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

Clatsop County News Release - No Special Meeting Scheduled On Bradwood LNG Appeal

Department News Release

Thursday, April 29, 2010

NO SPECIAL MEETING SCHEDULED ON BRADWOOD LNG APPEAL

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners will not hold a special meeting to consider whether to join the developer of the proposed Bradwood Landing LNG project in an appeal over the company’s land-use application.

Bradwood Landing LLC/NorthernStar LLC is challenging a ruling by the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals in the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Bradwood is appealing LUBA’s April 12 ruling that remanded two issues related to the developer’s consolidated application back to the county for further clarification.

The county had the option of joining Bradwood/NorthernStar as a party in the Court of Appeals challenge, or allowing the company to handle the appeal on its own.

Bradwood/NorthernStar proposes to build a liquefied natural gas receiving terminal and pipeline at Bradwood, approximately 25 miles east of Astoria.'

The company’s consolidated land-use application was approved by the county board of commissioners in March 2008 but appealed by project opponents to LUBA, which rejected most of the appellants’ points but remanded two issues back to the county – the question of whether the development met the definition of small to medium scale, and the definition of “protect” as it relates to fishing areas.

In July 2009 the board approved new findings to address the remand issues, which were in turn again appealed to LUBA. The state panel again remanded the two issues back to the county in its April 12 ruling.

The Class-Action Lawsuit Against Wal-Mart

The Class-Action Lawsuit against Wal-Mart

Carrie Lukas - The Corner - National Review Online

How do you know when someone has been the victim of discrimination? That’s the question at the heart of the class-action lawsuit against Wal-Mart, which alleges that up to 1 million female employees suffered because of discriminatory employment practices. This week, the Ninth Circuit allowed the lawsuit to proceed.

Read Full Report

Columbia River Dredging Ends This Year To Mixed Views On The End Result

Columbia River dredging ends this year, benefits end mixed

By The Oregonian - Business News

April 23, 2010, 6:35PM

The last phase of work is being completed on the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project, 20 years in the making, which deepened 103 miles of the channel by three feet.

Twenty years ago, a massive dredging effort to deepen 103 miles of the mighty Columbia River held the promise of securing Oregon's connection to the rest of the world. At 43 feet, the channel -- otherwise too shallow to compete with deep-water ports -- could play host to today's larger vessels and more efficiently send Northwest wheat and steel to markets around the globe.


Read Complete Article

Bradbury Takes On Oregon LNG Siting In New Campaign Video

Bradbury takes on LNG terminal in new campaign ad

By Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian

April 22, 2010, 4:52PMFormer Secretary of State Bill Bradbury has made a lot of his staunch opposition to liquefied natural gas terminals in Oregon. Now, he's turned it into a new television commercial being launched by his campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Read Full Jeff Mapes Report