Blog Archives

Living With Oregon’s Wolves

October 25, 2008
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With the Feds trying again to delist Gray Wolves, you might be wondering what will happen to Oregon’s wolves, should the Feds succeed.

Russ Morgan, with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, hears that question a lot. He’s the wolf coordinator for the northeast corner of the state. And since that’s where all the wolves are in Oregon, that makes him the go-to guy for these sorts of things.

Morgan says federal delisting will mean little in Oregon. Grey Wolves are on the state’s endangered species list. So even if they lose federal protection, they’ll still be protected under state law.

So what does that mean exactly?

Morgan outlined Oregon’s Wolf Management Plan this morning at the 2008 NW Wolf Conference sponsored by the Wolf Education and Research Center and Concordia University in Portland.

For starters, it means no one can shoot a wolf, not even if it’s attacking livestock or pets. You can scare it away, but you can’t do anything that would kill or injure the wolf. Federal delisting doesn’t change this.

But Morgan also says ODFW’s long range goal is to move wolves off the state’s endangered list.

It moves in three phases.

First, establish four breeding pairs and maintain that for three years. Once this happens, the wolves could be delisted under Oregon law.

Second, allow them to expand to 5-7 pairs. That creates a big enough population base to prevent them from having to be relisted.

The third phase begins when there’s at least 7 breeding pairs.

Along the way, Morgan says the management plan gradually decreases protection for the wolves. Wolves could be killed if they become a chronic problem for a rancher, or the rancher could use more forceful methods to scare them away. Even then it’s not a just a matter of grabbing a gun and shooting. Ranchers would need permits and would have to work with ODFW on dealing the problem wolves.

But perhaps the most telling part of the presentation is what ODFW wanted to do during the 2007 session of the Oregon legislature. Morgan didn’t say it, but it does give some insight into what ODFW would like to do in the future. The department proposed legislation that would let them change the wolf’s status to that of a game animal. Landowners could kill wolves attacking their livestock without needing a permit. And it would have created a state sponsored program to pay ranchers for their wolf caused losses and provide them with funds to help protect their livestock.

Morgan says ODFW has no plans to reintroduce changes when the legislature returns early next year.

Morgan was only one of several speakers at today’s conference. There were also representatives from Defenders of Wildlife, Oregon Sheep Growers Association, Oregon Cattlemen’s Association and Salmon Safe. The Wolf Center’s Executive Director Chris Anderson said the purpose was to help find common ground between advocates for wolves, and producers who could be hurt by wolf attacks on their livestock.

For more information about the state’s wolf management plan visit:
ODFW: Wolves In Oregon

Feds Try Again To Delist Gray Wolves

October 25, 2008
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The Bush Administration is making another attempt to remove Gray Wolves in the Northern Rockies from the Endangered Species List.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it will reopen public comment on delisting in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, the eastern third of Washington and Oregon, and parts of north central Utah. The comment period opens October 28 and runs until November 28.

This is Fish and Wildlife’s second attempt this year at delisting these wolves. In March, it announced it was delisting the species, only to have a federal judge restore protection in July. The courts vacated the ruling in September but Fish and Wildlife kept the wolves on the endangered list. The agency suffered another setback earlier this month when a different federal court ordered it to put Midwest wolves on the list.

Fish and Wildlife’s position is that wolves have exceeded the minimum recovery goals in the region for six years running, and says protection isn’t necessary.

Conservation groups, including the Defenders of Wildlife and the Natural Resources Defense Council are promising a fight. They say there aren’t enough wolves to ensure they’ll survive delisting.

For more information about the proposal visit:
Fish and Wildlife: Gray Wolves In The Rocky Mountains

To file a comment visit:
http://www.regulations.gov

Oregon Joins Anti-LNG Battle

October 20, 2008
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Oregon joined forces with Washington and NOAA Fisheries by filing for a new hearing on the Bradwood Landing LNG plant.

The filing asks the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to withdraw approval of Bradwood, saying FERC failed to follow the law.

Among the state’s complaints, that FERC approved the project before getting the necessary Oregon permits for air and water quality, that it didn’t consult with NOAA Fisheries, that it failed to determine if Bradwood is really needed and in the public interest, and that FERC didn’t do a good enough job studying the safety and security issues of the project.

In a news release, Governor Kulongoski says FERC shows “complete disregard” for Oregon’s role. “By requesting a rehearing, FERC has one final opportunity to do this right. If Oregon is not afforded a rehearing, legal action is imminent,” says Kulongoski in the release.

Several environmental groups and some northwest tribes also filed for a new hearing. The list includes Columbia Riverkeeper, Sierra Club Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation,

Fed Vs Fed In LNG Battle

October 19, 2008
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Opponents of the Bradwood Landing LNG plant must be feeling pretty good about the latest news on the project.

On Friday, the National Marine Fisheries Service (better known as NOAA Fisheries) filed for a new hearing on Bradwood, saying the decision to approve the project violated the Endangered Species Act. And NOAA isn’t the only government agency to make that claim. Washington’s Department of Environmental Quality also filed for a new hearing on similar grounds.

A little background, last month the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) gave conditional approval to Bradwood Landing, which would sit on the Columbia River about 20 miles upriver from Astoria. The proposal also includes a pipeline that would carry natural gas further east on the Oregon side of the river, cross under the Columbia into Washington, and terminate near Kelso, WA.

NOAA says FERC violated federal law because it failed to consult with NOAA about the environmental impacts of the LNG plant. NOAA Fisheries has authority to protect several species of fish and marine animals, and to protect fish habit under two federal laws. Keep in mind that NOAA isn’t asking FERC to take back the approval, but rather that it wants the project to be put on hold.

NorthernStar Natural Gas of Houston, TX is the company that wants to build the Bradwood Landing plant. It told the Oregonian that NOAA’s filing is “procedural” and won’t impact the permitting process.

And then there’s the filing from Washington DEQ. It offers a far more detailed critique of how FERC failed to do its job studying the potential impacts of the LNG plant.

Some of the highlights:

  • Ballast Water: When LNG cargo ships arrive, they may dump engine cooling water into the Columbia River. They may also take in river water to act as ballast on the return trip. DEQ says FERC doesn’t have enough information to know how this will affect the river.
  • Emergency Preparedness: An explosion at the plant, or along the pipeline, could have serious consequences for the river and the people who live nearby. But DEQ says FERC failed to analyze how much it would cost to handle such an emergency, or how much it’s going to cost to prepare for one.
  • Geologic Hazards: DEQ says FERC didn’t do a good enough job studying the impact of landslides along the pipeline route.
  • Economic Impact: DEQ says FERC failed to fully analyze how large LNG cargo ships would impact other shipping that uses the Columbia River. LNG ships will require extra security that could delay barges and other traffic. DEQ also says FERC needs to do a better job of how Bradwood Landing LNG would impact the local fishing industry.
  • Greenhouse Gas: DEQ says construction of the project will produce 146,000 tons of carbon dioxide every year, and once the plant is operating it will produce 102,000 annually. But DEQ says, FERC doesn’t require NorthernStar to do anything to offset that.

DEQ takes it a step further and says FERC should rescind its approval of the Bradwood Landing project.

The Oregonian says the state of Oregon will join the fray on Monday.

Oregon’s Most Scenic Bike Rides

October 19, 2008
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Oregon is looking for help to create a statewide system of scenic bike rides, similar to the one it has already has for scenic car drives.

The state Parks and Recreation Department is forming an advisory committee that will take nominations, choose scenic routes and work with landowners and local groups to manage them. There are 11 seats on the committee and one of them is open for a “citizen at large”. It means you don’t have to belong to an interest group or government agency to get the position.

You can learn more about the committee and the position by calling Alexandra Phillips, the state bicycle recreation coordinator, at 503-986-0631. The news release doesn’t say anything about a deadline, so if you’re interested you may need to act quickly.

The state has only one official scenic ride and you can learn more about it here:
Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway

A Shortage Of Sewage?

October 15, 2008
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The writers at Oregon State are having a little too much fun this week with a warning that we may soon face a worldwide “stubborn shortage of sewage”.

That’s their clever way of telling us about some serious research into generating electricity from biowastes, including the stuff you flush down the toilet.

Hong Liu, an Associate Professor, has developed a process of producing hydrogen from waste at a cost that may be commercially viable. The hydrogen could be used in fuel cells, which in turn could power cars or even generate electricity. Liu says her process is much cheaper than electrolysis, which is the usual method for creating hydrogen.

In a press release, Liu says, “In the laboratory we’re already quite close to the Department of Energy hydrogen cost goal of $2 to $3 per gasoline gallon equivalent, or GGE. And with some additional research it should be possible to scale these systems up to levels needed for commercial use.”

The process uses microorganisms that break down the waste, while probes (an anode and a cathode) draw out protons and electrons that combine to produce hydrogen. Think of it as a sewage powered battery.

Plus, and Liu says this may be the best news of all, along with producing hydrogen the process also produces clean water.

Liu tells Natural Oregon that so far, she’s been working with small scale projects. But the hope is to create a commercial sized facility where sewage and other biowastes go in one end, and clean water and hydrogen come out the other.

Which is how the writers came up with the whole “shortage” of sewage concept. If you’re turning sewage into clean water and energy, we’re sure to run out of it, right? Get it? Okay, let’s move on.

For the full press release including the dire predictions of sewage shortages, click here:
Oregon State University: Researchers Moving Closer to Creating Viable Energy From Sewage.

Bad Tree!

October 15, 2008
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Who knew that, in some parts of Oregon, Juniper trees are an invasive species and more of a nuisance than part of the landscape?

Well, it’s news to us and one reason why we found an article in the Blue Mountain Eagle so interesting.

According to the Eagle, the Juniper has spread from about 1.5 million acres in the 1930s to about 6.5 million acres in 2005. The reason is that we’re now putting out more wildfires that, in the past, would prevent the tree from spreading. Plus, when Junipers move into new territory they take up way more than their fair share of soil moisture from native plants.

Removing Junipers is very expensive and while there’s government help available, it really doesn’t come close to covering the full cost.

So…some really smart guys have figured out ways to make money off the Juniper, including flooring, furniture and even houses built entirely out of the tree.

The photo of a stone fireplace with a juniper mantel is beautiful and worth a peak even if you don’t want to read the full article.

Blue Mountain Eagle: Taming A Western Invader

City Help For Ecoroofs

October 15, 2008
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If you’ve ever thought about getting an ecoroof, then this might be one of the best times.

The city of Portland is giving away money help people install ecoroofs. Maybe “giving away” money is little unfair. It’s a grant program and you have to apply and meet certain standards, so on and so forth… But still, it’s actual dollars that’ll help you get started.

The announcement doesn’t say how much money is available, only that you can get up to $5 per square foot. It’s not clear if the grants are available for just businesses, or if private homes also qualify.

For more information check out this website:
Portland Ecoroof Grant Program

And if you’re really curious, there’s a day long seminar coming up on Wednesday, October 22.
Ecoroof Seminar

OSU: One Step Closer To Wave Power

October 13, 2008
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Scientists at Oregon State say they may be only a couple of years away from installing the state’s first commercial wave energy project off the coast.

They’re feeling optimistic after a successful month-long test of a wave energy device they deployed near Newport. Associate Professor Ted Brekken says, in a news release, that the test went “exceedingly well”. Brekken says the buoy produced lots of power, worked about as well as they expected, and gave them lots of data for further study. OSU has been testing several designs that use a direct-drive system.

OSU isn’t the only group to conduct such test. Finavera Renewable of Vancouver, BC tested a wave energy buoy for almost two months off the coast near Agate Beach. About a week before they were going to retrieve the buoy, it sank to the bottom of the ocean and wasn’t salvaged until July. Still, Finavera says it collected useful data while the buoy was in operation.

OSU News Release: Successful Ocean Test Advances Wave Energy Research
OSU Video Link: Wave Energy Generator Deployment