FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Outdoor Rec / Local
HERBACIDE GIVEAWAY
BUDGET COMMITTEE NOTICE
For 2017, Baker County Weed District will again be
giving out herbicide on the following locations, dates,
and times. This fully mixed, ready-to-go herbicide will be
targeting whitetop and scotch thistle. Folks need to bring
chemical-resistant containers, preferably gas or oil cans,
and a pair of chemical-resistant gloves. Please, no food
containers. There will be a fi ve gallon limit imposed for
each residence.
Note location for Baker City Giveaways!
Where
Huntington Lions Park
Richland/Halfway
Wildfl ower Corner
Baker City
Old ODOT Building
1050 S. Bridge
Baker City
Old ODOT Building
1050 S. Bridge Street
Hereford Hall
Unity Hall
Date
May 5
Time
9:00 - 12 AM
May 12
7 - 12 Noon
May 20
7 - 12 Noon
May 27
7 -12 Noon
June 2
June 2
9 - 10:30 AM
11:00 - Noon
5.26
A public meeting of the Budget Committee of
the Baker County Library District, Baker County,
State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fi scal
year July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 will be held at
Baker County Public Library, 2400 Resort St, Baker
City, OR. The meeting will take place on Wednes-
day, May 24 2017 at 5:00 p.m. The purpose of the
meeting is to receive the budget message and to re-
ceive comment from the public on the budget. This
is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget
Committee will take place. Any person may appear
at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs
with the Budget Committee. If a continuance is
necessary, a 2nd meeting is tentatively scheduled
for Wednesday, May 31 2017 at 5:00 p.m. A copy of
the budget document may be inspected or obtained
on or after May 15, 2017 at Baker County Public
Library, weekdays between 9:00 am and 6:00 p.m.
and weekends between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
or on the library website at www.bakerlib.org/about/
budget. 4.28
BUDGET COMMITTEE NOTICE
NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Medical Springs Rural Fire, Baker/Union Counties, State of
Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fi scal year July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 will be held at Pondosa Station, 50393
Hwy 203 Baker City, OR. The meeting will take place on May 09, 2016 at 6:30 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to
receive the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget. This is a public meeting where
deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed
programs with the Budget Committee. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after May 5,
2016 at 50378 Hwy 203, Baker City, OR, between the hours of 9 AM and 6 PM. 150-504-073-1 (Rev 12/10). 5.5
More on wolf depredation . . .
pay for the
capture and
introduction.
In ref-
erencing
my article,
“Wolf Dep-
redation
Compensa-
tion Com-
mittee Dis-
cusses ODA
Concerns,”
in the Friday,
March 31,
THE OUTDOOR COLUMN
2017 issue
of
The Baker
By Todd Arriola
County Press,
In a Letter to the Editor
he said that
in the Friday, April 14,
he understood that, in
2017 issue of The Baker
addition to dealing with
County Press, echoing
wolf depredation itself,
some of the sentiments
the legitimacy of livestock
of many members of the
producers’ claims could
community, local Jim Scott sometimes be doubted,
voiced his puzzlement and
because the amount of
frustration that livestock
claimed losses seams
producers have been
“unrealistic” to State Wolf
saddled with the burden
Grant administrators.
of not only attempting to
Scott included a quote
deter wolves from deplet-
from the article, from
ing their herds, but also
this paragraph: “(Baker
with convincing the State
County Wolf Depredation
that signifi cant losses from Compensation Commit-
wolf depredation are real,
tee member Mike) Durgan
and that there is a major
said that, while the com-
lack in funding to compen- mittee members agree that
sate for these losses.
there are more than three
Scott started out with a
wolves in Baker County,
statement about the U.S.
ODFW’s (Oregon Depart-
Fish and Wildlife Service’s ment of Fish and Wildlife)
(USFWS) “...capture and
stance—and (Oregon
introduction...of Canadian
Department of Agriculture
Wolves into Yellowstone
Program Area Director
Park and the state of Idaho. Jason) Barber’s—are that
This was totally against
there are three, and the
the wishes of the people of documentation needs to
those states.” He empha-
be complete, and Barber
sized that it was “...NOT
needs to be convinced
re-introduction, because
that the missing livestock
they were never here at
claims are realistic.”
any time in history...” and
Scott criticized Barber,
that the USFWS “...stole
and he said that there are
$60,000,000 from the tax-
more than three wolves
payers out of the Pittman
in the County, and that
Robertson Tax Fund...” to
ODFW needs to be more
honest about that number
(ODFW staff have stated
that there are three known
radio-collared wolves in
the County, a claim dis-
believed by County Wolf
Depredation Compensa-
tion Committee members,
among others).
In an e-mail addressed
to Baker County Board of
Commissioners Executive
Assistant Heidi Martin
prior to the March 31st
meeting, Barber said,
“With only having a grand
total of approximately
$150,000 to $160,000 to
award for the entire state,
the ODA is having a hard
time reconciling/justifying
this Baker County’s miss-
ing livestock claim...”
The claim originally
submitted was for a total
of $54,787, from four
livestock producers, for
73 animals (54 calves,
18 cows, and one bull.
Richland-based producer
Chad Del Curto submit-
ted the largest claim of the
group, for 41 calves and 11
cows, which most likely
prompted Barber’s request
for more detailed informa-
tion). Barber said that
this was the largest claim
request received in the
history of the program, and
fi ve times larger than Wal-
lowa County’s, or Umatilla
County’s claims for 2017
($10,140 and $14,950,
respectively).
After the Compensation
Committee resubmitted
the claims to Barber with
more detailed information
and amended loss totals,
the total funding granted
was $23,219—$16,125 of
which was earmarked for
compensation for the miss-
ing livestock, a signifi cant
shortfall, but one that was
anticipated by both the
committee members, and
the livestock producers.
Still, Baker County Com-
missioner Mark Bennett
expressed praise to Martin
during the Wednesday,
April 19, 2017 County
Commission session,
for playing a key role in
acquiring that amount of
funding—more than Ben-
nett thought the County
would receive ($6,599
of the total is for imple-
menting methods to limit
wolf-livestock interaction,
an amount reserved last
year for a Range Rider;
and $495 of the total is for
qualifi ed County expens-
es).
Del Curto said he knew
that compensation from
the State program wouldn’t
even come close to cover-
ing the losses he incurred,
and none of the producers
or the committee members
expressed any fantasies
about funding for losses,
with a statewide bud-
get of only $150,000 to
$160,000. However, with-
out submitting the claims,
the producers and the
committee members knew
there would be no compen-
sation granted, and there
would be less evidence of
depredation available to
the State.
Staff from Oregon Pub-
lic Broadcasting (OPB) re-
cently had planned a visit
to eastern Oregon, in order
to form a more complete
picture regarding wolves,
and with any luck, this will
help showcase the regional
issues livestock produc-
ers and others face, in this
frequently forgotten but
frequently regulated and
equally important region of
the State...
Walden speaks out on
Trump’s monument review
Rep. Greg Walden (R-
Hood River) released the
following statement after
President Trump signed an
executive order directing a
review of national monu-
ment designations declared
under the Antiquities Act
since 1996:
“Today’s action sends a
clear signal to communi-
ties throughout the West
– including in Oregon –
that this administration is
serious about taking a new
approach to the manage-
ment of our federal lands.
“In Oregon we’ve
watched the problems
left behind in the wake
of national monument
designations that lock up
land without meaningful
public input. A review
of the Antiquities Act is
long overdue. I’m pleased
that President Trump has
fi nally ordered one. Farm-
ers, ranchers, and local
residents in Oregon have
been ignored for too long
by presidents who lock
up the land without local
consultations. This execu-
tive order is a refreshing
sign that their concerns are
being taken seriously.
“Now, Congress needs
to take action to reform
the Antiquities Act. That’s
why I’ve also introduced
the Public Input for Na-
tional Monument Act, to
require these designations
to go through the public
National Environmental
Policy Act process like all
other land management
decisions.
“I will continue to work
with the Trump Admin-
istration to rebuild public
trust in federal land man-
agement policies. Today’s
action will assist in that
effort.”
Ladies bridge
scores
Following are the Quail Ridge Ladies Bridge scores for
three weeks of April. Golf scores will be available later in
the season.
April 5: 1st Jessie Ritch, 2nd Martha Cassidy, 3rd Della
Steele.
April 12: 1st Della Steele, 2nd Judy Karstens,
3rd Marlene Cross.
April 19: 1st Della Steele, 2nd Karen Lewis,
3rd Konnie McManus.
Monuments
via executive
order to be
reviewed
WASHINGTON – This week at the Department of
the Interior headquarters in Washington, D.C., President
Donald J. Trump, accompanied by Vice President Mike
Pence and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, signed
the Antiquities Act Executive Order. The order directs
Zinke to consult local governments and tribes in order
to review national monuments created by the Antiquities
Act since January 1, 1996, that are greater than 100,000
acres in footprint and report back to the President on
suggested legislative or executive action, if applicable,
within 120 days.
The Antiquities Act of 1906 authorizes the president
to declare federal lands of historic or scientifi c value
to be national monuments by designating the “smallest
area compatible with proper care and management of the
objects to be protected.”
“The Interior is the steward of America’s public lands.
Part of being a good steward is being a good neighbor
and being a good listener. In the Trump Administration,
we listen and then we act,” said Secretary Ryan Zinke.
“For years, the people of Utah and other rural communi-
ties have voiced concern and opposition to some monu-
ment designations. But too often in recent history, exiting
presidents make designations despite those concerns. And
the acreage is increasing.”
Since the 1900s, when the Act was fi rst used, the aver-
age size of national monuments exploded from an aver-
age of 422 acres per monument. Now it’s not uncommon
for a monument to be more than a million acres.
The designations of the Grand Staircase-Escalante
National Monument in 1996 and the Bears Ears National
Monument in 2016 are considered the book-ends of mod-
ern Antiquities Act overreach. Each monument is more
than 1.3 million acres.
“Historically, the Act calls for the President to des-
ignate the ‘smallest area compatible with proper care
and management of the objects to be protected,’” Zinke
continued. “Despite this clear directive ‘smallest area’
has become the exception and not the rule. Under the
President’s leadership, I will work with local, state and
Tribal governments to review monument designations
made the past 20 years and make sure they work for the
local communities.
“The view from the Potomac is a lot different than the
view from the Yellowstone or the Colorado. Too many
times, you have people in D.C. who have never been to
an area, never grazed the land, fi shed the river, driven the
trails, or looked locals in the eye, who are making the de-
cisions and they have zero accountability to the impacted
communities. I’m interested in listening to those folks.
That’s what my team and I will be doing in the next few
months.”
What the Executive Order does do:
The Executive Order directs the Department of the
Interior to review monuments designated using the An-
tiquities Act as of January 1, 1996, that are in excess of
100,000 acres, or monuments that were expanded without
adequate public outreach and coordination with relevant
stakeholders.
This Executive Order restores trust between local com-
munities and Washington and roots out abuses of power
by previous administrations.
This Executive Order puts America and the Depart-
ment of the Interior back on track to manage our federal
lands in accordance to traditional “multiple-use” philoso-
phy by directing the Secretary of the Interior to make rec-
ommendations to the President on whether a monument
should be rescinded, resized in order to better manage our
federal lands.
This Executive Order gives rural communities across
America a voice and restores land use planning by direct-
ing the Secretary of the Interior to consult and coordinate
with the Governors of States affected by monument
designations or other relevant offi cials of affected State,
Tribal, and local governments.
What the Executive Order doesn’t do:
This Executive Order does NOT strip any monument of
a designation.
This Executive Order does NOT loosen any environ-
mental or conservation regulations on any land or marine
areas.
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