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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (April 10, 2015)
April 10, 2015 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 11A Lawmakers speak on issues Forum from Page 1A Though the federal gov- ernment doesn’t directly help communities build schools, Merkley said it may be pos- sible for some Federal Emer- gency Management Agency IXQGV WR KHOS ¿QDQFH WKH academy since new schools must be located outside the tsunami inundation zone. Bonamici noted that, be- cause the academy would be a public charter school, addi- tional funds might be available. “So we’ll be looking into that as well, because we’d like to help you get a school,” she said. Originally, Merkley had planned to give the academy D 8QLWHG 6WDWHV ÀDJ ZKLFK KDGEHHQÀRZQRYHUWKH8QLW- ed States Capitol, at the town hall meeting. The senator oc- casionally highlights local or- ganizations devoted to educa- tion, like schools and libraries, in this way, Courtney Warner Crowell, his state communi- cations director, said. But, because of unspeci- ¿HGFRPSOLFDWLRQV0HUNOH\¶V RI¿FHVDLGWKH\ZRXOGKDYHWR PDLOWKHÀDJWRWKHDFDGHP\¶V organizers along with its cer- WL¿FDWHRIDXWKHQWLFLW\ LNG coastline — LNG terminals “just don’t belong in this haz- ardous area,” said Jan Mitch- ell, of Astoria. “I just can’t say enough about how much this area opposes those operations.” Bonamici acknowledged that the LNG issue is often framed as a trade-off between creating jobs and protecting the environment. “I understand there is a need to build the economy, especially rural economies. There are many ways we can do that without jeopardizing the safety of our residents,” she said. “And the more I learn about the Cascadia Subduction Zone and the resilience issues, and what would happen on the coast ‘when’ (the earthquake RFFXUV²QRWµLI¶²WKHPRUH concerned I am.” Merkley said the “evolv- ing science on natural gas” has changed the public’s un- derstanding of the LNG issue. “Now that we see frack- ing in full force, we have a huge problem with fugitive methane gas that escapes. Methane is a very potent global warming gas. By some estimates now, natural gas is equivalent to coal in terms of its global warming impact,” he said. “My basic feeling is, we should have a ‘go slow’ strategy, in part, so we can understand the science.” Josie Peper, of Astoria, wondered if the Lower Co- lumbia River Estuary could be granted federal protection as a National Scenic Area, like the Columbia River Gorge, to avoid environmentally un- sound projects altogether. Merkley said he does not view federal protection status as ³DJRRG¿WIRUWKH$VWRULDDUHD where there’s economic devel- opment to be undertaken.” However, he is working with other Northwestern states — Washington, Idaho and Montana — to create legislation that would provide for the river’s “protection and decontamination,” he said. The controversial Oregon /1* OLTXH¿HG QDWXUDO JDV project, involving the com- pany’s plan to construct a terminal and pipeline for ex- porting the fossil fuel on the Skipanon Peninsula, became an urgent theme among the audience members. By allowing Oregon LNG — which is controlled by a U.S. conglomerate headquar- tered in New York — to cre- ate a facility near the mouth of the Columbia River, “we would be throwing away this beautiful place that we have for the gain of someone else, somewhere else,” said Roger Rocka, of Astoria. Given that many scientists expect a massive Cascadia Sub- duction Zone earthquake to oc- cur at an unknown future date Other concerns — which may cause a tsunami • Nadia Gardner, of Arch WRÀRRGWKH3DFL¿F1RUWKZHVW Cape, asked about the pos- sibility of fully funding and permanently reauthorizing the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund program, which provides funds and grants to regional conserva- tion projects throughout the country. The fund expires September 2015. Merkley said he will use his position on the Committee on Appropriations to advo- cate for the continued funding of the program. • Roberta Basch, cultural adviser to the Clatsop-Ne- halem Confederated Tribes, asked for Merkley’s and Bonamici’s support in restor- ing federal recognition to the tribe. She said that the tribe would then be given rights that allow them to preserve both their culture and sites sacred to them for future generations. Bonamici, who introduced a bill in the last Congress to restore the tribe’s federal rec- ognition, said she will contin- ue to work on the issue. However, “I just want to be realistic and say that there wasn’t much appetite on the other side of the aisle to even move the bill into a hearing,” she added. “Restoring rights to a tribe is a big process. It takes time.” • Ed Johnson, a Cannon Beach resident, expressed concern that the state had by- passed Cannon Beach’s res- idents last month, when the Oregon Department of Trans- portation removed about 30 trees, 8 or more inches in di- ameter, from U.S. Highway 101’s scenic byway. Because the trees were in a state right of way, ODOT was legally able to carry out the project without ¿UVWREWDLQLQJDFLW\SHUPLW Merkley said his staff will look into the issue to see where among the different levels of government coor- dination may be possible on future tree-removal projects. 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