community news
september21
2017
3
County Commissioners Delay
Decision on Port Westward Expansion
The Columbia County Board
of Commissioners, at their regularly
scheduled September 13, 2017 meet-
ing, decided to delay any decision or
further deliberations on the contro-
versial expansion at Port Westward
and will reopen the record for a newly
submitted supplemental staff report.
A new deliberation date has been set for
October 25 at 10:00 am in St. Helens.
The Port of St. Helens’ contro-
versial proposal to rezone 837 acres of
farmland for heavy industrial develop-
ment had previously faced fierce op-
position at a hearing before the Board
of Commissioners on August 2. Farm-
ers, local business owners, commercial
fishermen, retired teachers, and many
others delivered passionate testimony
to the Board on issues ranging from the
value of local farms to the threats from
oil-by-rail and other fossil fuel develop-
ment.
That hearing marked the
Port’s second attempt to convert
high-quality farmland along the Co-
lumbia River to industrial develop-
ment, including oil-by-rail terminals,
fracked gas-to-methanol refineries,
and fertilizer plants. In 2014, the Land
Use Board of Appeals overturned a
nearly identical proposal by the Port.
“Good agriculture jobs are on
hold in Columbia County because of
the uncertainty polluting industry pro-
posed under the rezone creates for local
farms,” explained blueberry farm owner
James Hoffman. “We need a commit-
ment from the county that we can farm
without constant risk to water and food
safety.” Mr. Hoffman described high
crop yields from his farm, located in
the same drainage district as the pro-
posed rezone, and his reluctance to in-
vest if the county opens the gates for
industrial developments like oil-by-rail.
Reflecting the widespread im-
pacts of fossil fuel development on
the Columbia River, the County Com-
missioners heard testimony from Co-
lumbia County residents, citizens from
Cowlitz and Clark County, Washing-
ton, and Clatsop County, Oregon. The
Clatsop County Democrats testified in
opposition to the rezone, noting that
fossil fuel projects like liquefied natu-
ral gas (LNG)—a potential industry at
the rezone site—faced fierce opposi-
tion for over a decade in neighboring
Clatsop County. Local residents de-
feated both LNG proposals. The Com-
missioners also received a letter from
the Oregon Department of Agriculture,
describing significant concerns about
the impacts of industry to neighbor-
ing farms, home to some of the most
productive soil in Columbia County.
Port Westward is a hub for en-
ergy export ventures, including Global
Partners, an oil-by-rail trans-shipment
facility that operated from 2013 to 2015
before switching to ethanol. The compa-
ny maintains regulatory approval to re-
sume oil shipments. The site is also the
former home to two coal export propos-
als and the company Northwest Innova-
tion Works holds a lease option to build
a fracked gas-to-methanol refinery.
“The fight over farmland in
northern Columbia County shows how
Big Coal and Big Oil have galvanized
communities up and down the Colum-
bia River,” stated Dan Serres, Conserva-
tion Director for Columbia Riverkeeper.
“Fossil fuel companies underestimated
people’s fierce passion for salmon, safe-
ty, and clean water. From commercial
fishermen to farmers to parents raising
their kids in river communities, dirty in-
dustry at the expense of safety and clean
water won’t fly.”
ODFW Commission Special Election
Adopts 2018 Big
November 7, 2017
Special Election will be held November 7,
Game Regulations 2017 for A those
parts of Columbia County included in
The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted
Big Game Regulations when it met September 15,
2017 in Welches, Oregon.
There are a few changes including shifts in
season dates. The Commission updated language to
make it clearer that mechanical and moveable blades
are not lawful to use for archery hunting.
The Commission declined to expand the pro-
hibition on night vision optics until they further ex-
plore the issue.
The Commission also approved funding for
several recommended Access and Habitat projects to
improve wildlife habitat on private land in Oregon.
The Commission heard updates on several is-
sues including sea lions’ impact on Willamette River
winter steelhead, sage-grouse conservation efforts,
and the Wolf Conservation and Management plan
which is in the process of being updated. No action
was taken on these issues.
The Commission is the policy-making body
for fish and wildlife issues in the state and it typically
meets monthly. Its next meeting is October 13 in Prin-
eville.
the Portland Community College taxing district. Areas
of Columbia County NOT included in the election
consist of Cities of Clatskanie, Rainier, Prescott and
those surrounding rural precincts. Approximately
28,000 registered voters will receive a ballot.
The sole contents of the election will be the
referred Measure 26-196 which was filed August 16,
2017 with Multnomah County Elections. Election de-
tails including measure text and explanatory statement
can be found on the Elections department page of www.
co.columbia.or.us.
The main mailing of ballots will be Friday,
October 20. Overseas and out-of-state ballots will be
mailed at an earlier date.
Returning voted ballots: Ballots must be
received by the county clerk no later than 8:00 pm on
November 7, 2017 - postmarks do not count. The United
States Postal Service has stated that ballots could take
up to 5-7 days to reach county elections offices once
they are put in the mail. It is advised that if you cannot
put your ballot in the mail before November 2, you
should plan on returning your ballot to a dropsite.
Publisher and Managing Editor
Scott Laird
503-367-0098
scott@vernoniasvoice.com
Contributors
Jim Bryson
Chip Bubl
Tobie Finzel
Karen Kain
Aaron Miller
Shannon Romtvedt
Photography
Lori Baker
Karen Kain
Scott Laird
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Drop sites for the election will be as follows:
VERNONIA LIBRARY 701 Weed Ave. DURING
LIBRARY HOURS. November 7 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
SCAPPOOSE CITY HALL 33568 E. Columbia Ave. A
24HR DROP BOX IS LOCATED AT THIS ADDRESS.
November 7 Closes at 8:00 pm
MIST BIRKENFELD RFPD 12525 Highway 292
DURING OFFICE HOURS. November 7 9:00 am -
8:00 pm
COUNTY COURTHOUSE (ELECTIONS DEPT)
230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 A DRIVE-
UP DROP BOX IS LOCATED IN THE LOWER
PARKING LOT. November 7 Closes at 8:00 pm
Public Certification Test: The Public Certification
Test of the counting equipment for the Special Election
to be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 will be held
on Tuesday, October 31, 2017. The testing will begin at
10:00 am in the County Elections Dept. The public is
welcome to attend.
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