community news
Citizens Hear Update
on Oregon LNG Project
continued from front page
Columbia Riverkeeper’s Dan Serres,
who has worked to organize local oppo-
sition to both the pipeline and the termi-
nal portions of the project, updated the
gathering in Vernonia about the current
status of the project which has been in
the planning stages for almost twenty
years.
The biggest news Serres had
to report was the surprising decision
by the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) on March 11
to deny a similar project at Jordan
Cove in southern Oregon because the
negative impacts to local landowners
and communities outweighed any
purported benefit from the project.
Serres characterized FERC’s decision
as “stunning,” stating, “This spells big,
big trouble for both these projects.”
Serres noted that FERC has never
previously denied this type of project.
“FERC has always been considered a
rubber stamp,” he said. “Oregon LNG
has the same problems as Jordan Cove,
along with the very dramatically huge
impact on a very sensitive part of the
Columbia River.”
According to Serres, the FERC
final decision on Jordan Cove was
unusual because it disagreed with the
recommendation to approve the project
that was published in the Environmental
Impact Statement that FERC produced
based on input from numerous state and
federal regulatory agencies. “A bunch
of land owners banded together and
told FERC they didn’t want the project
and FERC looked at the Environmental
Impact Statement and said ‘that’s
wrong, we’re persuaded by what these
people have told us,’’’ said Serres. “It’s
just a huge victory for all the people that
have been living with the threat of this
project for a decade. This showed that
landowners, by standing their ground,
can have a huge impact in this process.”
Serres also discussed the very
important decision on March 8 by an
impartial land use expert, hired by the
City of Warrenton to determine whether
the Oregon LNG project met Warren-
ton’s local land use codes. “This is really
important because it’s a prerequisite to
meeting the state’s overall coast zoning
laws,” explained Serres. “Without
that local approval, Oregon LNG can’t
get the state’s approval.” Serres said
the judgement clearly found that the
project would locally harm fish and the
estuary and would disrupt fishing. “We
were pleasantly surprised by this really
important decision which shows that
Oregon LNG is really faltering, even
at the terminal site.” Serres noted that
Oregon LNG has already appealed this
decision. A Land Use Hearing will be
held in Warrenton on May 4.
In addition, Serres reminded
the crowd that the Clatsop County
Board of Commissioners has already
denied permits for the pipeline to cross
their territory.
Following Serres’ update, new
Columbia Riverkeeper staff member
Elizabeth Chiaravalli led a discussion
about additional action steps the local
community in Vernonia might take
to draw attention to, and increase
awareness about, the LNG pipeline
project.
In addition, Ken Adee, a
former Forest Service employee with
experience working with GIS and map
making, explained several maps of the
pipeline route that he has voluntarily
created to help activists tell the story of
the pipeline and terminal projects.
SAFE, The Amani Center,
and other agencies hold
community events in April
SAFE is calling on community
programs and businesses and individu-
als to participate in #DenimTuesday, a
global awareness effort that promotes
wearing jeans to work or school on
Tuesdays in April as a stand against
rape myths.
April 29, Columbia County’s
Child and Family Development
programs will host an Early Learning
Fair at Sunset Park Community Church
in St. Helens from 10 am – 2 pm. The
Early Learning Fair is an opportunity
for parents of young children, prenatal
to age five to learn about local services.
In collaboration with the Early Learning
Fair, a Columbia County Health and
Education screening fair will be offered
at the same time to children ages 2-5.
The following screenings will be
conducted: Developmental, Hearing,
School Readiness, Speech, Vision, and
Nutrition.
Wrapping up Child Abuse
Prevention Month, The Amani Center
will host its annual Race Against
Child Abuse on April 30, at 8:00 am
in Columbia View Park in St. Helens.
Amani Center is accepting registrations
right now at www.amanicenter.org for
April is Child Abuse
Prevention Month and Sexual
Assault Awareness Month
Every April, Columbia County
agencies join together to spotlight
the issues and intersections of child
abuse and sexual assault. These forms
of violence are linked by destructive
social norms, family experiences, and
systems of oppression. Without the
kinds of supportive interventions these
agencies provide, the cycle of violence
is perpetuated across generations.
You too can share in the healing
and hope that Amani Center and SAFE
are helping to bring to Columbia
County.
All April-long, local retailers
will be promoting the Blue Ribbon
Campaign, in which ribbons can be
purchased to show your support of, and
help pay for, child abuse assessments
performed by The Amani Center.
Local Head Starts and other
agencies will take part in Oregon
Children’s Trust Fund’s Pinwheels
for Prevention Campaign, a show of
awareness and support of child abuse
prevention efforts.
continued on page 15
april7
2016
7
Cycle Columbia County
Announces “Columbia Century
Challenge” Bike Event
Cycle Columbia County has
announced that they will be bringing a
century plus and a metric century plus
bicycle ride/event to Columbia County
on June 18, 2016.
Columbia County features
some great, bicycle-friendly backroads,
from rolling roads through the old
Oregon timberlands to farm roads
through the open fields and pastures
along the Columbia River, plus the
unpaved historic Crown-Zellerbach
trail (12 miles of which will be featured
on the ride). Add charming rural towns,
and you have the perfect backdrop for
a fun and epic bike ride that has the
potential to become an instant classic!
The “Columbia Century
Challenge,” will start and finish in
St. Helens. The Century Plus, a 110
mile ride, will visit Vernonia, Mist,
Clatskanie, Rainier and Columbia
City. The Metric Plus, a 72 mile ride,
will travel to Vernonia and return to
Highway 30 via Apiary Road.
The “Columbia Century
Challenge” was organized by a local
team of cycling enthusiasts excited
about bringing an event to Columbia
County that will have a positive impact
on all of the surrounding communities.
The team is also committed to ensuring
a positive ride experience from start to
finish. This bicycle ride will be fully
supported with aid/feed stations spaced
approximately 15 miles apart. Free
mechanical support, free off street
parking near the start/finish line and
much more.
For more information on the
ride or how to volunteer, go to www.
CycleColumbiaCounty.com
P.E.O. members are busy
preparing for the second annual Tea
Party, to be held this year at the Cabin
in Vernonia on May 14, 2016, at 1:00
pm. Women and girls of all ages are
invited to attend. Tickets are $10.00
for adults and $7.00 for children under
12 years of age. All proceeds will be
used to provide college scholarships for
women.
Last year’s gala was a huge
success, well attended by adults and
children who seemed to enjoy the
festivities (especially the little girls who
came dressed in Easter finery and big
smiles). There will be something for
everybody again this year, with activities
including musical entertainment,
sandwiches, and desserts, and door
prizes. Tickets for the drawings will be
$1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.
So, Ladies, plan to join us
for the party. Bring along daughters,
moms, grandmas, and granddaughters.
You may dress in your “Sunday best”
for the occasion if you like.
P.E.O. is looking forward to
having fun with friends while adding
to our educational funds to help women
further their education.
P.E.O. Tea Party
