They’re just trying to have it both ways.
Can we allow some industrial development on West Hayden Island, while leaving enough of the area untouched so it can useful as wildlife habitat?
Thursday’s vote on the Portland City Council is a tentative, ”yes”.
Trains carrying garbage from Hawaii would pass under Cape Horn. Photo by Aubrey Russell
UPDATE: The Oregonian reports that a federal judge in Spokane has blocked the garbage shipments until the end of August. The O quotes the judge as writing, “There are serious questions relating to whether the USDA adequately analyzed the environmental impacts of shipment and receipt of Hawaiian waste.”
EARLIER:
A coalition of environmental groups, and the Yakama Nation, are suing to stop Hawaii from shipping garbage through the Columbia River Gorge.
The garbage shipments received final approval this week from the Agriculture Department.
The suit says USDA didn’t do a good enough job studying the risks – which the groups say include invasive plants and insects that could damage rare ecosystems and the area’s fruit crop.
With Portland on board for a statewide ban on single use plastic bags, supporters are bringing the cause to other cities around the state. Tonight, there’s an event in Eugene. More on that in a moment.
I also spoke this morning with State Senator Mark Hass, one of the co-sponsors of ban-the-bag legislation. He’s got some interesting insights on why the Portland City Council voted for a resolution, instead than passing a real law.
One of 45 goats released at Mt. Jefferson. Photo by Jim Yuskavitch.
For the first time in more than a century, wild Rocky Mountain goats are back home in the Central Oregon Cascades.
45 goats – relocated from the Elkhorn Mountains – were released Tuesday at the base of Mt. Jefferson. It’s part of an ongoing effort to help the Rocky Mountain goat recover in the state.
Portland’s City Council joins the “ban the bag” movement.
This afternoon, the council voted unanimously to support a statewide ban on single use plastic bags, and a five cent fee on paper bags. The proposed ban would start in 2012.
Success depends on the legislature approving it, but they don’t meet until 2011. So what happens if Oregon’s lawmakers say no? In that case, the council says they’ll look at passing a bag ban law in Portland.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park, which opens in 2013, will be paid for by lottery funds. Photo from Oregon Parks and Recreation.
Coming to you in November, a ballot measure that will protect a major source of money for Oregon state parks, river restoration and wildlife habitat.
Known as the Water, Parks and Wildlife measure, it was certified today for the ballot by the Secretary of State’s office.
On Thursday, the Portland City Council will make a critical decision about the future of West Hayden Island.
Here’s the issue. Should the area remain undeveloped and preserved for nature? Or should the Port of Portland be allowed to build a new marine terminal?
