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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 2009)
news AIR OUTCRY CONTINUES A PARTY FOR CLEANER AIR The Western Environmental Law Center (WELC) is planning an Aug. 12 com- munity celebration of the end of field burning in the southern Willamette Valley. "For 40 years, area legislators tried, but failed, to end this practice that causes serious health problems for those exposed to the smoke," says Charlie Tebbut who co-directed WELC's Campaign to End Field Burning along with Dan Galpern. "But in 2009 we galvanized the community." "We worked hand-in-glove with the medical and public health community, concerned citizens, and key lawmakers — including Rep. Paul Holvey and Sen. Floyd Prozanski — to get this done." Galpern says the campaign overcame heavy opposition from the grass seed industry, "by proving, with overwhelming medical and scientific evidence, that the burning imposes intolerable risks to public health, particularly for children, the elderly and people with respiratory disease. This rare victory vindicates our common right to breathe clean air and needs to be celebrated." “Clear Skies: A Community Celebration of the End of Field Burning,” runs from 6 to 8 pm Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the King Estate Winery Pavilion. RSVP is requested. Find details at www.westernlaw.org — Ted Taylor briefs TODD COOPER The debate over Seneca’s proposed biomass cogeneration plant continues as the Aug. 14 end date to the comment period draws closer. On July 30, the public outcry reached the ears of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) members in a packed Harris Hall over the proposed plant’s air pollution permit. LRAPA speakers and others expressed surprise at the high attendance rate for the biomass meeting, which had latecomers scav- enging for seats stacked by the walls and more than 40 people giving comments. Among the questions raised during the meeting’s Q&A period were issues with security mea- sures at the entrance to the burner hopper for fuel. Audience members had concerns over pesticides sometimes used on wood and whether the pesti- cides on the lumber would be burned and put into the air. Seneca supporters said no such measures had been taken thus far because, according to one of the Seneca representatives, “Regarding the fuel question, we are not installing cameras because, frankly, we didn't think about it.” When a question was asked about plant shutdown for days in the Willamette Valley where air quality had become too bad, an LRAPA representative said that Seneca would be required to shut down their biomass plant for emergency air quality days, “I don't believe we've ever had any in Lane County,” he added. In a later interview, Lane County commissioner for north Eugene Rob Handy said the proposed biomass plant is of particular concern for his district, which has neighbor- hoods downwind of the proposed plant. He said among the people possibly affected by the proposed wood burning plant are low income families, Latinos and people of color and a disproportionately large number of disabled people. “Part of the irony here,” he said, “is that across the south Willamette Valley as we are celebrating the end of field burning, we are looking at the possible air impacts from 500 tons of additional air pollution.” Because LRAPA’s focus is upon the air permit itself and not on environmental justice issues, Handy said he and other groups such as Oregon Toxics Alliance and the American Lung Association have been looking into an environmental justice stake- holders’ process through the Environmental Protection Agency. He said, “The EPA will be coming to town in the next couple weeks to talk to interested parties.” He added, “It’s a way to get everyone to the table sooner.” Handy said, “Seneca is a good company; they’ve done the right thing in the past.” He said two things he would like to see happen include placing an ambient air monitor- ing station in west Eugene and for Seneca to install a regenerative selective catalytic reduction system, as opposed the planned selective non-catalytic reduction system. The regenerative system, he said, would reduce the plant’s nitrogen oxide emissions by 70 percent; the current proposed system reduces those emissions by 45 percent. Written comments on the air permit can be sent or dropped off to of LRAPA at 1010 Main St., Springfield 97477 by 5 pm Aug. 14. — Camilla Mortensen and Shaun O'Dell Marie Slugtoinette SLUG QUEEN SLIME BALL Soon the burning hot days of summer will draw to a close, and Eugene’s rains will start again. You know what that means: slug season. Yes, in only a few weeks it will be time for Eugene to coronate a new Slug Queen, but before she hands on her slimey scepter, current “raining” queen Marie Slugtoinette has a couple of things she’d like to accomplish. First on Slugtoinette’s (aka Constance Van Flandern) agenda is this weekend’s Slime Ball. The masquerade fancy dress dance and cake party on Saturday, Aug. 8, is a fundraiser with 100 percent of the pro- ceeds going to Birth to Three, a local non- profit that provides support to families with young children. • Weyerhaeuser Company (744-4600) will ground spray 661 acres: Near Low Pass, Horton, Blachly, Triangle Lake, Greenleaf, Deadwood, and Lorane near Long Tom, Hayes, Fish, Congdon, Lake and Cow creeks with herbicides; Accord XRT, Accord Concentrate, Oust XP, Oust Extra, Chopper, Escort, Arsenal, Garlon 3A and Garlon 4, Garlon XRT, Garlon Ultra, Transline, Tahoe, Cleanslate, and with adjuvants; Activator 90, Moract, Induce, Support, Methylated Seed Oil, and sili- cone adjuvants to kill big leaf maple, madrone, chinkapin, etc., starting Aug. 10 (Notification #2009-781-50429 & 50430). Compiled by Jan Wroncy, Forestland Dwellers: 342-8332, forestlanddwellers.org 8 AUGUST 6, 2009 EUGENE WEEKLY FORUM FOR CONTROVERSY Pacifica Forum which, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center is Eugene’s 344-1844 • 35 E. 8th Avenue, Eugene 63$&(6$9$,/$%/( )256(37(0%(5 Lane Area Herbicide Spray Schedule Van Flandern and the other old queens, very old queens and exquisitely old queens, in addition to raising money for their respec- tive causes, have been working to support local businesses in Eugene. They’re con- templating “knighting” someone each year who has given back to their community through charitable works or local business. The busy queens have been giving a “Slug Queen Seal of Excellence” to busi- nesses that participated in last year’s “Slug Trail” and came up with unique slug prod- ucts, such as Wandering Goat’s Slug Queen coffee blend. Another Slug Trail is in the works for this year, Van Flandern said, and she hopes this time shoppers will be guided by temporary glittery slug-prints along the way. Also in the works are Gastropodcasts of local events, businesses and personalities that Van Flandern hopes to make and post with the help of students from the UO’s School of Journalism and Communication. She said she hopes to get the UO more involved in the local community. An ongoing project has been the pro- posed bronze slug queen statue in Hendricks Park, which Van Flandern hopes to fund through small community donations. The statue would cost $5,000 all told. “That’s 1,000 $5 donations. How hard could that be? Everybody loves the Slug Queen,” Van Flandern said. Finally, there’s the Slug Queen throw- down. “I’d like to challenge the Kiefer Kia Princess to a duel,” she said. “A charity marathon maybe.” Slug Queen Marie Slugtoinette versus the Kiefer Kia Princess? We’ll see. For now, the next Slug Queen competition and coronation is Sept. 3. Go to www.slugqueen.com to find out more about the coronation and Saturday’s Slime Ball at The District. Tickets are $6; $10 a couple. — Camilla Mortensen i *UDGHV. i &ODVVVL]HVWXGHQWV i ,QGLYLGXDOOHYHODFDGHPLFV i 3URMHFWFHQWHUHGFXUULFXOXP i &DULQJIULHQGO\NLGFXOWXUH i 3HDFHHGXFDWLRQ i 6SDQLVKDQGGUDPD 6KLUOH\6W(XJHQH RII5LYHU5RDGDQG,UYLQJ Featuring Tim Giraudier Headwaters Photographic GJVFKRRORUJ Open 10-6 Daily Open late on First Friday ArtWalk WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
