FDA Could Approve Genetically Engineered Salmon!

Sep 20, 11:27 AM EDT

By MARY CLARE JALONICK - Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Massachusetts company is asking the Food and Drug Administration to approve the marketing of genetically engineered salmon, which would become the first such animal OK'd for human consumption...............Read Full Article

Uh-Oh! The Cat's Out Of The Bag: Cheniere Energy Gets DOE Approval For Sabine Pass Plant To Export LNG

Reuters - Fri Sep 10, 2010 2:26pm EDT

* Cheniere will be able to export 16 mtpa(Million Tons Per Annum) for 30 years

* Sign of ample US natural gas supply

NEW YORK, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Energy on Sept. 7 approved Cheniere Energy's (LNG.A) plan to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas from the Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana, the department said on its website.
Read Full Article

Aging U.S. Pipelines Nationally At Risk Of Explosion!

Sep 14, 6:46 AM EDT
Aging gas pipe at risk of explosion nationwide
By GARANCE BURKE and JASON DEAREN Associated Press Writers
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

SAN BRUNO, Calif. (AP) -- The tragic explosion of a gas pipeline in a San Francisco suburb has shed light on a problem usually kept underground: Communities have expanded over pipes built decades earlier when no one lived there.

Read Full Article

Coal Export Through Northwest Ports? Some Say "No Way"!

Published: Wednesday, September 08, 2010, 9:05 PM
Updated: Thursday, September 09, 2010, 9:24 AM

Scott Learn, The Oregonian

While Oregon works to shut its only coal-fired electricity plant and reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions, global mining companies are increasingly bullish about exporting that very same coal through Northwest ports to China.............

Read Full Scott Learn Report

Humboldt Bay Barge Project Gets Federal "Short Sea Shipping/Tiger Grant" Attention

GRP:Now, why would it not be prudent for our own Port of Astoria to be in touch with this man to see where we can play into this opportunity since we dropped the ball with the opportunity to partner with Santa Maria Shipping?

John Driscoll/The Times-Standard
Posted: 08/17/2010 01:21:11 AM PDT

A local entrepreneur's efforts to establish a marine shipping service along the West Coast and a four-port initiative to build infrastructure to support it have earned recognition -- and the prospect of funding -- from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Read Article

Daily Astorian: LNG Pipeline Issue Moves To County Commission!

LNG pipeline issue moves to county

GRP: Even after Peter Hansen's "Pooh-Poohing" of the conditions of approval as being "Benign", Oregon LNG/Pipeline appeals its own approval?

By KATIE WILSON - The Daily Astorian

09-03-2010 1:57PM

It's in the commissioners' hands now. The deadline to appeal a liquefied natural gas pipeline application was today. With one appeal filed, the process now moves to the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners.....Read Full Daily "A" Report By Katie Wilson

Hood River Juice Owner Pleads Guilty! Alleged Tainted Evidence Dropped From The Case!

KPAM interview with NCO's Carrie Bartoldus by Victoria Taft on what she calls "Fostergate"


The owner of Hood River Juice has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor pollution counts in a long-running case that also led to the resignation of Attorney General John Kroger's top environmental aide earlier this year.





David B. Ryan pleaded guilty late Wednesday to failing to file a required report and second-degree water pollution, misdemeanors related to management of the company's wastewater system in 2007 and 2009.......Read Full Report

From Boston Herald.Com:Gulf Oil Rig Explodes Off Louisiana Coast!

By Associated Press - Thursday, September 2, 2010

GRAND ISLE, La. —An offshore petroleum platform exploded and was burning today in the Gulf of Mexico about 102 miles south of Vermilion Bay on the central Louisiana coast.
The Coast Guard says no one was killed in the explosion, which was reported by a commercial helicopter flying over the site around 9 a.m. CDT. All 13 people aboard the rig have been accounted for.

Read Report

Bankrupt Northern Star Natural Gas: Need Some High Quality, High Dollar Luxury Antiques? Here's Your Chance To Own A Piece Of History!

Looking for some "High-Dollar"($45,000) Persian Rugs? Priceless Asian Antiques? A Lesson In How To Blow $100,000,000 In Investors Money? A Lesson In How To Leave Creditors High And Dry?


Well,Here You Go, Check The Auction List And Submit Your Bid! See If You Know Any Of These Creditors.

Coos Bay LNG Pipeline Developer Sues Oregon Department Of State Lands

Portland Business Journal - by Erik Siemers Business Journal staff writer

The developer of a proposed 234-mile natural gas pipeline has filed a federal lawsuit against two Oregon land officials the developer claims are improperly using state law to delay the project......Read The Details

Prineville Gets Facebook, We Get Shipbreaking?

David Nogueras - OPB News
August 2, 2010 Bend, OR

The social networking website Facebook says it will double the size of a new data center currently under construction in Prineville. The company says the expansion was planned since the beginning of the project.

Read Full OPB Report

Astoria City Council Races: Who's It Going To Be for You?

Henningsgaard Announces he will not continue to seek re-election but will pursue open Astoria City Attorney Job Instead

Well, here's the list of candidates for 2010 elections for open seats on Astoria City Council.

This is an open call for all candidates to post their Press Releases or views as to why they feel they can serve the citizens of Astoria best and what they can bring to the game to lead us forward to a prosperous future and improved life quality.

Mayor

Willis L. Van Dusen
(Incumbent Mayor Van Dusen's Campaign Statement)
"I am running for re-election as Mayor of the City of Astoria. The next four years will be important to all of us. I ask for your support on November 2nd.
As the Mayor of Astoria over the past four years, I have worked as part of a team on many successful projects. Some of those projects include:
1) Supporting the officers in the Astoria Police Department.
2) Supporting the Firefighters in the Astoria Fire Department. The City Council and I congratulate the department for securing a $ 238,000 grant that enabled the city to purchase of a fire truck.
3) Re-organizing the Parks and Recreation Department. The consolidation of facilities and personnel has made us more efficient.
4) Our community has done an excellent job in improving the financial situation of the Astoria Aquatic Center.
5) Supported our Public Works Department to improve our drinking water and manage the combined sewer overflow project
6) Drafted plans to renovate our City Hall
7) Expanded our world class river walk
8) Serving as President of the Astoria Riverfront Trolley Association.
9) We worked closely with governmental agencies, such as the Astoria Schools, neighboring cities, the Military, Oregon State Agencies etc.
10) Established a street paving/repair program
The next four years have many challenges:
1) Astoria’s Bi-Centennial
2) Completing our Chinese educational park, "The Garden of Surging Waves"
3) City Hall Renovation
4) Rebuilding the athletic fields at Tapiola Park
5) Community Center in the former Armory at 17th and Duane St.
6) Rebuilding the 17th Street Dock with transportation grant funds
7) Work with businesses creating and saving jobs
8) Provide a new library through renovation or construction
9) Communicate clearly with all Astorians
10) Support our local schools
If we continue to work as a community team, Astoria will always be a great place to live and raise our families.
Thank you
Willis L. Van Dusen

Bonnie Anne Wingard (Challenger)

Ward 1

Arline LaMear
(Incumbent LaMear's Campaign Statement)
Arline LaMear – Councilor, City of Astoria Ward 1
288 Franklin Ave.
Astoria, OR 97103
alamear@astoria.or.us

Occupation
Librarian, Columbia River Maritime Museum, 1997-Present

Occupational background
School Librarian, Virginia Public Schools, 21 years
Teacher – California, North Carolina and Thailand, 4 years

Educational background
Occidental College, BA, Education
James Madison University, M.Ed, Education

Prior Government Experience
Astoria City Council, 2008-Present; Astoria Parks and Recreation Board, 2010; Astoria Planning Commission, 2003-2008; Clatsop County Commission on Children and Families, 2004-2007; Astoria Library Board, 2002; Chair of the Bicentennial Legacy Committee, 2009-Present

Candidate Statement

A job with the Columbia River Maritime Museum brought me to Astoria in 1997. Thirteen years later, my commitment to Astoria, her river, history and community has deepened. It has been a real honor to serve as City Councilor from Ward 1 the past two years. I have met with many of you on issues and concerns and pledge that I will continue to listen and act in your behalf.

Astoria will celebrate her Bicentennial in 2011. Working with our wonderful city staff and workforce, I will support continuing efforts to replace our bridges that are in poor condition, pave our streets, relocate the temporary water and sewer lines at Hume and Bond Streets, renovate our City Hall, and spruce up our downtown so Astoria looks her best for her 200th birthday.

I plan to:
Actively advocate for you and Astoria’s Ward One.
Work for the opening of a Recreation Center in Astoria for children and adults.
Advocate for an ordinance regarding derelict buildings that includes a firm, fair enforcement component.
Evaluate energy cost saving measures and implement viable alternatives.
Ensure that Astoria has a state of the art, modern library.

Committees/Membership/Volunteerism
Court-Appointed Advocate (CASA) – 2001-Present
American Association of University Women (AAUW) – President 2005-2006
Organizer and moderator for candidate and issue forums, AAUW and Women’s Political Caucus
Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce – 2003-Present
Lower Columbia Preservation Society
Friends of the Columbia River Maritime Museum
Clatsop County Historical Society

Endorsed by:

John Goodenberger
Karen Kenyon
Virginia (Gin) Laughery
Roy Little, M.D.
Laura Snyder
Helen Westbrook

Robert E. Howard (Challenger)

Ward 3

Blair Henningsgaard (Incumbent)

Henningsgaard Will Not Seek Re-Election But Will Seek Open Astoria City Attorney Job

I am running for re-election to the Astoria City Council Ward 3 and ask for your vote in November.

I can describe my past service to the City in three categories.
Emergency Events.
Hurricane, December of 2007. I am proud of the teamwork and courage of our community’s response.
Landslide at 1st and Commercial Street, April 2007. Our team ensured access, re-routed utilities, responded to citizens’ needs and obtained State and Federal assistance.
Routine (but critical) City Services
We lined and covered our reservoirs. These two changes help protect our drinking water supply with one result that the City uses fewer chemicals to treat our water.
Expensive sewer improvements are helping keep our river and bay clean. I helped spur negotiations that are expected to save over $10 million on this project.
A street paving/repair program was adopted for the first time in our history; funded with help from tourist tax dollars and state funds.
Successes.
Developing highly visible city council goals.
Representing the City Council on our award winning Riverfront vision.
Plans to make Astoria City Hall the most “customer friendly” in the county.
Saving the City over $300,000 per year at the Astoria Aquatic Center.
Acquiring the old Safeway block.
Replacing the Astoria Column steps.

I commit to economically provide needed services but also look forward to developing a new library, recycling the Astoria Armory, opening our Chinese Park and turning the old American Legion block into a public plaza.

I hope the Citizens of Astoria know how much my hometown means to me. We live in a special place; together we will keep it that way.

Karen Mellin (Challenger)

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, September 1, 2010

For More Information:Karen Mellin
(503) 325-5382

Karen Mellin for Astoria Ward 3 Astoria, Oregon

“I am running because Astorians need achoice,” says candidate Mellin. "I've never been afraid to speak my mind and I think Astoria is a real treasure that deserves outspoken protection."

Mellin served most recently on the Clatsop Community College Board of Directors and before that was instrumental in developing the organization now known as the Women's Resource Center.

She said she felt the values of the particularly historic district of Ward 3 needed a new voice.

"When citizens spend months of time on a public project like the River Visioning process, they deserve to have those concerns taken seriously," Mellin said."Too many people have told me they felt the City Council listened and then imposed its own voice on that process."

Mellin also expressed concern over the what she called "the continuous mishandling of DUII cases in the Astoria Municipal Court." She said that"Municipal Courts play a valuable role in dispensing community justice, but Astoria should join the other four cities in the counties in sending their DUII cases to the Circuit Court where both the judges and prosecutors are full-time professionals.""Something's not right when someone can get two or three DUIIs dismissed just because the case is in Municipal Court. Like the River Visioning process, it is a matter of fairness."

"While we appreciate the work done over the years by the incumbent," Mellin said, "I think people are ready for a change.

"Mellin just celebrated the 50th reunion of her graduating class at AstoriaHigh School.

She spent many years traveling overseas and moved back toAstoria 30 years ago and taught in the local schools until last year.

Karen Mellin's Astoria-based volunteerism began in 1986 as a programmer atKMUN.

She has been a member of the North Coast Women’s Political Caucussince 1987. That year she began volunteering at the Clatsop County Women’s Crisis Service, where she set up group counseling sessions for victims of domestic violence and soon became Executive Director.

In 2001, she waselected to the Clatsop Community College Board, where she advocated renovation of the historic property.

Ward 3 is roughly bound by 5th and 28th Streets, the Columbia River on thenorth and Niagara Avenue on the south, and is equivalent to county precincts5 and 6.

The Committee to Elect Karen Mellin, Astoria Ward 3

Grassroots People Straw Poll Results!

Question: Astoria Municipal Court:Should DUII's Be Tried By That Court Or Circuit Court?

Astoria Municipal
18 (33%)

Circuit Court
33 (62%)

No Opinion
2 (3%)

Cannot Decide
0 (0%)

Votes so far: 53 Poll closed

Natural Gas Attack Helicopter? The Winners In Cheap Natural Gas

By Christian A. DeHaemer - Energy & Capital - Friday, August 27th, 2010

We're now at the time of year when kids start dreading going back to school, moms dream of free time during the day, and granddads pick a weekend to winterize the boat or shutter the cabin.

Us resource guys, however, think about buying natural gas for the annual winter price boost.
But this year the markets aren’t buying it.

On Wednesday, the Energy Information Agency (EIA) came out with a bearish report.
Last week, the price of natural gas fell as much as $1.36 per million Btu; after the report, prices fell to $3.77 — dipping well below $4 for the first time since May.

The government report stated:
Natural gas in storage totaled 3,052 billion cubic feet (Bcf) as of August 20, about 6 percent above the 5-year (2005-2009) average.

The implied net injection for the week was 40 Bcf, significantly below historical injections for the week.

Read Full Article

Approved With Conditions!!!! - Oregon LNG/Pipeline Gets Hearings Officer Approval

And The Red On The Map? High Danger/No Pipeline Zone And OLNG/Pipeline Seems To Be All Over It!





Access The Complete Report For Your Own Review

Warrenton Wal-Mart: An Update

From: Jessica Hoch - Oregon Business - August 13, 2010

Residents of the small coastal town of Warrenton, roughly 4,500 people, found out a Wal-Mart would be coming to town when it was initially reported in the fall of 2009.

Just about a year later the process hasn’t moved at all, and Oregon Business still gets comments both positive and negative, curious as to the progress of the store.

People at Wal-Mart say the Warrenton store is coming; they’re just not sure when.“It’s hard to say which store will open next because it’s just hard to know in Oregon,” said Restivo.

Jessica Hoch is an online reporter for Oregon Business.

G.O.P. Ten Commandments Or...Regan's Unity Principle For Support Of Candidates?

GRP: So it is, you waver from this path, display any individuality from strict variance in compliance, you, as a candidate are just plain out of the game? Is this what all this hard-core Tea Party noise is about an all-out mandate to save "Reaganism"? Is that why we in the Republican Party are being presented with candidates that cause us to ask..."Is this the best we can do?"..."Newt Gingrich for God's sake?"... Have we not learned a damned thing?

Proposed RNC Resolution on Reagan’s Unity Principle for Support of Candidates

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Republican National Committee identifies ten (10) key public policy positions for the 2010 election cycle, which the Republican National Committee expects its public officials and candidates to support:
(1) We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama’s "stimulus" bill;
(2) We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run healthcare;
(3) We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;
(4) We support workers’ right to secret ballot by opposing card check; RNC RESOLUTION ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF CANDIDATES 2
(5) We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;
(6) We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;
(7) We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat;
(8) We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;
(9) We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and
(10) We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership; and be further
RESOLVED, that a candidate who disagrees with three or more of the above stated public policy position of the Republican National Committee, as identified by the voting record, public statements and/or signed questionnaire of the candidate, shall not be eligible for financial support and endorsement by the Republican National Committee; and be further
RESOLVED, that upon the approval of this resolution the Republican National Committee shall deliver a copy of this resolution to each of Republican members of Congress, all Republican candidates for Congress, as they become known, and to each Republican state and territorial party office.
Chief Sponsor:
James Bopp, Jr. NCM IN
Sponsors:
Donna Cain NCW OR
Cindy Costa NCW SC
Demetra Demonte NCW IL
Peggy Lambert NCW TN
Carolyn McLarty NCW OK
Pete Rickets NCM NE
Steve Scheffler NCM IA
Helen Van Etten NCW KA

America: Are We Getting What We Wished For?

The New Colossus
By Emma Lazarus, 1883
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles.

From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips.

"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

From The Editor: Daily Astorian - Boat Mapping Will Become A Magnet

Stephen Forrester - The Daily Astorian
Saturday, August 07, 2010
8/2/2010 12:09:00 PM

Maritime Museum, Community College and Park Service build a new venture!!!

GRP:Boatwright (plural boatwrights)
A maker of boats, especially of traditional wooden construction.

Using technology to preserve "The Art Of A Craft"?

Hoorah!, Hoorah! Hoorah!

Now, how do we perpetuate "The Craft" of Wood Boat Building itself for our future?

How many are left in our community on the Lower Columbia with this unique skill that can pass it on to others?

How do we Pool those resources to teach this skill to others to save it?

Rolf Klep was a visionary. He founded the Columbia River Maritime Museum almost a half century ago. But Klep likely would be surprised at the technology behind the three-dimensional mapping of boats that's under way at the Maritime Museum. Katie Wilson reported that story last Tuesday.

Read Stephen Forrester's Editorial

Astoria: "22"

The number of empty storefronts counted from 8th Street to the empty Mini-Mart at Mill Pond Village on a recent early evening drive through downtown.

What Downtown Main Street Can Learn From "The Mall"

Steve Lagerfeld - The Atlantic Online.com

A guided tour with a landscape architect and retailing specialist who believes that shopping malls -- vilify them though we might -- can offer moribund cities what they desperately need: practical lessons in the psychology of commerce

Read Full Article

Andy Jordan? Port of Astoria Legal Counsel?

And this would be the same Andy Jordan we saw up on the Liberty Theater stage advising and doing the "Legal Guiding" of the, then, sitting Lee County Commission's initial hearings and deliberating of the proposed Bradwood Landing LNG Receiving Terminal and has been in on it since?

And now, here he and his firm are, the new, official, Legal Counsel f0r The Port of Astoria with Oregon LNG/Pipeline hearings and delibeations on the horizon with Clatsop County and City of Warrenton and we all know, contrary to how stupid the folks at PofA assume we are, that, that agency will not be immune from those discussions and with Jordan advising offers some concern in my view.

Wonder if Jordan's firm came up with the "Hearings Officer" concept for County and Warrenton to relieve the sitting members of both commissions the accountability of making another historic spontaneous and knowledgeable decision on what they were elected to do in the first place and then, who oversees the validity of the hearings officers decisions without the inevitable appeals and protracted battles especially when Clatsop County Planning Staff Recommends denial of the OLNG Pipeline project right off the top?

Astoria Ancestries

Ancestries: German (17.1%), Irish (13.9%), English (13.0%), United States (6.5%), Norwegian (5.9%), Scottish (5.8%).Read more: http://www.city-data.com/city/Astoria-Oregon.html#ixzz0unszh1Nw

Feds Paid "Dead" People's Electric Bills With Stimulus Money From Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program !!

Jul 1, 2010 1:31 pm US/Eastern

WASHINGTON DC - (CBS4)

It was designed to help poor families heat and cool their homes, but an audit of the federal program that provided more than $100 million went to pay electric bills of thousands of applicants who were dead, in prison or living in million-dollar mansions.

GRP: "The investigation found HHS paid thousands of dollars to people who were obviously ineligible for the program.
HHS paid $3.9 million to 11,000 applicants who used the identities of dead people.
HHS paid $370,000 to 725 applicants who were in prison.
HHS paid $671,000 to about 1,100 people who made more than the maximum income to qualify for the program. New Jersey paid $3,200 to a nursing home on behalf of eight patients after the home's director applied for assistance. The patients' nursing home care was already paid by Medicaid."
Can we even fathom the potential, once "The American Doctor" gets the gist of how to work "The System, of abuse of a "National Health Plan", once implemented?

Read Full Article

GOP Congressmen Not Rushing To Join Tea Party Caucus

New York News And Features
Daily Intel - Dan Amira - 07/20/2010 10:29AM

If the new House Tea Party Caucus held a meet-and-greet this afternoon, it would consist of Minnesota's Michele Bachmann and Indiana's Mike Pence drinking punch and making awkward small talk while frequently glancing at the door for more arrivals.

Read Full Article

New GRP Straw Poll: Should DUII Cases Be Tried In Astoria Municipal Court Or Circuit Court?

Vote on Poll in Left Sidebar

A Look At Pre-Northern Star Bradwood Landing!

"We take the following facts from the Court of Appeals' opinion and also from the record:
"Plaintiff is a construction and development company owned by Ken Leahy and his wife. Defendant is a ship-repair company based in Portland. Ken Leahy and two partners own a tract of land adjacent to the Columbia River known as the Bradwood property. The Bradwood property consists of 270 acres of forest land and 32 acres of marine industrial land."

GRP:Who is it linked Leahy with NSNG on the property and caused all this mass and coordinated blindness in Lower Columbia River community leadership to attempt to perpetrate this scheme against its citizens?

You Read It!
Then, There's The BRADWOOD PROJECT...Read This One!

Kitzhaber: Natural Gas, Not The LNG Process, Is Our Future

7/19/2010 11:38:00 AM

By PATRICK WEBB - The Daily Astorian

John Kitzhaber believes natural gas is a much-needed transition fuel while Oregon embraces other sources, but he is wary of liquefied natural gas.

Read And Watch Full Daily Astortian Report

LNG Opponents Appeal Oregon LNG Skipanon Lease To DSL

7/7/2010 11:50:00 AM

LNG opponents appeal Warrenton lease renewal
By CASSANDRA PROFITA-The Daily Astorian

Two conservation groups and Warrenton resident Jim Scheller have teamed up to appeal a lease renewal for the Oregon LNG liquefied natural gas project in Warrenton.

Read Full Daily Astorian report

10 Super Foods To Eat Now!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010 7:44 AM
By Robin Berkowitz - NewsMaxHealth.com
Want to feel better? Look no further than the end of your fork. While the benefits of a varied, minimally processed diet are well-known, certain foods are especially potent in alleviating and even preventing numerous ailments that afflict modern society, including cancer, heart disease, and other age-related illnesses. Here are 10 “super foods” that can boost your immune system, your brain function, even give you a youthful glow. No prescription needed, and no pesky side effects – just dig in.

Read The Details

House Minority leader Boehner Takes A Video Shot At Obama!

From: NewsMax.com

The YouTube video, titled “What About the Country, Mr. President?” is in response to Obama's speech in Racine, Wis., on Wednesday in which he ripped into Boehner for telling a newspaper that a major banking overhaul bill is like "killing an ant with a nuclear weapon."

Read/Watch Full Report

Josh Marquis: July 4th!!

Sunday, July 04, 2010

July 4

Considering she is 234 years old today and accounting for all the wrinkles and scars, the United States of America is looking pretty good for her age.

Read Full Commentary

Sockeye Salmon Returning Past Bonneville In Record Numbers After A Decade!

by Keely Chalmers, KGW Staff
kgw.com
Posted on July 3, 2010 at 8:51 AM

PORTLAND, Ore. -- After more than a decade of dismal numbers, sockeye salmon are returning to the Columbia River in record numbers.
According to the U.S Army Corps of Engineers the number of sockeye passing the Bonneville Dam this year has already quadrupled the yearly average.
So far this year more than 300,000 sockeye have passed the dam. That's a pretty remarkable number considering back in the 90's only a handful made it up the river.
Now tens of thousands are passing through the dam on a daily basis.
"There was a remarkable day last week when more than 30 thousand sockeye came past Bonneville Dam and that’s never happened before," said Michael Milstein with the Bonneville Power Administration.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says the recovery is due to better ocean conditions, improved salmon habitat, and improvements made at the Columbia River dams.
The recreational sockeye salmon season on the Columbia opened June 26th and runs through July 31st.

Read And View Full KGW Report

Clatsop County Oregon LNG/Pipeline Hearings: Another 50% Of Unsatisfied Issues Maintain Planning Staff's Denial Of Project

June 24, 2010

Staff Report Addendum
Oregon Pipeline LLC Consolidated Application
Staff Resopnse To Oregon LNG/Pipeline's June 9, 2010 Memorandum And Supplemental Materials

Read Full report

Clatsop County Oregon LNG/Pipeline Hearings Close: Record Still Open For Public Input

Monday, June 28, 2010

From: Clatsop County Oregon

PIPELINE HEARING CLOSED; WRITTEN COMMENTS STILL ACCEPTED
The public hearing on the land-use application from Oregon Pipeline LLC concluded Friday, June 25, but written testimony will be accepted through the end of this week.
Hearings Officer Peter Livingston took testimony Friday in the second and final session of a public hearing that opened June 10.

GRP: See the "RED" on the map above? It means...."The Worst Possible Place For Major Transmission And Supply Pipelines!"

Read Full Release

Proposal To Ban Gillnetting Has Commercial Fishermen Up In Arms!

From the June 21, 2010 issue of High Country News - by Lee Van Der Loo
Updated 6/22/10
The heart of tiny Astoria, Ore., lies hidden behind the weather-beaten buildings of its gritty industrial waterfront. Docks line this lucky stretch of flat land at the base of the Coastal Range, hosting a lucrative fishing industry that reaches from Youngs Bay into the mouth of the Columbia River, several miles inland...... Read Full Article From High Country News

Hood River Juice Cites Government Misconduct In Prosecutiong Its Case?

Scott Learn, The Oregonian

The owner of Hood River Juice has asked a court to toss out pollution charges against him based on "government misconduct" in prosecuting the case, an allegation that turns in part on the role played by Brent Foster, a former top aide to Attorney General John Kroger.

Read Report

Pacific Seafoods Faces Class Action Lawsuit For Anti-Trust Violations

Jeff Manning, The Oregonian

In 26 years, Frank Dulcich has transformed Pacific Seafood Group from a minor fish distributor in Southeast Portland to perhaps the dominant seafood player in North America.

Read Full OregonLive Report

From: The Week.com: Can The Tea Party Survive 2010?

With infighting reportedly on the rise, many Tea Party candidates are going down in flames. Growing pains or the beginning of the end for the protest movement?
posted on June 14, 2010, at 12:08 PM

Read The Details

Ted Thomas's Call To Lame Duck Commissioners To Resign

Dear Friends,
The following is almost verbatim what I spoke to the first meeting of the Clatsop Count Board of Commissioners just after the election. The only point of interest is the fact that while I was presenting the argument below Laurie Caplan rose and departed the public meeting in a dramatic huff and said to others that day that she did not want to be associated with my words. Not the first act she has engaged in while I had my back turned towards her, I invite her to explain. Indeed I would go so far as to lay the blame for this, worst of all situations that we are now compelled to endure, with her and a few others. Their undemocratic sabotage of the recall efforts and de-facto engineering of the commission's ability to replace those successfully recalled by their own appointment of admitted, "Tea-party sympathizers," is what has gotten us in this dangerous and repugnant situation. What I am advocating for is that other's join me in calling for the long overdue resignation this oligarchy of lame ducks that cannot, or will not follow the mandate of the electorate. Although they nominally have the legal right to remain in office they are not wanted there. The alternative of waiting exposes the people to the rule of a commission that openly refutes the demonstrated will of the majority. What could be worse?
Ted Thomas

The Worst of all Situations

"The last time I spoke before the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners for my three minutes of civil rights I invoked that nobel feathered beast of the air and the swamps: The Duck. The French term fro duck, "Canard," has come to the english usage from the French expression "Vendre des canard ā maitié." literally translated it is to sell ducks by the half. The expression itself is drawn from the medieval witticism about two butchers involved in a price war over ducks. The established butcher when finally confronted with an impossible price from his competitor across the street of three franks for a duck erects a much larger sign boldly proclaiming "duck ... two franks" but in very small print at the bottom of the sign was "for half a duck." And so Canard came to mend anything paraded out in public that has the intent of being deliberately misleading.
When all our stream beds are overloaded with silts and thermal stress some might find the idea of promoting forest and aquatic health through reinstating the permission to clear cut the riparian zones up to the water's edge to be a preening Canard.
Still others might point out that feigning fiscal responsibility in cutting the District Attorneys Stipend or refusing to seek matching federal funding of the Healthy Start Program already allocated to our county at the same time that they spend tax money to fly out to Washington DC to lobby on behalf of their campaign contributers to be a big quacking Canard. And of course some would go so far as to identify the claim that the proposed Bradwood Landing LNG facility to be small to medium and protective of the fish to be a great big waddling, flapping, grand daddy of a Canard.
But I am not going to elaborate upon these dibbling downy, web footed, chicks. What I want to address is another kind of plumed foul altogether, that sad feathered, billed denizen of the swamps and water ways that cannot or will not keep up with its own flock.
The three hundred pound gorilla in the room is the fact that now and for the next 7 or so months the majority of the arguably politically wounded Commissioners are now no longer available to the voters in any subsequent election where they could be held to account for their ensuing conduct in office. Unburdened of what sense of fidelity they felt so lightly upon their shoulders already are we to understand that they now wield political office unrestrainedly for their own self interests and those interest of their confederates? Are we not right to dread 7 months of such unaccountable power? I fear this is indeed the worst of all situations that I have spoken about in private many times before.
To allay these legitimate concerns, to recover the confidence of the community and convey in certain terms a spirit of reconciliation and civil discourse in Government I humbly bring to the Commission's attention that there is no obligation currently preventing them from relinquishing office in a more timely manner. For example like the nominal duration of time that would pass between a November election and a January inauguration. Furthermore I wish to offer my sincerest invitation for those that did not prevail in the last election to resign gracefully in the interest of promoting social harmony. Seven month is a very long time to endure before following the expressed direction of the voters. What mandate do you intend to fulfill by staying when you have none from the public at all. The snow has lifted Spring is in the air it is time to move on."

17 Afghan Military Personel Go AWOL From Texas U.S. Air Force Base!

By: Jana Winter - Fox News
June 17, 2010

A nationwide alert has been issued for 17 members of the Afghan military who have gone AWOL from an Air Force base in Texas where foreign military officers who are training to become pilots are taught English, FoxNews.com has learned........

Read Full Article

Clatsop D.A. Marquis Wins Fourth Death Sentence For Double-Murderer Guzek. Next, Automatic Appeal

By Kelsey Watts, KTVZ.COM
POSTED: 5:06 pm PDT June 16, 2010
UPDATED: 4:05 pm PDT June 17, 2010

BEND, Ore. -- After only 4 1/2 hours of deliberation, a Bend jury imposed the death penalty for a fourth time Thursday afternoon against convicted double-murderer Randy Lee Guzek for his role in the brutal murders of a Terrebonne couple, after three earlier decisions were overturned on appeal over the past 23 years.
People were called back to the courtroom around 2 p.m., 5 1/2 hours after the jury got the case, following closing arguments and final jury instructions from a visiting Lane County judge.

Read And Watch Full Report

Clatsop Elections News Release:Election Filing Period Open For City Council Seats

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

From Clatsop County Elections:

The filing period is open for seats on several local city councils up for election in November.

GRP: Big questions...Is Astoria's Mayor Van Dusen going to meet a serious challenge this election and by Who? Will Warrenton's Gil Gramson be replaced? Will Astoria City Councilor Henningsgaard be unseated?

Prospective candidates have until Aug. 24 to file a declaration of candidacy for the positions, which will appear on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

For candidates filing by petition, it is recommended that nominating petitions be submitted by Aug. 13 to ensure signature verification by the deadline.

Elections Filing Information

Oregon LNG/Oregon PipelineHearings: Clatsop County Planning Staff Report And A Truckload Of Non-Compliance

OK people, let's stay on top of this!!!!

GRP:Oregon LNG/Pipeline's attorney tries to "Pooh-Pooh" the non-compliance count as just really a couple of items overall and the actual number of items is just mis-leading but, wasn't it just a couple of niggling little items that kept coming back to sink Bradwood Landing eventually?

Here's The Complete Staff Report For Your Review And Input

FERC Report: OLNG Did Nothing Wrong

June 4, 2010

By Dennis Newman - From Natural Oregon

If LNG opponents were hoping for a new angle in their fight against Oregon LNG, this isn’t it.

A report by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) clears the company of any serious wrongdoing in how it dealt with landowners along the route of its proposed pipeline in Northwest Oregon.

“No Misconduct”

Read Full Report

Westport to get Georgia-Pacific Penalty Money For Improvements

Read Full Article

Clatsop County Commissioner Hazen Speaks On Post-Election Resignation Request And The Daily "A"

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Laughable
At last week's commission meeting, Jay Kiddle and Ted Thomas asked for the resignation of the three of us that lost the election last month. Normally I don't respond to personal attacks during business from the public, but I was not going to sit by and not respond. I informed Ted that I was elected in 2006 to serve a 4 year term on the commission and that I was going to fulfill that obligation and have no intention of resigning........Read Full Comment

Business Oregon Offers Small Business Grants. Loans

Portland Business Journal
Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 8:28AM
Business Oregon, the state’s economic development department, has launched a new program to help small businesses access capital.
The program, called BOOST — Building Opportunities for Oregon Small Business Today — will loan money and award grants to Oregon businesses that create new, full-time jobs in the state.Read more: Business Oregon offers new loans, grants - Portland Business Journal

Read The Details

NWGA: Northwest Gas Association Gas Outlook 2010

NWGA 2010 Outlook Study Released

Produced annually, the Gas Outlook is a detailed look at the use and potential availability of natural gas in the Northwest through October 2019. The Outlook is unique as it represents a consensus view of the regional natural gas market developed by industry participants serving the region.

Read Full Article And Access Full NWGA Report

How Old Is Grandpa?

Read And See If You Can Guess!

Clatsop D.A. Marquis Prosecutes Fourth Randy Guzek Trial!

Fourth Jury Faces Choice: Life or Death for Guzek?
Opening Arguments Heard in Long and Costly Case

By Amy Easley - KTVZ.COM

POSTED: 6:44 pm PDT May 27, 2010

BEND, Ore. -- From the start Monday, jurors were told to be ready. The next three weeks would be difficult, and dark. And at the end, they'd have a tough choice: to either give convicted murderer Randy Lee Guzek a death sentence - his fourth - or life with the possibility of parole, but not for 60 years - of which he's already served 22, which would mean the now 41-year-old would be at least 78 - that is, if parole ever were granted.

.....After years of legal battles and preparation, a jury was seated and heard opening arguments in the case of Guzek, convicted for his role in the brutal shooting and stabbing deaths of a Terrebonne couple, Rod and Lois Houser, way back in 1987. Each death sentence was overturned on what any but legal experts would call technicalities.And again, prosecuting the case as he has all along, is Josh Marquis - now Clatsop County district attorney, then a Deschutes County deputy DA"...


Read And Watch Full Report

Tongue Point: Shipbreaking Again??

Does this crap never end and for the third attempt yet?

The Vessel Above? An 1850Ton Cargo Vessel. Click On This To Read Its Specs And You Will Find This Is Not Necessarily What Some Would Call A Small Boat?

A Look Back At An Earlier Piece On Shipbreaking

A Photo Essay On Shipbreaking

...."However, there are still are a few companies in the business in the United States. Though rules relating to the handling and disposal of the

toxic materials that are built into old ships, including residual hydrocarbons, lead paint, asbestos, and PCBs, make the business run differently here then in the wild East ("ship breaking” is a term that is slowly being replaced by “ship recycling”). The industry is subsidized by the fact that federal policy prevents government ships from being scrapped by other countries, for the most part. With hundreds of such ships floating around the country, and around the globe, the domestic ship breaking industry is likely to continue".....Shipbreaking In America, It All Comes Apart At The Bottom of The U.S.A.

Governor "K" Calls for 9% Budget Cuts Over Grim Outlook Report

May 26, 2010
KGW.com and AP Staff Report

State Economist Explains Budget Projection


SALEM, Ore. -- The Great Recession is "likely over" in Oregon -- but the state's top economist said not to expect to see signs things are getting any better anytime soon.

To add it all up, the outlook report released Tuesday showed the state is facing a $562 million shortfall for the current biennium which runs through next year.

Read Full KGW.com Report

Oregon A.G. Kroger's Reponse To Oregon Rep. Ferrioli

GRP: In what appears to be a vindictive "Witch Hunt" being concocted by, what appears again, Pro-Bradwood/Northen Star Natural Gas abettors in the hope that some of the accusations against Oregon Attorney General and Assistant Brent Foster and others may stick to legitimize the ramblings of one certain reporter at a local Clatsop County Message Board, Oregon AG Kroger has responded to a FOIA request by Oregon Rep Ferrioli.

You may read it below without the Editorializing and judge its legitimacy for yourself.

Read Complete Letter With No Editorializing

Chinook Observer:Moby Dick Can Mow Till 2012

By Cate Gable - ChinookObserver Columnist

5/18/2010 - 5:19PM

LONG BEACH - The Noxious Weed Control Board meeting Tuesday evening, May 11, encompassed strong emotions but concluded with a clear-cut decision on a topic that has roiled local communities in recent months.

Read Full Chinook Observer Article

34 Days And Still No Move By Obama To Assist In Oil Spill Stoppage

34 Days and Obama Still Lets Oil Giant Run Show

NewMax.com

Sunday, 23 May 2010 06:47 PM

VENICE, La/HOUSTON – The U.S. government threatened to remove BP from efforts to seal a blown-out oil well in the Gulf of Mexico if it doesn't do enough to stop the leak, though it acknowledged only the company and the oil industry have the know-how to halt the deepwater spill.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on Sunday Washington is frustrated and angry that BP Plc missed "deadline after deadline" in its efforts to seal the well more than a month after an oil rig explosion triggered the disaster......

Read Full Report

The Oregonian's Jeff Mapes:Will Defeat Of Three Clatsop County Commissioners End The Turmoil?

Politics and environment, local government

By Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian

May 21, 2010, 9:33AM

Clatsop County had a big election Tuesday night when three county commissioners were swept out by challengers who had opposed the effort to site a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Columbia River near Astoria.

Read The Oregonian's Jeff Mapes Full Article

CEDR(Clatsop Economic Development Resources): Just What Is It They Do These Days?

Their Website CEDR says nothing since November, 2009.

And this is the non-profit private machine that has chartered itself as the end-all, do-all consulting agency to help put us to work and foster Economic Development here on the Lower Columbia River?

Maybe I'm missing something here and I extend a sincere invitation to those involved with CEDR to come and give us a "No-Bullshit" update on exactly what they are doing to bring us good, clean, cohesive and compatible Industry and Jobs here as from all appearances they seem to be at a standstill.

GRP: CEDR Has A Pulse Afterall. Look For This CEDR Event @:
CEDR Spot Radio
Join us on the “CEDR Spot”, an examination of local business and economic development issues. We’ll focus on the challenging economic development issues facing the citizens of Clatsop County. We’ll also discuss the challenges and opportunities confronting local businesses.
When
Thu May 27 12:30pm – 1pm Pacific Time
Where
KAST 1370 AM - Repeats at 5:30 PM

Applications Filed To Send New Northwest Broadcasters To Receivers!

From: Radio Online

Apps Filed to Send New Northwest to Receiver Davis
Applications have been filed with the FCC to transfer the radio properties of New Northwest Broadcasters to Alan M. Davis' Revitalization Partners as receiver.

Read Full Release

Shorebank Cascadia's Role In Columbia-Pacific National Heritage Area

...."SBEC proposes to work with local and regional partners to help our region be and remain resilient in the 21st century. We will weave community involvement into the development of the Management Plan. It is a goal that this heritage area reflects the people, places and economies that give our area its unique character"....

Read The Complete Outline Of Shorebank Cascadia's Involvement In CPNHA

Oregonian's Ted Sickenger November 16, 2007 - LNG Natural Gas Pipelines Tap Into Residents Fears

Friday, November 16, 2007

The Oregonian:LNG/Natural Gas Pipeline Taps Into Residents Fears

GRP: The argument is as fresh today as it was almost 3 years ago

Pipeline taps residents' fearsHundreds worry about a gas line's effect on their land and environment

Friday, November 16, 2007

TED SICKINGER - The Oregonian

A chorus of concerns rang out this week as landowners along the snaking route of a proposed natural gas pipeline showed signs of organizing to oppose the line and liquefied natural gas terminals along the lower Columbia River......

Revisit The Oregonian's Ted Sickinger's Article

FERC Tells Oregon LNG To Hold Open Season Or Withdraw Pipeline Project

GRP: Just What Does The Term "Open Season" Mean You May Ask?
FERC’s 1995 Policy Statement first endorsed the open season process in terms of mitigating rate increases on existing customers from rolled-in pricing. FERC sought to encourage capacity release from existing users prior to approving new construction. The open season process became the tool to check whether the project was the correct size.


By Robert Walton - SNL Financial

Monday, May 10, 2010 9:47 AM

If Oregon Pipeline Co. LLC wants FERC to continue reviewing its proposed system then the company must move ahead with an open season, commission staff said in a sternly worded May 14 letter

LNG Development Co. LLC d/b/a and Oregon Oregon LNG Pipeline Co. LLC are proposing to construct an LNG import terminal on the Skipanon Peninsula in Warrenton, Ore. A 120-mile pipeline would connect to a regional hub in Molalla, Ore. But according to FERC staff, the pipeline company has not yet held an open season, which is jeopardizing the review process.

Read Full Article

Oregon LNG Lease: Letters To The Port Of Astoria

Maybe You Can Find Some Words To Help Port Commission See The Common Sense In Denying OLNG's Lease

Be Forewarned - Will "The Port", In Light Of Its Current Troubles, Be Able To Withstand The Onslaught?

And here's one of the best points yet as to why "PofA" needs to stand firm and look for whatever tools are necessary to stop this bleeding and wrest that 90-plus acres of Skipanon Peninsula back from this "Energy Speculator, OLNG and put it to better use to "Our" benefit, not that of a holding company bolstered, from all appearances, private coporation that is essentially starting from dead zero on a scheme with no market and for potentially 60 years of control for $39,000 a year for God's sake?....."Cameron Horowitz, an analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, said increased domestic supplies of natural gas have slashed prices, killing the demand for LNG imports. Two other companies trying to develop LNG facilities in Oregon would face "slim" prospects of success, he said."Every year for the past five years, there's been talk that this country would be flooded with LNG imports, but it has never come to fruition," he said from Houston. "Given the outlook for U.S. natural gas prices and the rest of the world, I don't see it coming to fruition at all over the next five years."Horowitz said LNG facilities on the Gulf of Mexico have been trying to win permission to ship LNG stockpiles back overseas.NorthernStar's bankruptcy filing listed assets of $165,930 and liabilities of about $129.5 million"..
Read Them Here If You Wish

From "The Stump":Bradwood Landing's Demise A Victory For Oregon Values

Badwood Landing's demise: A victory for Oregon's values
By Oregonlive Guest Columnists

May 11, 2010, 9:00AMBy Jack Marincovich, Ivan Maluski, Dave Cruickshank and Brett VandenHeuvel

Should Oregonians and our elected leaders sit by and watch Texas-based energy companies degrade our farmland, forests and salmon? Of course not........

Read Article

Steve Miller:Why The Public Sector Cannot Be Run Like A Business

The public sector can certainly benefit from the adoption of many business practices, from a focus on customer service to more efficient work flow, from TQM(Total Quality Management) to greater transparency. But no matter how important these practices may be, no matter how much the public sector can benefit from their use, there is a fundamental difference between the two sectors that will perpetually lead to differences.......

Read Full Opinion

GRP Clatsop County Commissioner Campaign Straw Poll Ends

There were a total of 76 voters that participated(Each voter could cast multiple votes) and here are the total votes per candidate. This is a Straw Poll only. The Poll question was: Who's your candidate for each Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners open district seat in the May 18, 2010 Primary?

Key question: Which of these candidates can set aside "Party Politics" and be the "Impartial Guardians" of the "Public's Trust" in the doing of our "Public Business"?

Peter Huhtala
59 (77%)
Versus
John Raichl
11 (14%)

Scott Lee
57 (75%)
Versus
Jeff Hazen
8 (10%)

Birkby
47 (61%)
Versus
Mushen
14 (18%)
Versus
Dunzer
3 (3%)

The Hazen Campaign: Now, Wait A minute!!!

Did I hear this morning, at the end of a Hazen Campaign message..."This Message Paid For By Committee For County Prosperity"?

Maybe I am missing something but, I don't see any campaign finance activity on ORESTAR for either Hazen's ORESTAR PAC Site(#13869) Or CFCP's ORESTAR Pac Site(#13954) that reflects any contributions or expenditures that reflect this expense.

Isn't this stuff supposed to be reported and posted within a fairly prompt amount of time?

Both these PACs were formed and registered back during the recall elections against Hazen and Ann Samuelson primarily, where again, there were many questions regarding certain contributions.

Now doesn't seem to be a very prudent time to be raising questions about certain conflicting ties to questionable campaign financing especially on Hazen's part does it.

Can anybody clue us in on this?

Jeff?

Update!

Orestar shows some recent transaction activity (To 05-10-2010) on both Hazen's PAC(#13869) and Committee For County Prosperity's PAC(#13954) for you to review should you so desire. Interestingly, North Coast Retail(Developers of the new Costco and other adjacent projects) shows another recent contribution to Committee For County Prosperity of $9,000.00 on 05-03-2010?

And now, to make things more curiouser, Clatsop County Board of Commissioners has amended Wednesday's, May 12, 2010 Agenda to include North Coast Retail LLC, which plans to ask the citizens of Clatsop County to extend a $4.5 Million Dollar Promisory Note due on North Coast Business Park property for a period of two years, is it, that is now due?

Now, we will not even go into the issue that Clatsop Commissioner Robert Mushen's PAC(#14467) Treasurer holds two key positions with CFCP which is also a contributor to Jeff Hazen's re-election campaign and I cannot truly say that any of this is illegal but, would it not be prudent for both candidates to look seriously at the impropriety of any deliberations at all on this issue at Wednesday's meeting in the interest of the citizens of Clatsop County whom they serve?

Go To ORESTAR And Type In The ORESTAR Committee ID Number

From KAST-AM: Recalled Clatsop Commissioner Ann Samuelson Weighs In On Bradwood Landing

Jeff Nelson - KAST-AM
Posted on May 06, 2010 06:00

....."Former Clatsop County Commissioner Ann Samuelson comments on Northern Star Natural Gas’ announcement Wednesday that it is suspending development of the proposed LNG facility at Bradwood Landing. Asked if it’s fair to characterize her as a supporter of this specific project, but not a blanket endorsement of LNG, Samuelson says: “I don’t even know if I want to say that. What I want to say is that I’m a supporter of good government".....

Read Full KAST-AM Report

Northern Star Natural Gas Files For Bankruptcy!

Bradwood LNG Developer Files For Bankruptcy

May 5, 2010

Dennis Newman - Natural Oregon

NorthernStar Natural Gas, the developer of the Bradwood Landing LNG project, has filed for bankruptcy.

In papers filed yesterday in Houston, the company says it’s unable to pay its debts and will liquidate under Chapter 7.

Company spokesman Charles Deister wouldn’t comment when asked about the filing. He referred me to yesterday’s announcement that the company is suspending work on Bradwood Landing.............

....."Cameron Horowitz, an analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, said increased domestic supplies of natural gas have slashed prices, killing the demand for LNG imports. Two other companies trying to develop LNG facilities in Oregon would face "slim" prospects of success, he said.

"Every year for the past five years, there's been talk that this country would be flooded with LNG imports, but it has never come to fruition," he said from Houston. "Given the outlook for U.S. natural gas prices and the rest of the world, I don't see it coming to fruition at all over the next five years."

Horowitz said LNG facilities on the Gulf of Mexico have been trying to win permission to ship LNG stockpiles back overseas.

NorthernStar's bankruptcy filing listed assets of $165,930 and liabilities of about $129.5 million"...

Read CBS News - AP Report
Read The Natural Oregon Details

Oregonlive:Details Surface On Brent Foster Resignation

By Scott Learn, The Oregonian
May 04, 2010, 8:44PM

When a judge allowed state and federal agents to search Hood River Juice in October, handcuff and cart off owner David B. Ryan and file criminal charges, a big piece of incriminating evidence was a water sample from a puddle near the plant that showed extraordinarily high pollution levels.

Turns out, there were two problems with that evidence, new court records indicate: The sample collection, including unsterile bottles and no custody seal, was flawed.

Read Full Oregon Live Article

Northern Star Natural Gas Suspends Development Of Bradwood Landing Import Terminal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 4, 2010Contact: Charles Deister (503) 949-5762
NorthernStar Natural Gas suspends development of its Bradwood Landing LNG import terminal
PORTLAND, Ore. - NorthernStar Natural Gas has suspended development of its Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas import terminal near Astoria, Oregon. "The extended delays in the processing of state and federal permits for Bradwood Landing and the difficult investment environment have forced us to suspend development," said NorthernStar Natural Gas President Paul Soanes. "In particular, the challenging regulatory environment gives investors pause, especially considering that Bradwood Landing would have such a positive impact on the Northwest's economy and environment while supporting the region's transition to renewable energy by providing a new source of reliable and affordable natural gas." Since its inception, Bradwood has worked to ensure it will provide a significant and sustainable net benefit for the lower Columbia ecosystem, and serve as a model of sustainable development. Using best available science and recovery plans, the project included innovative measures to avoid and minimize impacts, robust mitigation, and a $59 million voluntary (but legally binding) Salmon Enhancement Initiative: the largest private investment of its kind ever proposed for the region. "While we're disappointed, we are truly grateful for the tremendous support the project received from citizens in Clatsop County and Oregon's business and labor communities," said Mr. Soanes. "Bradwood Landing is a great example of a project that business and labor came together to support. Not only would it have created hundreds of jobs, but it would have provided a needed new source of natural gas, which would have helped stabilize energy costs for thousands of businesses." Initial development work on Bradwood Landing began nearly six years ago. Bradwood is the site of the former Bradwood lumber mill, company town and has a natural deep-water port. Bradwood Landing received its FERC certificate order September 18, 2008 after an extensive scientific and technical review, which took three and a half years and included an official record in excess of 50,000 pages. On March 20, 2008, the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners approved Bradwood's consolidated land use application on a 4-1 vote after a nine-month public process. Earlier this year, Bradwood reached a key milestone when formal consultation began under the Endangered Species Act with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Previously, the U.S. Coast Guard determined that the Columbia River could be made suitable for the LNG marine traffic associated in its record of decision dated April 24, 2009, provided full implementation of the risk mitigation measures detailed in the Waterway Suitability Report are accomplished. Those measures were included as conditions when FERC issued its Certificate Order for the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal in September 2008. Bradwood Landing's coalition of supporters included the Oregon AFL-CIO, the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council, the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, the Oregon Machinists Council, the Washington Machinists Council, Carpenters Local 1707, the International Longshore Workers' Union (Columbia River Oregon Area), and the Steamship Operators Association. Bradwood Landing and its associated 36.3-mile pipeline would have provided a new source of natural gas directly into the Oregon and Washington natural gas market. It would have created 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. An analysis of the effects of increased natural gas supply by former University of Oregon economist Dr. Phil Romero, showed that Bradwood Landing could reduce the wholesale cost of natural gas by 13 percent. Dr. Romero's analysis showed this decrease in energy costs would help support the creation of between 5,100 and 20,300 jobs.
###
Charles H. Deister Director, Media and Government Relations NorthernStar Natural Gas (503) 949-5762 CDeister@NSNG.com

Hazen Breaks The Silence!!!

Saturday, May 01, 2010

Election time

First off, let me apologize for the length of time that has gone by since I last posted anything to my blog.

Time as been in short supply over the last several months and I will do better at updating this blog on a regular basis.

I want to take this opportunity to outline some of the happenings in regards to the county commission. I will also address some of the concerns that are out there.......

Hazen on "The Stipend": "Many other counties in the state do not provide a stipend. Obviously this caused a debate that still lingers today even though the commission reinstated the stipend later.".... GRP: Of The 36 counties in Oregon, my understanding is, 23 pay an annual stipend to their District Attoneys for services.

Read Hazen's Blog Post