NEWS BRIEFS
CONTINUED FROM P. 7
redacted public records requests by OPB’s EarthFix. The
port has since confirmed it is in negotiations with Mitsui,
Metro Ports and Korean Electric Power Company. Eugene-
based Beyond Toxics and the Sierra Club have been
battling the port over releasing full public records on the
coal export plan.
DeFazio says when it comes to coal exports, “There’s
really nothing to support or oppose. There are conditions
under which coal can be exported, and what I can do to
mitigate that potential problem.” DeFazio says he contacted
the International Port of
Coos Bay in January
about fugitive dust and
said, “I’d like to see
negotiating
totally
enclosed cars which can’t
leak dust.”
DeFazio
says
according to his research,
“It is entirely feasible to
ship coal in an enclosed
car.” And he says the coal
could be unloaded in an
enclosed facility with scrubbers and misters to control the
coal dust.
He says it’s unclear whether enclosed shipping can be
required and that might require legislative action.
Coal opponents are concerned not only about the effects
of coal dust on Eugene as the trains go through town, but
also on farms and natural areas the coal cars would pass
through. DeFazio worked to secure millions in grant money
and federal funds to restore the Coos Bay Rail Link that
runs from Eugene to the coast. He says he helped secure the
line from a hedge fund company that wanted to “buy it and
rip it up.” The loss of the line meant lost jobs, DeFazio
ACTIVIST ALERT
says, and the restored rail link diverts trucks from the roads.
He says at the moment the rail line would be totally
incapable of carrying the proposed trainloads of coal and
when asked if federal funds would be used to improve the
line replied that “changes or improvements would have to
be paid for by the shipper.”
DeFazio says that while Eugene is free to pass a
resolution against coal trains through the city — the vote
on a resolution was delayed until September — “but under
the WTO, which I voted against, and the federal law
commerce clause, we can’t ban the shipment of coal.”
DeFazio says that
hazardous chemical loads,
such as chlorine tankers
that could “potentially kill
thousands of people,”
can’t be legally kept off
the rail lines.
Some have speculated
that DeFazio has taken
more right-leaning stances
- Rep. Peter DeFazio
on issues such as coal or
logging because of the
opposition he faces in the
election from Tea Party Republican Art Robinson, but
DeFazio says, “I don’t find any grounds for agreement
with Art Robinson on anything.” He points to statements
such as one printed in the November 1993 issue of
Robinson’s Access to Energy: “Moreover, it now appears
likely that the release of carbon through the burning of
coal, oil and natural gas during the past century has already
increased the total mass of plants and animals on the earth
and contributed positively to the lush environment that we
now enjoy.” DeFazio calls such comments “nutcase
statements.”
— Camilla Mortensen
• The Occupy Eugene Foreclosure Committee will hold a
roundtable discussion on the new Oregon Foreclosure Law,
which gives homeowners new rights to help defend against
foreclosure at 7 pm Thursday, Aug. 30, at EWEB. Contact
Fergus Mclean at 937-3034 for more information.
• The local BikeInShapes bike blog is organizing a Labor
Day “Be Noble” Ribbon Ride celebrating the life of Erin
Noble. The mountain bike ride begins at 6:30 pm Monday at St.
Martin’s Trailhead and will finish at the Ninkasi Tasting Room,
272 Van Buren St. Ninkasi will be donating 25 percent of beer
sales to Erin Noble’s Fund to Save the Amazon Creek
Headwaters. See bikesinshape.wordpress.com for a map of the
route.
• A 2013 pavement rehabilitation project for Willamette
Street from 19th to 24th avenues is the topic of a neighborhood
open house at 7 pm Tuesday, Sept. 4, at Washington Park
Cottage, 2025 Washington St. Contact reed.c.dunbar@ci.
eugene.or.us for more information.
• Oregon Wild will preview the documentary film A Fierce
Green Fire: the Battle for a Living Planet will be shown with a
discussion panel at 6:30 pm Wednesday, Sept. 5, at the Knight
Law Center, Room 110 at UO. See the trailer at oregonwild.org
• Health Care for All-Eugene will meet at 7 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 5, at EWEB. The group is organizing a new
campaign with 55 Oregon organizations moving forward for
single payer health care. Email ruthduemler@comcast.net to
get on the mailing list.
‘There are conditions under
which coal can be exported,
and what I can do to mitigate
that potential problem.’
CORRECTIONS/CLARIFICATIONS
• In our “Celebrate the Music” story last week about
musicians performing at the Eugene Celebration, we
inadvertently got the call letters mixed up for KRVM, the radio
station that was sharing the stage with Eugene Weekly.
• In our News Briefs story last week, “A Conservative
Position on Pot,” we left out the word “million” in the third
paragraph. It should read: “regulating marijuana like wine
would generate more than $140 million per year in taxes —
which could be put into both the general fund and drug
treatment programs, while eliminating the unsavory elements
related to the black market.”
Activities
Eugene Sunday Streets is a FREE community
Amazon Park
event that opens the streets for people to run,
12:00 – 4:00
bike, walk and roll along a car-free route
connecting Eugene’s Fairmount, South University,
and Amazon Neighborhoods. This fun-for-all
ages event features activity centers with
Eugene Masonic Cemetery
try-for-free fitness classes, live music, and games
at Amazon, University and Washburne Parks.
Event Route
19th Ave
University St
Activity Centers
Restrooms
No Parking on Route
22nd Ave
Emerald St
23rd Ave
University
Park
24th Ave
Columbia St
Elinor St
Onyx St
University St
Potter
Harris
Kincaid
27th Ave
Agate St
26th Ave
Alder
EUGENE WEEKLY
Hilyard St
8 AUGUST 23, 2012
Amazon
Park
12:00 - 1:30
12:00 – 4:00
12:00 – 4:00
12:30 – 1:00
1:00 – 1:30
1:00 - 2:30
1:00 – 4:00
1:30 – 3:00
2:30 – 4:00
3:00 – 3:30
3:30 – 4:00
Upstart Crow Performance
SELCO Yard Games
SUNA Self-Guided Walking Tour
Partner Yoga
Kids Yoga
Sustainability Walking Tour
Petanque
Yoga Fundamentals
Stephan Nance (folk rock)
Sun Salutations
Yoga for Athletes
All yoga at University Park provided by Eugene Yoga
Nixon St
Masonic
Cemetery
Learn more or sign up to volunteer:
eugenesundaystreets.org
Call to volunteer: 541-501-0390
Find the Veterans Game
Masonic Cemetery Walking Tour
Masonic Cemetery Walking Tour
Washburne Park
Miami Ln
25th Ave
Washburne
Park
21st Ave
Onyx St
Harris St
Eugene Sunday Streets is brought to you by:
Kincaid St
Alder St
Hilyard St
Sunday, September 9th
NOON - 4:00 PM
Potter St
Bike Parking
20th Ave
12:00 – 4:00
1:00 – 2:00
3:00 – 4:00
University Park
18th Ave
Motor Vehicle
Access Points
1:00 – 2:00
2:00 – 2:30
Bicycle Expo, Bicycle Registration
with Eugene Police, Kids Traffic
Garden and Helmet Decorating
Tricycle Drag Races
Track Stand Competition
12:00 – 12:30 DJ Rain on Stage
12:00 – 4:00 Slacklining
12:30 – 2:00 Barefoot Leroy on Stage
(Americana)
12:30 – 1:30 Hula Hoop Class
1:30 – 2:30 Acro-Yoga Demonstration–
Bring-Your-Own-Mats
(if you have one)
2:00 – 2:30 DJ Rain on Stage
2:30 – 4:00 Conjugal Visitors on Stage
(bluegrass)
Look for Samba Ja (Brazilian percussion
ensemble) playing along 24th from 1:00 – 3:00!
WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM