The Oregon League of Conservation Voters says it’s endorsing Jeff Cogen as the new chairman of Multnomah County, and Karol Collymore for a seat on the county commission.

In a statement released this morning, OLCV praises Cogan for his efforts on sustainability, the environment, climate change, the local food economy and open spaces. “Jeff understands how clean energy and innovation can create good jobs and a stronger, more fair economy,” says OLCV PAC Board Chair Charlie Burr. “Jeff is a proven leader and environmental champion.”

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The Oregon Sierra Club says it won’t support Senator Wyden’s logging bill for Eastern Oregon.

The group had been withholding judgement ever since the deal was announced almost two months ago. But now, the group’s Conservation Director Ivan Maluski tells me that without some changes, the Sierra Club will oppose the measure.

His critique of the logging bill is, in many ways, similar to concerns raised by the Obama Adminstration.

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Calling it “one of the largest threats to the Mt. Hood National Forest”, the environmental group Bark holds a meeting Thursday night on the Palomar Pipeline.

Palomar is a 220-mile natural gas pipeline that crosses Northwest Oregon from the Columbia River near Astoria, to Maupin. That route includes 47-miles through the Mt. Hood National Forest, and that’s what concerns Bark. That section of the route includes old growth forests, the Pacific Crest Trail and the Wild and Scenic Clackamas River.

When: 7:00pm
Where: Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church, SE Belmont at 54th, Portland

Long time adversaries in Oregon’s timber wars told the Senate today they’re ready to make peace, at least in Eastern Oregon.

The setting was a hearing on the Eastern Oregon Logging bill sponsored by Senator Wyden. Based on a historic compromise between timber and conservation groups, the bill hopes to revive the region’s logging industry while at the same time protecting old growth trees and restoring forests.

But despite the talk of peace and collaboration, it’s clear there are still some hard feelings out there.

About the only thing all the witnesses agreed on is that Eastern Oregon’s forests are in deep trouble and need help.

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See streaming video of hearing at this link.

1:29pm: Kerr admits the conservation community is split over the bill. Many groups still believe in preserving forests from development because that activity has been harmful in the past. More are recognizing that restoring forests are now what’s needed.

1:05pm Not a fan of the bill, Larry Blasing of the Grant County Forest Commission. Calls it a bureaucratic nightmare that doesn’t address the need for jobs and the economy.

12:48pm: John Shelk of Ochoco Lumber. The bill is an “agreeable compromise” that protects forests and the Eastern Oregon tax base. Nearly two dozen mills have closed. Eight are remaining. How much longer than can survive depends on a steady supply of logs from federal forests.

12:42pm: Oregon witnesses are up.  Andy Kerr of Oregon Wild says, “It’s not a perfect bill, but it is nonetheless a great bill.”

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Three neighbors from Northeast Portland went before the Portland City Council this morning, saying the city can – and should – do more to keep wireless towers out of residential areas.

The three are among many neighbors trying to stop Clearwire from installing a wireless internet antenna on top of power pole at NE 37th and Fremont.

But it’s not just this neighborhood dealing with this issue, they warned commissioners. Hundreds more towers could be built in the next few years, many of them only eight blocks apart. “Every neighborhood in Oregon will be facing this,” said Caitlin Johnson.

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Cell Towers

Three people from RespectPDX get a chance to tell the Portland City Council how they really feel about a WiMax tower moving into their neighborhood. Colin O’Neill, Eric Winston, and Caitlin Johnson each get a few minutes to address the council during the public speaking time at the beginning of the Wednesday’s meeting. The group has been fighting Clearwire’s plans for a wireless internet antenna at NE 37th and Fremont.

When: 9:30am
Where: Portland City Council Chambers, 1221 SW Fourth Avenue, Portland

NW Portland Gas Terminals

Oregon DEQ holds a public meeting on renewing air quality permits for three gasoline terminals in Northwest Portland. They are the Chevron facility on NW Front St, and the Kinder Morgan Liquid and Shell Oil terminals on NW St. Helens Road. The terminals need air quality permits because they release air pollution, including benzene and ethyl benzene.

When: 5:00pm
Where: DEQ Northwest Region Office, 4th Floor, Room A/B, 2020 SW Fourth Avenue, Portland

While no one is using the “D” word yet, officials at the state, federal and local levels are bracing for what could be the worst drought ever in the Klamath Basin.

Governor Kulongoski was in the region this morning for a meeting with area officials about what needs to be done now to prepare.

Senators Wyden and Merkley added to the urgency with a letter to federal officials warning of a “crisis of historic magnitude”, and asking the feds to take immediate action.

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