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CapitalPress.com
Friday, May 13, 2022
Washington Fish and Wildlife a firm ‘no’ on solar proposal
By DON JENKINS
Capital Press
The Washington Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife
has dug in against a pro-
posal to build a 2,390-acre
solar-power plant close to the
state’s largest collection of
greater sage grouse.
More studies won’t
change the department’s
opposition to the Badger
Mountain Solar Energy Proj-
ect, as proposed by Avangrid
Renewables, said Michael
Ritter, Fish and Wildlife’s
lead on solar and wind
projects.
Fish and Wildlife aired its
concerns several months ago
and recently reenforced them
to the state’s Energy Facility
Site Evaluation Council.
“We keep reiterating the
same thing,” Ritter said.
Avangrid proposes to
build the 200-megawatt solar
plant near East Wenatchee
in north-central Washington
on mostly agricultural land
leased from private landown-
ers and the Department of
Natural Resources.
A Spanish company, Iber-
dola Group, owns Avan-
grid. Iberdola describes itself
as one of the three largest
renewable energy companies
in the world.
Avangrid is currently
doing an in-depth envi-
ronmental study. The state
Attorney General’s Office,
assigned to be lawyer for the
environment, warns that not
building the solar plant could
worsen climate change.
Fish and Wildlife, sup-
ported by environmental
Getty Images
Male sage grouse.
groups, has spotlighted the
threat to the greater sage
grouse. The bird is not fed-
erally protected, but Fish and
Wildlife lists it as an endan-
gered state species.
An Avangrid spokesman
said in an email Thursday
that the company as commit-
ted to working with stake-
holders to address concerns.
“In siting and designing
the project, Avangrid Renew-
ables has taken a thoughtful
and transparent approach
to avoid impacts to natural
resources,” the spokesman
said.
Greater sage grouse
assemble in two places in
Washington. The largest
gathering is about five miles
from Avangrid’s proposed
project. Sage grouse have
been known to come closer.
Fish and Wildlife suggests
Avangrid find another site.
A recent survey found 28
male greater sage grouse on
Badger Mountain. Males are
easier to count because of
their showy style. A solar-
power plant close to the lek
could be the end of greater
sage grouse in Washington,
Ritter said.
“It’s their last stronghold,
and it ain’t much of one,” he
said. “You don’t know how
the disturbance will change
the landscape.”
Seattle-based Conserva-
tion Northwest said Fish and
Wildlife already has pre-
sented enough evidence to
block the project and warns
breaking ground likely will
cause the bird’s extinction in
Washington.
Assistant Attorney Gen-
eral Megan Sallomi, counsel
for the environment, said the
environmental study should
probe the project’s impact
on greater sage grouse and
other wildlife.
She also said the site coun-
cil should consider whether
the project will reduce green-
house gases by displacing
energy from fossil fuels.
As an alternative to
approaching
counties,
energy developers can apply
to the site council, which is
made up mostly of Inslee
administration officials. The
council makes recommen-
dations to Gov. Jay Inslee.
East Wenatchee is the
largest city in Douglas
County. In a letter posted
May 5 on the site council’s
website, county commis-
sioners said the solar proj-
ect conflicts with local land-
use laws.
“The project represents a
large-scale, industrial devel-
opment in a rural area of
Douglas County, which
already exhibits a desired
mix of residential and agri-
cultural uses that is the
foundation of our custom
and culture,” the three com-
missioners stated.
Most of Idaho’s water supply
still tight despite wet April
By BRAD CARLSON
Capital Press
Idaho still faces tight
water supplies and poten-
tial shortages even after last
month’s unusually wet, cool
weather in much of the state.
“Despite the welcome
increases in snowpack and
total precipitation since
April 1, the water sup-
ply likely will remain con-
strained this irrigation sea-
son,” the Natural Resources
Conservation Service said
in a May 1 report. Water
users “should prepare for a
short irrigation season and
possible curtailments.”
Total irrigation demand
can reflect crop mixes, con-
servation practices, weather
at different stages of the
growing season and other
factors.
Erin Whorton, hydrolo-
gist and water supply spe-
cialist with the NRCS Snow
Survey in Idaho, said the
start of irrigation deliv-
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2013 AUDI Q5 UT
VIN = WA1LFAFP8DA051990
Amount due on lien $1455.00
Reputed owner(s)
KELLY PITTAM & JESSICA HILL
ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2020 MAZDA CX3 4D
VIN = JM1DKFB70L1469970
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s) CHRISTINE
DENISON & KAYLA PATTULLO
OREGON COMMUNITY C.U
LEGAL
STATE OF OREGON
OREGON ALFALFA SEED
COMMISSION P.O. BOX 688
ONTARIO, OREGON 97914
NOTICE OF ALFALFA
GROWERS COMMISSION
HEARING PUBLIC BUDGET
HEARING
TO: ALL OREGON ALFALFA SEED
GROWERS
Notice is hereby given that a public hear-
ing will be held pursuant to ORS Chapter
604, Section 14, Oregon Laws 2003, on
Tuesday June 7,2022 at 12:00 p.m. at the
Oregon Alfalfa Seed Commission Office,
168 Wellsprings Dr, Ontario, Oregon
97914.
The hearing will be upon a proposed
budget for operation of the Oregon Al-
falfa Seed Commission during the fiscal
year July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
At these hearings, any producer of alfalfa
has a right to be heard with respect to
the proposed budget, a copy of which
is available for public inspection, under
reasonable circumstances, in the office
of each county extension agent in Ore-
gon.
Interested persons may comment on the
proposed budget in writing to the Com-
mission business office, address above.
Comments to be received by June 1,
2022.
For further information, contact the Or-
egon Alfalfa Seed Commission business
office; P.O. Box 688, Ontario, Oregon
97914, telephone 541-881-1335. TDD
503-986-4762.
Curt Sisson, Chairman
Oregon Alfalfa Seed Commission
May 8,2022
George Plaven/Capital Press
Brad Carlson/Capital Press
Ridenbaugh Canal in southeast Meridian, Idaho. Most
Idaho irrigation systems will be short water this year,
the Natural Resources Conservation Service estimates.
ery in April combined with
reduced snowmelt runoff
slowed reservoir fill rates.
NRCS said peak snow-
pack is either below normal
or well below normal in all
basins. Reservoir volume
carried over from last irri-
gation season is below nor-
mal. Streamflow forecasts
improved slightly from last
month, when some snow
fell at high elevations and
cold weather slowed runoff.
Streamflow through July
is expected to be above nor-
mal in the north and below
normal in the rest of the
state. But how much run-
off makes it to streams
and reservoirs depends on
how quickly the remaining
snowpack melts.
NRCS said the Climate
Prediction Center’s outlook
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 DODGE CVN VAN
VIN = 2C4RDGBG4JR222885
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
TIZIA LEE ROBBINS
ALLY FINANCIAL
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2013 TOYT PRIUS 4D
VIN = JTDKN3DU2D5627428
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
KIRA MARIE PARAGON
BOEING EMPLOYEES C.U
LEGAL
The Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission will
hold a public hearing to approve the pro-
posed 2022-2023 fiscal budget. The hearing
starts at 2:00 p.m. June 1, 2022 and will
be held via Zoom Video Conferencing. Any
person wishing to comment on the budget is
welcome to do so either orally or in writing.
A copy of the proposed budget is available
for public inspection at osweetcherry.org.
Contact julie@osweetcherry.org by 5:00pm
May 30, 2022 to request a link for the video
meeting and/or to submit a written com-
ment. Please include your name and farm/
industry in your emailed requests.
though July calls for warmer
and drier weather than
usual. Drought is expected
to persist. The U.S. Drought
Monitor reports about 82%
of Idaho land is experienc-
ing moderate to extreme
drought.
Total precipitation from
Oct. 1 to April 30 is above
90% in many basins. Those
with the lowest include
Weiser, Big Wood and Hen-
rys Fork-Teton at 88%, Pay-
ette at 89%, Boise at 91%,
Snake River above Heise at
92%, and Salmon at 93%.
Reservoir storage in
southwest Idaho is 84% of
normal in the three Boise
River reservoirs, 95% in
Cascade and 74% in Mann
Creek.
In the central mountains,
storage is 32% of normal
at Magic Reservoir, 85% at
Mackay and 96% at Little
Wood.
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/19/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
A-1 TRANSMISSION
3653 SILVERTON RD NE SALEM, OR
2001 FORD ST
VIN = 1FDAF56F21ED68207
Amount due on lien $9125.00
Reputed owner(s)
RAFAEL RANGEL
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2008 TOYT TUNDRA PK
VIN = 5TFBV54108X039734
Amount due on lien $2135.00
Reputed owner(s)
RYAN MALIN DOUGLASS
INROADS FEDERAL C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/23/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2016 HONDA CRV LL
VIN = 5J6RM4H77GL015814
Amount due on lien $1435.00
Reputed owner(s)
JAMES & TERUKO SHIRES
FIRST TECH FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
PUBLIC NOTICE
Oregon Sheep Commission Budget Hearing
In accordance with ORS 576.416, the Oregon Sheep Commission will hold the 2022-
2023 Budget Hearing via video conference on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Public
comments on the proposed budget will be accepted beginning at 3:30 pm. Regular
Commission meeting will follow comment period. Interested sheep producers may join
the meeting by conference call:
Call-in Number: 1-253-215-8782
Meeting ID 859 9441 1264
Passcode 808283
To access the meeting via Zoom, please contact the OSC office by phone
503.364-5462 or info@oregonsheepcommission.com and request a link.
Copies of the proposed budget are available on the Commission website: https://
oregonsheepcommission.com/news/ or may be requested from the OSC office.
Written comments may be submitted by e-mail or mailed to the OSC office:
1270 Chemeketa Street NE, Salem, OR, 97301.
Please direct requests for accommodation of persons with disabilities to the OSC office
at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
Each room at Wafla’s farmworker housing facility in Mt. Angel, Ore. has two beds,
with 45 total beds available.
Wafla unveils first farmworker
housing facility in Oregon
By GEORGE PLAVEN
Capital Press
MT. ANGEL, Ore. —
A former dormitory on the
campus of the Benedictine
Sisters monastery in Mt.
Angel, Ore., will provide
housing for seasonal guest-
workers as Willamette Val-
ley orchards, vineyards, hop
yards and nurseries grap-
ple with mounting labor
shortages.
Wafla, formerly the
Washington Farm Labor
Association, began leasing
the building earlier this year
from the Catholic Commu-
nity Services Foundation.
It is the organization’s first
housing project in Oregon,
with three others in Wash-
ington — Yakima, Mesa
and Okanogan.
Members of the commu-
nity attended an open house
on May 5, which also served
as an introduction for new
Wafla CEO Enrique “Rick”
Gastelum, who was hired
April 25.
As domestic farm labor
becomes more difficult to
find, Gastelum said more
producers are turning to
the federal H-2A program,
which provides temporary
visas for agricultural work-
ers from places like Mexico
and Central America.
The number of H-2A
visas issued by the U.S.
Labor Department has
grown every year since
2013, reaching approxi-
mately 258,000 in 2021.
More than 90% of these
seasonal
guestworkers
come from Mexico, with
3% from South Africa, 2%
from Jamaica and 1% from
Guatemala.
Gastelum said 30,000
H-2A workers were brought
into Washington last year
to help cover the industry’s
labor needs. While that num-
ber was not nearly as high in
Oregon, he said producers
are starting to feel the pinch.
“It’s creeping up,” he
said. “They’ve got crops
that need to get planted, and
need to be produced. ... We
want to keep food produc-
tion here local.”
However, to use the
H-2A program farms must
be able to provide hous-
ing that meets strict health
and safety requirements.
Wafla estimates it costs
farms $12,000 to $15,000
per person, per bed to build
their own housing, making it
unaffordable for many small
to mid-size businesses.
The dormitory in Mt.
Angel was a perfect fit,
Gastelum said, since it
already had the space and
facilities necessary to qual-
ify for H-2A housing. There
are currently 45 beds avail-
able, with two beds per
room, though Gastelum said
occupancy could increase as
Oregon’s COVID-19 rules
for workplace housing are
loosened.
The building also has
a
communal
kitchen,
restrooms and enough show-
ers to meet the minimum
standard of one for every 10
workers.
Javier Garcia, a fellow
H-2A worker from Mex-
ico, will serve as the “field
ambassador” for Wafla, liv-
ing at the dormitory. Field
ambassadors provide sup-
port to the other workers,
Garcia said, explaining the
rules and “what it means to
live and work in the U.S.”
If there is enough inter-
est in the facility from local
farms, Gastelum said Wafla
may discuss long-term lease
options or possibly buy-
ing the building and mak-
ing farmworker housing
permanent.
“We’re always looking
for these types of facilities
that are turn-key,” Gastelum
said. “This is a great looking
place.”
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2019 FORD FUSION 4DR
VIN = 3FA6P0RU7KR259668
Amount due on lien $1435.00
Reputed owner(s)
NICO BEARS WINSOR
ALLY BANK
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2017 CHEV COL PU
VIN = 1GCPTDE1XH1221464
Amount due on lien $1435.00
Reputed owner(s)
MICHAEL D BENEDICT
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2017 FORD FUSION 4D
VIN = 3FA6P0LU3HR287825
Amount due on lien $1455.00
Reputed owner(s)
BEYA KALALA & GRACE G BEYA
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/23/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2015 NISS JUKE LL
VIN = JN8AF5MVXFT561615
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
CYNTHIA MARGARET NEWMAN
BAXTER CREDIT UNION
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/23/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2015 FORD XPL UT
VIN = 1FM5K8D81FGA34796
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
VAUGHN & MARCEEN RAMSEY
OREGON STATE CREDIT UNION
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2014 KIA OPTIMA 4DR
VIN = 5XXGM4A77EG343626
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
> DALANA SUE SEWELL
CAPITAL ONE NA
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/23/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 TOYT CAM 4D
VIN = JTNB11HK0J3046408
Amount due on lien $1415.00
Reputed owner(s)
KATHERINE & MICHAEL KELLY
TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORP
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/23/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2015 ACURA RLX 4D
VIN = JH4KC1F98FC000507
Amount due on lien $1455.00
Reputed owner(s)
ZACHARY WAYNE SALISBURY
CARVANA LLC
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/23/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2021 TOYOTA SNA SV
VIN = 5TDKRKEC2MS072141
Amount due on lien $1435.00
Reputed owner(s)
JINGWEI ZHU
