FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local
Commissioners meet with BLM Crossroads
officials about coordination may expand
• TIMBER SALVAGE
CONTINUES TO BE
ISSUE, DARK
CANYON AREA
ATTRACTS BIDS FOR
238-ACRE
ALLOTMENT
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Thursday, October
29, Baker County Com-
mission Chair Bill Har-
vey, Commissioner Tim
Kerns, and Executive
Assistant Heidi Martin
were joined by Bureau of
Land Management (BLM)
Vale District Manager Don
Gonzalez and BLM Baker
Field Manager Lori Wood,
for another informational
session in a continuing
series of government-to-
government coordination
meetings.
Harvey opened the
meeting by introducing the
guests, and explaining that
Commissioner Mark Ben-
nett was absent because he
had other scheduled meet-
ings to attend.
Harvey said the meeting
would be an informational
one, and, as such, public
testimony would not be
taken at that time, but
rather, reserved for the next
Commission session, on
Wednesday, November 4.
He said that decisions
would not be made at the
informational meeting,
but in the future, with the
public involved in the
coordination process.
“Coordination is a
process, as I’ve explained
earlier, government-to-
government relationship,
and it gives us equal foot-
ing to develop the plans
that we’re looking for, out
in the field, and the issues
that we deal with, because,
primarily, Baker County
is responsible for taking
care of the management of
the land, where it involves
taxation,” Harvey said.
The agenda, copies of
which were provided for
those present, included
the following major top-
ics: roadside salvage time
table; area salvage; road
work; rehabilitation; NEPA
(National Environmental
Policy Act); and consis-
tency between local and
federal plans, policies, and
tactics.
“The differences, if you
know some, between your
(the BLM’s) abilities and
the Forest Service—they
have more, what I call
roadblocks, but, you guys
have more opportuni-
ties, it seems like, to get
things done faster, which
we wholeheartedly ap-
preciate,” Harvey said,
first pointing out issues
with revenue and lack of
personnel available to the
county’s Road Department.
Wood explained that the
BLM’s regulations are
different than those for
the U.S. Forest Service
(USFS), regarding roadside
salvage, and that there is
no Categorical Exclusion
(CE) specifically for that.
“What we have done
is, every time we do a
salvage, we focus in those
areas, and work our way
out, based on the values,
and things along those
lines,” Wood said, as she
explained that the BLM
tackles the issue in a dif-
ferent way, and she has no
data available concerning
the total mileage of roads.
“We have the ability
to do 250 acres, CatEx
(Categorical Exclusion,
including half a mile of
temporary road, to remove
the salvage)…Our larger
ones have to go through a
larger NEPA process,” she
said.
A 238-acre zone in the
Dark Canyon area pro-
duced the first salvageable
timber for sale, attracting
several bidders and result-
ing in a sale with prices
above the appraised value,
last Tuesday, she said.
Prompted by Harvey,
Wood said the sale was by
weight, and not a result of
the longer, less efficient
process of marking trees.
Wood noted that the sale
hadn’t been awarded at
the time of the meeting,
because the group Oregon
Wild protested the salvage
last Monday.
Wood said the next
upcoming CatEx will be in
the Grizzly Bear fire area,
in Wallowa County, which
was expected to have been
approved this week, and
scheduled for sale possibly
mid-November, also by
weight.
Upon completion of the
two sales, she said that
the next zone would be
a larger one, of differ-
ent sections in the Windy
Ridge-Cornett fire area,
possibly 1,500 acres, based
on available data.
“In regards to that, do
you have some roads up
there that you consider
closed, but, they’re still
roads?” Harvey asked
Wood, in response to
her explanation about de-
termining road access via
meetings with the USFS
and private land owners.
Wood said, “Not so
much, with the BLM.
Most of ours are existing
routes, then, they are a part
of our available network, at
this point in time.”
Pointing out BLM fund-
ing issues, Harvey said,
“Our great concern is,
we always send what-
ever revenue you get off of
sales or something, to the
black hole in Washington,
and it never comes back.
We’re greatly concerned
that you have not had the
funds available to you, to
continue the management,
and the restoration, and
everything that we need to
do, as far as Baker County
sees it…”
At one point, Harvey
discussed his concerns
with the conditions on
Dooley Mountain, saying
that, while he understands
a portion of the trees needs
to remain, for wildlife, etc.,
much of the timber needs
to be removed.
A mention by Wood of
possibly a large number of
mushroom hunters in the
spring utilizing roads and
trails prompted Harvey to
repeat his concerns, as this
activity (or another type)
could involve being in the
vicinity of timber which
has the potential to be
dangerous.
Kerns said, “I am curi-
ous about the 1,500-acre
thing. To clarify, you’ve
got to go through a full EIS
(Environmental Impact
Statement), I guess, to do
the 1,500 acres, or, can you
do that without it?” Wood
responded that it would
require going through the
NEPA process, to deter-
mine whether it would
require an EIS or an EA
(Environmental Assess-
ment), and a CE would not
be applicable, since it’s
over 250 acres.
“This (timber salvage
and other projects) is huge
for Baker County, so, we
will defend it, against any
and all, because that’s our
right to do so, and our
responsibility, which is
more important,” Harvey
said, speaking about the
issues with protests from
environmental groups
regarding the salvage, and
the necessity to remove
dead and dangerous timber
in the interest of public and
agency staff safety, as well
as to provide a sustainable
level of employment for
future generations.
He also voiced his frus-
tration with the amount of
regulations preventing the
BLM from accomplishing
its goals, an issue he said
is amplified even more so
with the USFS.
Harvey asked about road
work to be completed, in-
cluding culvert installation/
replacement, and Wood
said that there are proposed
projects, but, a need to wait
on approval of funds.
Gonzalez said, “The
tough part for us is, be-
cause the cost for fixing
things is so high with this
fire, it exceeds the State
Director’s authority. It has
to go to the Washington
office, and, that’s where
things get slowed down,
going from one office to
another, and, we’re now
waiting. Then, they look at
this compared to other fires
that are being submitted to
them. That’s the delay.”
Reassuring Harvey
regarding his concerns
about keeping roads open,
and referring to the Windy
Ridge-Cornett fire, Wood
said, “As far as the Baker
resource area, we do not
have any proposed closed
roads out there, nor are we
looking at closing any, as a
result of this incident.”
On the topic of reha-
bilitation, Wood mentioned
that the BLM has propos-
als in place in different
areas for aerial, drill and
hand seeding, pending
approval, and that seed-
lings are expected to be
planted especially in the
Windy Ridge-Cornet area.
Harvey said that there’s a
lack of available seedlings,
but, there is an opportunity
to lower the number of
seedlings needed, which
would lower costs and aid
in meeting tree spacing
goals beforehand.
Harvey expressed issues
in general with NEPA,
stating that bias is shown
with consideration toward
the environmental compo-
nent more than the human
component, and he asked if
the understanding is there
with the BLM that it is
supposed to be a balanced
process.
Wood replied that both
are taken into consid-
eration, but, since the
analysis involves wildlife
and habitat, a great number
of comments comes from
those with environmental
concerns, which need to
be addressed. The result
is that it may often appear
imbalanced, she said.
Discussing the County’s
Natural Resource Plan
(NRP), and federal plans,
Harvey said, “That’s what
we’re striving for—consis-
tency, so, that we look at
things as a holistic ap-
proach, and long term.”
County Commissioners
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
Additional revenue
of $3,450 from Oregon
Department of Transporta-
tion (ODOT) Speed Grant
increased the amount avail-
able for vehicle repair and
maintenance expenditures,
from $15,000 to $18,450.
Resolution No. 2015-
2017, Appropriation
Transfer Within The 2015-
2016 Budget Within The
Non-Departmental And
The Sheriff Departments
Of The County General
Fund, was approved, with
a motion from Bennett, and
a second from Harvey.
This transfer includes
funds in the amount of
$20,117, from Contin-
gency, to Sheriff Cars,
amending the new totals to
$674,765 for Contingency,
and $60,117 for Sheriff
Cars. Ash was present to
give a brief explanation for
the purpose of the transfer.
Oregon Military
Department Office Of
Emergency Management
Emergency Management
Performance Grant No. 15-
501, was ratified (Bennett
had signed the document
on October 15, 2015), with
a motion from Bennett,
and a second from Har-
vey. This grant includes
matching funds to Baker
County, in the amount of
$65,000, for a total budget
of $130,000.
Harvey said that,
though there will be no fur-
ther Commission sessions
scheduled for this month
(due to out of area com-
mitments), there will be a
coordination meeting with
ODF, on Tuesday, Novem-
ber 24, at 9 a.m., in the
Commission Chambers,
and possibly, later that day,
with the USFS.
He also mentioned
that First Friday with the
Commissioner will be held
Friday, November 6, at 9
a.m., in the Commission
Chambers.
Tthe monthly Eastern Or-
egon Mining Association
(EOMA) meeting will be
held on Friday, November
6, at 6 p.m., at City Hall.
A joint Baker City-Baker
County meeting will be
held on Tuesday, Novem-
ber 10, at 6 p.m., at City
Hall, to receive testimony
on Ordinance No. 2015-
07, An Ordinance Adopting
An Interchange Manage-
ment Plan For I-84 Exits
302 And 306 By Amend-
ing The Comprehensive
Land Use Plan And Zoning
Ordinance.
A Baker County Natural
Resource Advisory Com-
mittee (NRAC) meeting
will be held on Tuesday,
November 17, at 3 p.m., in
the Commission Cham-
bers.
Crossroads Carnegie Art Center would like to invite the
public to give input via three scheduled community out-
reach sessions looking at a long term strategic visioning
plan for a potential expansion of Crossroads.
Crossroads has received grant funding from the Na-
tional Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Grant
and the Ford Family Foundation to do a feasibility study
on the neighboring Welch Building as a possibility for
any future expansion.
“Crossroads is extremely proud of the work that was
done to renovate the Carnegie Library Building into our
home. Crossroads has no plans to leave the Carnegie
Library! Yet, the Carnegie Library is limited in teaching
space which is a core of our mission and Crossroads has
been looking at options. The Welch Building is one of
those options. Crossroads Board of Directors is commit-
ted to a careful and systematic process which has always
included a great deal of community input,” said Execu-
tive Director Ginger Savage.
The public meetings are being held on three different
days and times to engage as many community members
as possible and the goal is for no session to go over 90
minutes.
Meetings will be lead by Larry Abell, AIA of Baker
City and architect completing the feasibility study.
Session 1: Tuesday November 10th at 1:00 p.m.
Session 2: Tuesday November 17th at 8:00 a.m.
Session 3: Thursday November 19th at 6:00 p.m.
Refreshments will be provided at each session in the
downstairs studio at Crossroads at 2020 Auburn Ave.
“We so appreciate the property owner’s cooperation and
patience as we have worked through finding the funds for
the study. We all agree that this will be a long-term pro-
cess, much like the Carnegie Library Restoration, which
took six years to complete. Crossroads does not own
the property but is looking at it as a logical nearby loca-
tion,” stated Executive Director Ginger Savage. “Clearly
arts, culture, heritage and humanities are growing as an
economic driver in our community and as oldest continu-
ously operating art center east of the Cascades we need to
be nimble and prepared for future growth.”
Crossroads also invites community members to stay
after the public input session and share with staff and the
architect any stories or remembrances of Welch Building
or to some it was known as the old Baker Clinic or the
old KBKR Building.
The feasibility study must be done by December 31,
2015 and at that time the Crossroads Board of Director
will take the time to review all options. If you have any
questions please contact Crossroads at 541-523-5369.
Interchange
meeting ahead
On Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. the
Baker City Council and the Baker County Board of Com-
missioners will hold a public hearing to consider an Inter-
change Area Management Plan for Interstate 84 exits 302
and 306 and review the recommendation for adoption of
the plan made by the Baker City and Baker County Plan-
ning Commissions. Adoption of the Interchange Area
Management Plan would include:
• Adoption of the Interchange Area Management Plan
for exits 302 and 306 as addendums to the Baker City
Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the Baker County
Comprehensive Land Use Plan
• An amendment to the Baker City Comprehensive Plan
to include the Interchange Area Management Plan imple-
menting policies in the Transportation section of the Plan
• An amendment to the Baker County Comprehensive
Plan to include the Interchange Area Management Plan
implementing policies as an addendum to the Plan
• Adoption of the Interchange Area Management Plan
maps into the Baker City Comprehensive Land Use Plan
and the Baker County Comprehensive Land Use Plan
• Creation of an Interchange Management Overlay
Zone in the Baker City Development Code and the Baker
County Zoning Ordinance that contains requirements for
development review, including interagency coordination,
access management, and impact study requirements
The proposed changes are to ensure the interstate exits
continue to operate properly if growth occurs in the
areas. This will be accomplished by providing review
standards in the Comprehensive Land Use Plans and
Zoning Ordinances for future development within the
Interchange Management Areas.
The Plan also includes alternatives for routing traffic if
proposed development is projected to cause congestion.
The joint public hearing will be held in the Council
Chambers of Baker City Hall, 1655 1st Street, Baker
City, Oregon.
A copy of the proposed amendments and the applicable
criteria are available for inspection at the Baker County
Courthouse, 1995 Third Street, Baker City, or on the
project website: http://sites.kittelson.com/BakerCityI-
AMPs.
All interested persons are invited to attend this meet-
ing.
Those wishing to comment may do so by presenting
oral testimony at the hearing, or by submitting written
testimony. All written testimony must be submitted to the
Planning Department by 5:00 p.m. on the hearing date or
submitted in person during the hearing.
If you have questions, please contact Holly Kerns at
the Baker City-County Planning Department at (541)
523-8219 or hkerns@bakercounty.org.