this decision.

Peter