Wednesday, December 07, 2011
State Of Oregon Asks FERC To Revoke Jordan Cove License Application
Published: Monday, December 05, 2011, 2:14 PM
Updated: Monday, December 05, 2011, 3:05 PM
By Ted Sickinger - The Oregonian
The state of Oregon has asked federal regulators to revoke their approval of a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal in Coos Bay and reopen the record so the state can submit evidence that a revised terminal proposal is not in the public interest.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission conditionally approved the Jordan Cove LNG import terminal project and the associated, 234-mile Pacific Connector pipeline in December 2009.
Updated: Monday, December 05, 2011, 3:05 PM
By Ted Sickinger - The Oregonian
The state of Oregon has asked federal regulators to revoke their approval of a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal in Coos Bay and reopen the record so the state can submit evidence that a revised terminal proposal is not in the public interest.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission conditionally approved the Jordan Cove LNG import terminal project and the associated, 234-mile Pacific Connector pipeline in December 2009.
Monday, December 05, 2011
Northwest Coast's Readiness For Oil Spills Drops, Risks Increase
(Bogdan Kocemba Photo In Marine Traffic.com) OPB
Ashley Ahearn - Seattle
December 5, 2011
Every year, vessels carry more than 15 billion gallons of oil and fuel through Pacific Northwest waters, putting Washington and Oregon at constant risk of spills that could cripple parts of their economies and devastate marine life and environmentally sensitive shorelines.
Saturday, December 03, 2011
The Hickson Heist!(Updated)10-21-2011 Daily Astorian Regrets Errors In Publication Of Story!
(Daily Astorian Photo)Hickson Article Erred
Posted: Friday, October 21, 2011 11:53 am
The Daily Astorian published an article on Oct. 7, 2011, relating to a decision by the Port of Astoria to transfer a contract for ship servicing from Anchorage Launch Services to a vessel called the Hickson, owned by the Nisqually Indian Tribe. The article appeared under a headline that read, “The Hickson heist.”
The word “heist” in that headline was rhetorical hyperbole and was meant in a figurative sense. The Daily Astorian is not aware of any evidence that any person or entity named in the article engaged in any criminal activity in connection with the Port’s decision, and The Daily Astorian did not intend to suggest that there is any such evidence.
The article also stated that Port Commissioner Floyd Holcom “contacted the tribe and suggested its members could benefit from the business.” According to Holcom, he did not initiate any contact with the tribe in connection with this matter. Rather, he says, it was Dennis Lucia, general manager of Nisqually Aquatic Technologies, who contacted Holcom about the matter. The Daily Astorian has no information to the contrary.
Finally, the article quoted an email from Lucia to Port Director Jack Crider, in which Lucia stated that “Floyd advised me that the Hickson might be put to use for line handling.” Holcom denies that he made any such statement to Lucia. According to Holcom, he told Lucia that he did not know anything about line handling and that Lucia should call Crider.
The Daily Astorian regrets publication of the errors.
(Update)Holcom;"There Was No Heist"
Posted: Friday, October 21, 2011 11:53 am
The Daily Astorian published an article on Oct. 7, 2011, relating to a decision by the Port of Astoria to transfer a contract for ship servicing from Anchorage Launch Services to a vessel called the Hickson, owned by the Nisqually Indian Tribe. The article appeared under a headline that read, “The Hickson heist.”
The word “heist” in that headline was rhetorical hyperbole and was meant in a figurative sense. The Daily Astorian is not aware of any evidence that any person or entity named in the article engaged in any criminal activity in connection with the Port’s decision, and The Daily Astorian did not intend to suggest that there is any such evidence.
The article also stated that Port Commissioner Floyd Holcom “contacted the tribe and suggested its members could benefit from the business.” According to Holcom, he did not initiate any contact with the tribe in connection with this matter. Rather, he says, it was Dennis Lucia, general manager of Nisqually Aquatic Technologies, who contacted Holcom about the matter. The Daily Astorian has no information to the contrary.
Finally, the article quoted an email from Lucia to Port Director Jack Crider, in which Lucia stated that “Floyd advised me that the Hickson might be put to use for line handling.” Holcom denies that he made any such statement to Lucia. According to Holcom, he told Lucia that he did not know anything about line handling and that Lucia should call Crider.
The Daily Astorian regrets publication of the errors.
(Update)Holcom;"There Was No Heist"
Posted: Friday, October 7, 2011 12:04 pm Updated: 10:46 am, Sun Oct 9, 2011.
The Daily Astorian
For two decades, in fair weather or foul, tiny vessels operated by Anchorage Launch Services chugged out from their Astoria waterfront moorings to service the giant ships that sail across the Columbia River bar and seek refuge on the south bank.
A phone call changed everything.
It came from the Port of Astoria. And it had the effect of a pink slip: Anchorage’s line-handling services were no longer required
Read Full Article
The Daily Astorian
For two decades, in fair weather or foul, tiny vessels operated by Anchorage Launch Services chugged out from their Astoria waterfront moorings to service the giant ships that sail across the Columbia River bar and seek refuge on the south bank.
A phone call changed everything.
It came from the Port of Astoria. And it had the effect of a pink slip: Anchorage’s line-handling services were no longer required
Read Full Article
Occupy Astoria? Occupy What?
(HipFish Monthly Photo)The Daily Astorian tells us…..“The next Occupy Astoria action will take place noon Saturday. Protesters will walk through downtown Astoria, starting at the Astoria Post Office, to support small, local businesses.
For more information, call (503) 440-0978 or visitwww.occupyastoriaoregon.org”
There was a time when the "Hippie Movement" in America was just getting under way, there were actually people that worked all week in their coats and ties in their conservative, hum-drum everyday jobs until Friday and Saturday nights when they would actually dress-up in fresh "Hippie" attire and trendy new long-haired wigs and go out for a weekend of experiencing what that movement brought and then on Monday morning get back to the "Rat Race".
Sometimes lately, in trying to figure out just exactly what this "Occupy Movement" is all about, that image of those part-time "Hippies" passes across my mind's eye as it seems the players in this effort appear to take it no more seriously than that...."Activism For The Hoot"?
Chazz Lake,on "Occupy Astoria's" Facebook page, has it right....You want to occupy Astoria and demonstrate for effective change in a public agency that seems to have become an island unto itself with no sense of accountability to whom it serves, then you are looking at a prime candidate in The Port of Astoria, in my view and its recent history over the last 5 or 6 years proves it out but, our “Astoria Occupiers” want to go frolicking up and down Commercial street on a Saturday pimping the patronization of our local businesses which most of us do anyway and besides, shouldn't that be the duty of "The Astoria Downtown Historic Development Association"?
Come On!
If this group wants to really effect change and in addition to “The Port”, let them go down and stand vigil at the "Other Flavel House" and demand somebody save that place before it rots to the ground as we have no historic preservation group willing to stand-up and be heard on the subject.
This group wants to effect change, let them go down to City Hall and demand that we send a "Task Force" out into this world and sell what we have to offer to clean, compatible and cohesive industry that fits within the fabric of and will support the workforce of this community to put thousands of us to work instead of sitting around waiting for schemes such as Liquefied Natural Gas and Ship Breaking to wedge their foots in our door and force themselves on us while our leadership conveniently turns their heads to, in essence, just let it happen to put just a few people to work and in the public perception, prosper their own agendas.
I guess my point is and I truly support the general concept as a counter to the attempted insurgency and usurpation of other fringe movements on our political political system,...If the "Occupy Movement" is going to clog-up our streets, do it for actual purpose and change that will truly, positively impact the life quality of all of us in our community or knock it off.
It may help also if the local leaders of this movement would lay off the speeches on the dreaded "Military/Indutrial Complex" and find a true explanation of exactly what "The Occupy Movement" is truly about for us lesser intellectuals that still don't really get it.
Friday, December 02, 2011
Clatsop County To Sponsor Two Films On Fisheries And Ocean Management December 15
Friday, Dec. 2, 2011
OCEAN, FISHERIES
FILMS SET FOR DEC. 15 SHOWING
Clatsop County is
sponsoring a public showing of two films on fisheries and ocean management
Thursday, Dec. 15 in Astoria.
OCEAN, FISHERIES
FILMS SET FOR DEC. 15 SHOWING
Clatsop County is
sponsoring a public showing of two films on fisheries and ocean management
Thursday, Dec. 15 in Astoria.
The event begins at 6
p.m. at the Fort George Brewery’s Lovell Tap Room, 1483 Duane St. Admission is
free.
“Oregon’s Ocean
Fisheries: A Conservation Story,” takes the audience along to watch ocean
fishermen harvest seafood. The film illustrates how fishermen and scientists
have teamed up to ensure that Oregon’s seafood fisheries are
sustainable.
“People who have seen
the film report the documentary gave them an entirely new perspective on
Oregon’s ocean,” said Onno Husing, executive director of the Oregon Coastal Zone
Management Association.
The second movie,
“Ocean Frontiers,” is a new documentary from Green Fire Productions that
explores the challenges facing our ocean and chronicles successful strategies
being implemented across the country to address them. It examines seaports and
watersheds around the United States – including the fishing industry of Port
Orford, Oregon – to introduce unlikely allies embarking on new courses of
cooperation.
The movie event
coincides with the Dec. 15-16 meeting of the Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory
Council (OPAC) and Territorial Sea Plan Working Group in Astoria.
OPAC is a 24-member advisory panel to the Governor representing fishing and conservation interests, local governments, tribes and state agencies with stakes in management of
Oregon’s marine environment. The council is currently updating the management
plan for Oregon’s Territorial Sea, which extends three nautical miles from
shore.
Go to www.oregon.gov/LCD/OPAC for agendas and more
information on the Territorial Sea Plan Working Group and OPAC meetings.
Go to www.oczma.org/themove.php for more information
on “Oregon’s Ocean Fisheries,” and www.ocean-frontiers.org for more on “Ocean
Frontiers.”
Released by:
Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners November 30, 2011 Regular Meeting Highlights
Clatsop County Board of Commissioners
Highlights Wednesday, Nov. 30,
2011 regular meeting
Highlights Wednesday, Nov. 30,
2011 regular meeting
Official minutes
available once approved by board
Jail Architect
Selected
The board of
commissioners voted to select DLR Group to provide architectural and engineering
services for the proposed remodel and expansion of the Clatsop County Jail, and
to direct staff to negotiate a contract with the firm. The company was the top
choice of a county selection committee that reviewed seven bid proposals for the
project.
The work will involve drawing up detailed schematic plans and cost estimates for adding up to 100 beds
to the 69-bed facility in downtown Astoria. Once the plans and estimates are
completed, the board of commissioners will consider whether to seek voter
approval next year for a bond measure to fund the expansion project.
available once approved by board
Jail Architect
Selected
The board of
commissioners voted to select DLR Group to provide architectural and engineering
services for the proposed remodel and expansion of the Clatsop County Jail, and
to direct staff to negotiate a contract with the firm. The company was the top
choice of a county selection committee that reviewed seven bid proposals for the
project.
The work will involve drawing up detailed schematic plans and cost estimates for adding up to 100 beds
to the 69-bed facility in downtown Astoria. Once the plans and estimates are
completed, the board of commissioners will consider whether to seek voter
approval next year for a bond measure to fund the expansion project.
In October the board
voted to make available up to $100,000 from the county’s Special Projects Fund
for the schematic and cost estimate work.
Sheriff Tom Bergin said DLR Group is recognized nationally for its work on correctional facilities
and is well prepared to take on the county project.
Circus Ordinance To
Ballot
The Board of
Commissioners voted to place an ordinance banning displays of elephants and
exotic animals on the May 2012 primary election ballot.
Ordinance 11-13 would prohibit the display of elephants and exotic animals in circuses and other
entertainment venues. The ordinance exempts 4-H and FFA events, rodeos and horse
shows and educational events from the ban.
Four citizens spoke in favor of the ordinance Wednesday. The ban was originally proposed by a county resident over concerns about treatment of animals in traveling circus
shows.
Other
Business
In other business the
board:
-Voted to approve a
zone change application to the City of Warrenton by the Lower Columbia Youth
Soccer Association for county-owned property leased to the association for its
Warrenton soccer facilities on Ridge Road. The application requests a change
from Low-Density Residential to Open Space-Institutional for four tax lots. In
January, at LCYSA’s request, the county amended the legal description of the
property to add additional property for the association – the zone change is
necessary to allow LCYSA to use the added land for playing fields and
parking.
-Approved a
$48,486.75 contract with Big River Excavating for clearing and grubbing the
route for Ensign Lane in the North Coast Business Park in Warrenton.
Construction of the road, slated for 2012-13, is vital for the future
development of the park. Funding for the contract will come from the Industrial
Development Revolving Fund, which holds proceeds from the $8.6 million sale of
the 75-acre highway-front commercial section of the business park.
-Took no action on
two letters proposed to be sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality over the proposed listing of a local
business, Astoria Marine Construction Company, under the federal Superfund
National Priorities List pollution cleanup program. County Manager Duane Cole
presented the board with a letter from Oregon Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden
to the regional EPA office dated Nov. 30 that asks the agency to provide more
time for the company to identify funding sources to pay for cleanup planning at
the site. Cole said the county will wait on the EPA’s response to the senators’
letter before taking action.
-Discussed proposed
new rules for the board of commissioners in a work session. The rules, which
cover basic board operations such as chair and vice-chair selection,
agenda-setting and meeting protocol, committee appointments and travel policies,
will be brought back to the board for final action Dec. 14.
-Approved an
adjustment of the 2011-12 budget to account for the delay in construction of a
new boathouse for the County Sheriff’s Office, which was originally scheduled
for completion in the 2010-11 budget year. The new boathouse replaces a facility
destroyed in the December 2007 windstorm.
-Voted to accept the
deed to a piece of property on Lewis and Clark Road. The narrow strip of land
lying between the road and the Lewis and Clark River is part of a larger parcel
owned by Linda Holton, who requested the deed transfer to the county to remove
an encumbrance on the property title and allow a pending sale of the larger
parcel to proceed. The transferred property is part of the road right-of-way and
is maintained by the county road division.
-Appointed Thomas
Duncan, Paul Gillum, Mel Jasmin, Bob Link, Duane Mullins and Paul Olheiser to
the Ambulance Service Area Advisory Committee. The county recently re-activated
the committee to lead an update of the Ambulance Service Area Plan.
Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 325-1000 ext. 1312
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)