Friday, January 22, 2010

LNG Tanker Terrorism: The Video Clatsop County Manager Duane Cole Refuses To Let Into The Debate?


So says Don West in his Daily Astorian Letter to the Editor Read The Letter Then Watch The Video Linked Below
GRP: And Why Not? Why Withhold Valid Information From The Citizens Of Clatsop County And By Whose Authority Is Cole Charged With Doing So?


Title: Concerns over LNG shipments in Everett
Published: Thu, 31 Dec 2009
Description: (NECN: Scot Yount, Everett, Mass.) - A tanker of liquefied natural gas at port in Everett, Massachusetts. In the wake of 9/11, this very ship the Matthew, was denied entry to the port of Boston because it was deemed too dangerous, the threat o...

Watch Video

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Enviro Groups Seek Rehearing Of Coos Bay LNG Port

Enviros seek rehearing of Coos Bay LNG port

Associated Press - KDRV.com

January 19, 2010

GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- Some environmental groups are joining the state of Oregon in asking federal regulators to reconsider approval for a liquefied natural gas port on Coos Bay and a related pipeline to the California border.

Read Full Piece

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Scott Brown Wins Mass, Special Election Senate Race!


From: "The Fix" - Washington Post.com

Chris Cilliza - January 19, 2010

State Sen. Scott Brown won a remarkable upset victory over state Attorney General Martha Coakley (D) tonight in a Massachusetts Senate special election, a victory likely to spawn broad-ranging political and policy consequences heading into the midterm elections.

"Tonight the independent voice of Massachusetts has spoken," Brown said to raucuous cheers at his victory rally

Read The Details

City Of Astoria Eligible For H.U.D. 2010 Community Development Block Grant - Hearing Date Set

The City of Astoria is eligible to apply for a 2010 Community Development Block Grant from the Oregon Business Development Department.

Community Development Block Grant Funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The grants can be used for public facilities and housing improvements, primarily for persons with low and moderate incomes.

Approximately $14 million will be awarded to qualified Oregon cities.


Read The Details

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Cathlamet Mayor Weighs-In On LNG Debate And Discloses Public Employee Signing Agreement And Others Involved With NSNG Activities

From: Wahkiakum County Eagle Newspaper

"To The Eagle:

I am writing to clarify aspects of your coverage of the Town Council’s LNG “debate” published in The Eagle’s 12/24 issue. First, my position is that the Town of Cathlamet should monitor the ongoing negotiations between Wahkiakum County and NorthernStar, the Texas-based organization that plans to construct a LNG facility several miles from Cathlamet -- not become a signatory to any agreement they might make.

Second, we must stay well-informed because the issues under negotiation could potentially impact our town’s waterfront, require zoning changes and render our 2006 Master Plan obsolete. Given that, it seems appropriate for town leaders, including the mayor and council members, to monitor developments proactively so as not to be caught off guard."

* Cathlamet Deputy Fire Chief signs a Non-Disclosure Agreement with Northern Star Natural Gas?
* Members of the Cathlamet fire department, funded by NorthernStar, have over the past three years undergone LNG fire training.
* Town Councilor David Goodroe, the current Executive Director of the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council, said at a meeting that the LCEDC has for several years discussed with NorthernStar and other parties a plan to base armed escort/security vessels in the Elochoman Marina and place LNG escort tugboats elsewhere on Cathlamet’s waterfront.

Read Full Letter To The Editor

Saturday, January 09, 2010

October, 2009 - Northern Star Natural Gas Attempts To Float A Securities Services Agreement With Wahkiakum County Board Of Commissioners


Citizens: Investigate potential LNG security pact liabilities for 8 - 10 security jobs manned by Wahkiakum County Sheriff Officers.

Published on Thu, Oct 1, 2009 by Rick Nelson - The Wahkiakum County Eagle

"Tread carefully", That's the message a group of citizens gave the Wahkiakum County board of commissioners for their negotiation of a security services agreement with NorthernStar Natural Gas LLC.

"Island resident George Exum asked if the public would be able to review the proposed agreement prior to the commissioners voting on it.Commissioners and Garrett agreed the public could examine the agreement, with classified sections blacked out.In response to a question, Garrett said the facility is licensed as a receiving facility and would not be retrofitted to export natural gas. "We've offered to sign a letter that we'll not do that," he said."

"Commissioner Marsyla commented that she feels the potential of 8-10 jobs is "huge." "I truly will be really sad if this plant goes in and those 10 jobs end up in Columbia County and there are none here," she said. "I agree we need to look at the contract."



Read The Details

Saturday, January 02, 2010

LUBA Rejects Opponent "Public Input" Challenges To Clatsop County's Land Use Review On Proposed Bradwood Landing Project By Texas Based, Northern Star

LUBA REJECTS CHALLENGE TO BRADWOOD REMAND RECORD

The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals has rejected a challenge filed by Bradwood Landing LNG opponents against the public input process on Clatsop County’s land-use review of the proposed liquefied natural gas project.

"While LUBA rejected opponents’ objection to the redaction of evidence, the panel, in the same ruling, also turned down an objection filed by NorthernStar claiming that some new evidence was allowed into the record of the remand hearing, in violation of the board of commissioner’s pre-hearing policy."

Read Clatsop County Press Release

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Fragile Recovery On Horizon For Housing

By Chris Arnold - NPR News
December 31, 2009

Housing has been an albatross around the economy's neck, dragging it down over the past couple of years. Although there are still some big problems, there also are signs of life — along with a sense of hope that the market is starting to pull out of this historic crash.

Read Details

Court Tosses Port of Astoria's Latest LNG Move!!!



By CASSANDRA PROFITA - The Daily Astorian

The Port of Astoria has tried and failed once again to get Oregon LNG's lawsuit against the agency thrown out of U.S. District Court.

According to court records, Magistrate Judge John Jelderks denied the Port's second motion to dismiss the company's breach of contract suit this week.


The Marine Highway Bill 2009




"By Savannah Morning News

MUCH HAS been made over the need to renew America's highway infrastructure, with attention mainly focused on better facilitating interstate commerce.


Largely absent from the national conversation has been the idea of reviving an obvious alternative to land-based transportation: Coastal shipping."


Read The Details

Monday, December 28, 2009

Oregon Crabbers Seeing A Banner Year For Dungeness


BY APRIL BAER - OPB News
Portland, OR December 28, 2009 10:59 a.m.
Photo - First Load In! - By: Chris McGee - FV Footloose

Northwest crabbers are hauling in a bumper crop of Dungeness this winter. April Baer reports.
A typical Dungeness fishing season for Oregon yields about 12 million pounds of crab. This year, over the first few weeks of the season, fisherman have caught about at least 10 million pounds. And the fishing continues until August.


Hard Times This Past Year Show The Value Of Things Money Can't Buy

BY APRIL BAER - OPB News
McMinnville, OR December 28, 2009 10:53 a.m.

The end of the year tends to put us all in an introspective mood.
Angie Blackwell: “How has the past year changed me? One of the main changes I think is I’ve really come to appreciate and enjoy the things that money doesn’t buy – since I don’t have any, it’s a good thing!”

Read Full Report

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Wal-Mart Proposes New Portland Store Under Much Criticism By City Official

Teresa Blackman - KGW News
Posted on December 23, 2009 at 8:16 AM

PORTLAND – Walmart announced Tuesday it plans to build a new store in North Portland and also expand its existing 82nd Avenue store.

The new store is proposed to be built in the Hayden Meadows shopping center and would employ approximately 300 people, mostly in full-time position, officials said.

Watch Video Report And Read Details

Thursday, December 17, 2009

F.E.R.C. Approves Jordan Cove LNG Terminal - Governor Kulongoski In A Later Release Announces State Will Appeal

GovernorTo Appeal F.E.R.C. Approval Of Jordan Cove
With Bradwood Landing still in Appeal in U.S. Appeals Court, Governor says he will take Jordan Cove ruling to U.S. Appeals as well, if necessary, to overturn approval.
Posted 12/17/2009 12:20 PM ET

By Jeff Barnard, AP Environmental Writer Via Statesman Journal

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Federal regulators have approved construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal on Coos Bay and a pipeline to distribute the gas through Southern Oregon to the California state line.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted 3-1 Thursday in Washington, D.C., to approve the Jordan Cove project..........

Read Details

Friday, December 11, 2009

Congratulations To Robert Mushen For Getting The Nod From Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners

Robert Mushen, one of 6 candidates in consideration for the District-5 seat of ousted Commissioner Ann Samuelson, won unanimous approval from The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners after Kristin Frost Albrecht was denied the seat in an earlier 2-2 vote by The Commission.

Mushen, already being touted by some as Samuelson's handpicked replacement to continue with the existing agenda, may be wise enough to have been a keen observer of what brought on these recalls that have burdened this community by posturing himself in a position of leadership that serves the citizens of Clatsop County in the doing of their "Public Business" as opposed to serving "The Machine" and its agenda itself.

Mushen claims that he will reserve his position on LNG pending the development of further knowledge on the issue.

Hopefully he will learn more than just the PR on the subject from Bradwood Landing's "Talking Heads" as seems to be the depth of it on the majority of that panel.

Maybe, just maybe, he may be the one to push to explore other long-term, sustainable job opportunities that will put hundreds and hundreds of Clatsopians to work before this group commits this community to a lifetime of a bad marriage to what many would call a huge mistake.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

A Reasoned Debate On Measures 66 & 67

By Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian

December 09, 2009, 8:42AMEconomists Joe Cortright and Eric Fruits debate the Oregon tax measures on the Jan. 26 ballot in this video from the Populations program on Portland Community Media. If you're looking for a thoughtful discussion of the issue, this is the place.

Read Details and Watch Video

Thank You Astoria Rotary International!!

Walking by the kitchen table this morning, saw a brand spanking new 'Webster's New Dictionary' lying there and asked KC, "What's this?" and she said,"Every Fourth Grader at Lewis and Clark Elementary got one with their own names in it."

Sure enough, there it was, our Olivya's name printed very nicely and below it "Presented By Astoria Rotary Club".

To them I would like to say, "Thank you very much for your valueable and thoughtful gift to our Grand'daughter and her classmates.".