Pollution

Bandon Seafood Company Slapped With Huge Pollution Fine

December 10, 2009
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A seafood processor in Bandon has been ordered to pay at fine of more than $208,000 for what state officials call “numerous” violations of the company’s water quality permit.

Oregon DEQ says Bandon Pacific committed more than 4,000 violations from 2004 – 2009, including:

  • Failing to monitor wastewater and not reporting the results. (2,800 occasions)
  • Dumping fish carcasses into the Coquille River. (915 occasions)
  • Not using a mesh screen to filter the wastewater before discharging it into the Coquille. (915 occasions)

DEQ says this the 11th largest fine in its history and says the violations are serious one. The agency says it found violations going back as far as 2001, but decided to limit the penalty period to just the previous five years.

Bandon Pacific is a seafood processor that also sells to the public. It’s owned by the same company that operates Pacific Seafoods.

DEQ says the company plans to appeal the fine.

EPA Will Regulate Greenhouse Gases, NW Enviros Praise Decision

December 7, 2009
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When President Obama arrives at the U.N. Climate Conference in Copenhagen later this month, he won’t be coming empty handed.

The EPA wants to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. Photo from ODOT.

The EPA wants to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. Photo from ODOT.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency declared greenhouse gases a threat to public health, and will start regulating them as pollutants under the Clean Air Act. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson says the agency will move forward on plans to control greenhouse emissions from cars and trucks, and from large stationary sources such as factories.

The decision is receiving, so far, unanimous praise from Northwest environmental groups.

Environment Oregon calls this the, “Most significant step the federal government has taken on global warming.”

The Center For Biological Diversity, a national group with offices in Portland says, “We applaud the EPA for moving forward to implement one of our nation’s most successful environmental laws to avert catastrophic runaway global warming.”

Seattle based Earthjustice adds, “We are heartened to see that our government is recognizing the global warming threat.”

Read more »

VIDEO: Ready For Copenhagen, Thanks To The States

December 3, 2009
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Copenhagen Logo webWhile Congress dithers on climate change legislation, a new report says we’re actually in pretty good shape for the upcoming global warming talks in Copenhagen. The reason? The report says several states are showing strong leadership on global warming and that’s giving the U.S. a head start on reducing carbon emissions.

Although the report is national in scope, it was released locally by Environment Oregon.

Here are some of the major findings:

Capping Carbon: Six states, including California, have set caps on carbon pollution. There’s also a regional cap-and-trade program for power plant emissions in the Northeast. These efforts will cut carbon emissions by 270 million metric tons annually by 2020. Oregon tried to create a cap-and-trade system during the last legislative session, but business groups and utilities were able to kill it.

Clean Energy: 29 states, including Oregon, now require that a certain percentage of power in the state come from renewable sources. In Oregon, we’re aiming for a 25% renewable energy standard by 2025. Meanwhile, 22 states are taking concrete steps to improve energy efficiency in homes and buildings. Others, including Oregon, are looking at new rules on low-carbon fuel for cars and trucks.

States Are Leading By Example: California’s clean cars program has been adopted by 14 states, including Oregon and Washington. There’s an effort underway to make it a national program. That would mean 31 million fewer tons of carbon emissions every year, by 2020. States have also led the way on efficiency standards for appliances and lighting. The federal government is considering national standards.

More on this after the video…

The result of all these initiatives is that the United States is already on track for removing 536 million tons of carbon every year by 2020.

Meanwhile, check out the new “We’re Ready” video produced by Environment America.

Measures 66 & 67: What They Mean For Oregon’s Environment

December 2, 2009
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State parks face cuts of up to $8.65 million. Photo from Oregon Parks and Recreation

State parks face cuts of up to $8.65 million. Photo from Oregon Parks and Recreation

If Measures 66 and 67 fail in next month’s special election, it could mean major reductions in how much money the state spends on monitoring pollution, protecting and restoring streams, maintaining state parks, and fighting wildfires.

These two measures raise about $733 million for state government by increasing incomes taxes on high earning Oregonians, and raising minimum taxes paid by corporations. Business groups have been fighting hard against the measures. About a month ago, Oregonian’s environmental community stepped into the fight. The Oregon League of Conservation Voters endorsed Measures 66 and 67 and warned that if they’re defeated the state’s natural resources would take a serious hit.

Now we have some actual numbers to examine that claim.

It comes from state agencies. This week, they released new data showing how they might handle budget cuts of 5% and 10%.

A few “let the reader beware” warnings.

I’m using the 10% cut numbers because in the past, agencies that handle natural resources tend to be cut deeper than other parts of state government. If the pain was shared equally, all agencies would be cutting about 5%. My experience tells me that lawmakers are likely to protect spending on education, law enforcement and human services at the expense of wildlife, parks, pollution and water quality.

Remember these are suggested cuts only. If Measures 66 and 67 are voted down, agencies’ priorities might change when faced with making actual cuts instead of hypothetical ones.

The numbers are spread out over two years. These potential cuts cover spending for 2010 and 2011.

Finally, I’m no budget expert. But I’ve done my best to look at the material online and tried to figure it all out. If I’ve made a mistake, please don’t hesitate to correct me.

-See the Legislative Fiscal Office webpage and follow the Budget Reduction Options link to do your own calculations.

With that in mind, here we go!

Parks and Recreation: Faces cuts of about $8.65 million, much of it coming from putting off maintenance at state parks. The agency warns that park facilities will look shabbier and more rundown. The department is also trying to take a lot of money out of office operations.

Forestry Department: Could lose the equivalent of 47 full-time jobs within the department and see its budget cut by about $7.8 million. Most of the money would come from fighting wildfires, including the initial attack units that have been given lots of credit for putting out wildfires before they get out of control. Dozens more temporary wildfire fighting positions would also be cut.

Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: Probably the most important agency the public doesn’t know about. Every year OWEB funds hundreds of projects including dam removal, improving fish habitat and restoring streams and rivers. A 10% cut would mean OWEB would have about $6 million less to spend on these projects during 2010 and 2011.

Environmental Quality: DEQ would lose about $3.3 million under this scenario and the equivalent of about 15 full-time jobs. The department says efforts to monitor air and water quality would probably suffer the most. One possible casualty, an air monitoring station in either Salem or Medford.

Fish and Wildlife: This agency would have to trim about 1.9 million, with a lot of the cuts coming from the monitoring of steelhead and salmon, fish screening projects and hatchery maintenance.

Agriculture: Could lose about $979,000 with a lot of the money coming from cuts in programs to control noxious weeds, invasive species and soil and water conservation.

Oregon Polluters May Be Getting Prison Time

November 30, 2009
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Here’s a new, and very interesting, update a story from about two weeks ago.

The Miller Nash law firm in Portland is warning Oregon businesses that things could start to get very serious if they’re caught breaking environmental laws.

The memo says that Attorney General John Kroger plans to dramatically increase the number of criminal prosecutions for environmental crimes in the state. Cases that used to be handled as a civil or administrative matter are more likely to end up in criminal courts. Instead of being fined, violators could now face possible jail time. The memo goes on to say that Kroger also plans to go after small violators as well as big ones.

According to the memo:

“What does this increased emphasis on criminal enforcement mean for Oregon business owners? It means that we are entering a period of uncertainty, when we will not know the types of violations the ECEU is targeting until a pattern of prosecution emerges.”

ECEU refers to Kroger’s newly formed Environmental Crime Enforcement Unit. On November 17, Kroger announced the team would be headed by two lawyers who are experienced in handling criminal prosecutions and environmental cases.

That announcement received widespread coverage. But the Miller Nash memo is the first good explanation I’ve seen of how this may affect businesses.

The memo ends with something resembling an ad pitch, an offer to help companies avoid legal troubles before they go to court.

For More Information: Prison Time for Environmental Noncompliance? It Could Happen: Oregon’s Attorney General Announces Environmental Crimes Enforcement Unit


Treading Water And Playing Hooky

November 25, 2009
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Ever have one of those days? You make a lot of phone calls and nobody is calling you back? That’s what I get for slacking off yesterday and trying to do some news gathering the day before a long Holiday weekend.

When they do call back, I’ll have some interesting stuff to report. But in the meantime, a few things to pass along that I should have already posted.

The climate change study was conducted in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest. Photo by Mike Gooseff, OSU.

The climate change study was conducted in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest. Photo by Mike Gooseff, OSU.

The Impact Of Climate Change On Western Oregon

Research by Oregon State University shows that snowpack in the Cascades is about half of what it was 77 years ago. It’s not that we’re getting less precipitation. It’s that we’re getting less snow and what we do get is melting faster.

Since 1958, temperatures in January, March and April have increased an average of four degrees. Spring is arriving earlier. But the study also shows little change in average temperatures the other times of the year.

“What we’ve seen the most already, and will probably see even more in the future, is declining snowpacks and related effects on stream flows,” says Julia Jones, a professor of geosciences at OSU and coordinator of the report.

But what’s not so clear is how this will impact trees and vegetation. Jones says they have some ability to adapt to changing climate. Older Douglas Fir, for example, can survive droughts by shutting down their photosynthesis, she says. “Some of them are 500 years old and have already lived through a lot of climate variability, they get knocked around all the time.”

Waldo Lake Gas Motor Ban Supported At Public Hearing

The overwhelming number of people who testified at this week’s hearing on the Waldo Lake motor ban were in favor of the idea. The Eugene Register Guard estimated that about 75% of those who testified were in favor while 25% were against.

See Story: Many Favor Ban On Motors At Waldo Lake

The Oregon State Marine Board is looking at banning all gas boat motors and float planes from Waldo Lake, but allowing electric motors. Waldo Lake is more than a mile high in the Cascades in far eastern Lane County. If the ban is approved, it would be the largest “no gas motor” lake in the state.

Interior Announces Oil and Gas Lease Auctions For Oregon

The energy industry will have four chances next year to bid on oil and natural gas leases on federal lands in Oregon. The auctions are scheduled for March, June, September and December. The Bureau of Land Management says there are more than 500 leases available representing about 775,000 acres in Oregon and Washington.

But in Oregon, auctions are frequently canceled for lack of interest. Last year, only one auction was held and no bids were offered.

Is Waldo Lake Motor Ban A Done Deal?

November 23, 2009
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Waldo Lake. From the Oregon Department of State Lands.

Waldo Lake. From the Oregon Department of State Lands.

If the Eugene Register Guard is correct, tonight’s hearing on a proposed ban on gasoline boat motors at Waldo Lake could a a long, hot tempered affair.

But only sure to add some heat, is a new story in the paper that the ban may already be a done deal, signed weeks ago between the U.S. Forest Service and the head of the Oregon State Marine Board.

See Story: Motorized Boat Ban For Waldo Signed

Never mind that the neither first or the second public hearing haven’t been held. Nor has the Marine Board even voted on the proposal. But if the paper has this right, the ban is already in effect and basically waiting to be ratified by the board.

At near 5,400 feet in elevation, Waldo Lake is one of the highest in the state. It’s also quite large, nearly 6,300 acres in far eastern Lane County. The ban would make it the largest motor free lake in the state.

But what makes the lake so special are the pristine waters. Some reports claim you can see down 100 feet when conditions are right. The gas motor ban is designed to keep Waldo Lake crystal clear.

For more information on the when and where the meeting will be held, please see my Green Calendar For Monday story published a few minutes ago.

Unsafe To Eat? EPA Finds Widespread Contamination In Fish

November 10, 2009
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Crater Lake, one of 500 lakes in the study. Photo by Dennis Newman

Crater Lake, one of 500 lakes in the study. Photo by Dennis Newman

Here’s an argument for catch-and-release.

A new report by the Environmental Protection Agency is raising questions about the safety of fish caught in America’s lakes and reservoirs. The study looked at fish in 500 lakes across the country, including nine here in Oregon.

What the agency found is that it’s just about impossible to catch a fish that doesn’t have at least some mercury or PCBs. Dioxins and furans were also found in most fish.

But are they safe to eat?

That of course varies greatly depending on where you’re fishing and often how you eat what you catch.

Some more results from the study:

Mercury: The study found “potentially harmful” levels of mercury in fish at 49% of the lakes in the study. Mercury gets into the food chain from the burning of fossil fuels, usually coal.

PCBs: 17% of the lakes studied had fish with unhealthy levels of PCBs, a class of chemicals that can cause cancer.

Dioxins and furans: While at least 8 out of 10 fish in the study had at least some level of these chemicals, unhealthy amounts were found in fish at 8% of the lakes in the study.

Unfortunately, the EPA says its hard to draw conclusions about the safety of the fish caught here in Oregon. It says the sample sizes are too small to make any conclusions. But I’m trying to get data on what they found here.

Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Human Services does have a list of lakes and rivers with fish advisories. You can find that list here.

Green Wire: Tuesday Morning

November 9, 2009
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Save Money On New Light Bulbs

Energy Trust of Oregon is sponsoring state-wide discounts on compact fluorescent light bulbs. No coupon necessary. Retailers across the state are dropping prices. For a complete list of where to get the discount, see this story from the Salem Statesman Journal.

Maybe The Dam Should Stay

Some in Jackson County think tearing down the Gold Ray Dam is a bad idea. A candidate for county commissioner says a repaired dam could provide revenue for the county by producing electricity. From the Medford Mail Tribune.

29 Years Later And It’s Still A Mess

The Army Corps of Engineers starts work this month on removing a million cubic yards of silt from the Cowlitz River. The silt comes from Mt. St. Helens, the result of the “clear cut” explosion from about 29-years ago. The Corps continues to work on a long range silt control plan. From the Longview Daily News.


MONDAY’S STORIES

Did LNG Company Get A “Too Good To Be True” Deal For Land?

LNG opponents are raising questions about a land deal struck between the Port Of Astoria and Oregon LNG. The company is leasing 92 acres of land from the Port for about $38,000 a year. Critics say it should be a lot higher. From the Daily Astorian.

Proposed Wind Farm May Be Doomed By Endangered Bird

Plans to build the first wind farm in Western Washington are running into trouble. The site in Pacific County, called Radar Ridge, is on the flight path of the marbled murrelet. The murrelet lives mostly on the ocean, but nests in coastal forests. From the Longview Daily News.

What We Lose If The Dam Goes

Salmon counts on the Rogue River are considered some of the best in the region. That’s because biologists can count live salmon as they pass through the Gold Ray Dam. But Jackson County wants to remove the dam, perhaps as soon as next year. When that happens, officials will have to rely on counting methods that are not as accurate nor up-to-date. Still, they don’t mind. From the Medford Mail Tribune.

Thinking About Sewers

Coburg is one of the largest towns in Oregon without a sewer system. City officials say that’s limiting Coburg’s ability to grow and threatens the water supply. But building a sewer system would cost about $25 million and residents are in an uproar. From The Eugene Register Guard.

State Moving Forward On Possible Boat Motor Ban At Waldo Lake

November 3, 2009
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Waldo Lake. From the Oregon Department of State Lands.

Waldo Lake. From the Oregon Department of State Lands.

The debate over banning boat motors from Waldo Lake is going to heat up over the next few months.

The Oregon State Marine Board has scheduled two hearings on the issue and has opened up a period for public comment. Details on that in a moment.

Here’s what the board is considering. The proposed rule would ban motorboats and float planes. Sailboats with auxiliary motors would be also be banned. But electric motors would be allowed. Some exceptions would be made for emergencies.

If the rule passes, it would make Waldo Lake the largest gas motor-free lake in the state. The lake is nearly 6,300 acres in size and sits some 5,400 feet high near the crest of the Cascades in eastern Lane County.

The U.S. Forest Service proposed a ban on gas motors at Waldo Lake two years ago and was ready to enforce the ban starting in July. But what followed was a long running legal battle over whether the feds, or the state, had the proper authority. A ruling in May by a U.S. Magistrate only confused the issue.

If the Marine Board agrees to the ban, it should settle the matter once and for all.

Supporters of the motor ban say the water of Waldo Lake is so unusually pure, that it deserves special protection. Its claimed that, under the right conditions, you can see the lake bottom 100 feet below the surface.

Opponents say its a matter of having access to one of Oregon’s great natural treasures. They says there’s no real evidence that gas motors are harming Waldo Lake.

And now, those details I promised earlier.

Here’s where to send those comments, deadline is December 15 at 5pm.

Email: osmb.rulemaking@state.or.us
Snail Mail: June LeTarte, OSMB, PO Box 14145, Salem, OR 97309
Fax: (503) 378-4597

Meanwhile, public hearings start in late November.

Monday, November 23, 6pm
Lane Co. Public Works, Goodson Room, 3040 N. Delta Hwy., Eugene, OR 97408.

Thursday, December 10, 6pm
Bend Fire & Rescue Training Center, Classroom 1, 63377 Jamison Rd., Bend, OR 97701