Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 11, 2015)
7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, MAY 11, 2015 Washington high court VD\VOHWWKHELRVROLGVÀRZ Ruling gives a green light to using treated human waste as a fertilizer ODQG¿OOV :DVWHZDWHU DQG VHSWLF treatment operators promote the use of biosolids, because spread- ing the treated waste on farmland is cheaper than paying to deposit it at a treatment plant. But Wahkiakum County res- idents had concerns about using a product derived from human waste on local land in 2010, By NATALIE ST. JOHN when Long Beach-based Ever- EO Media Group green Septic applied to the DOE for a permit to haul biosolids to OLYMPIA, Wash. — In a Phillip Zerr’s farm near Rosburg. move that surprised some Wah- In 2011, Wahkiakum county NLDNXP&RXQW\RI¿FLDOVWKHVWDWH commissioners banned the use Supreme Court has refused to of all but the highest-grade bio- weigh in on the county’s contro- solids. The DOE sued. When a versial ban on the use of “Class Cowlitz County Superior Court B Biosolids” — a type of treated judge sided with the county, the human waste — as fertilizer. DOE asked the state Court of State law says, whenever Appeals to review the decision. possible, communities should In November 2014, the appeals convert treated waste to biosolids court overturned the Cowlitz that can be spread on agricultur- County ruling, saying that the al land. The state Department of Wahkiakum County policy was Ecology says biosolids provide a unconstitutional because it un- safe, affordable and environmen- dermined state law. Wahkiakum tally sound alternative to inciner- County Prosecutor Dan Bige- ating the waste or dumping it in low then asked the Supreme Court to review the appeals court decision. Bigelow said in November he thought the case had a good chance of making it to the Su- preme Court, because the ruling could potentially help determine whether local governments have any authority to limit or ban le- gal marijuana production and sales. While the county waited to hear from the higher courts, medical and recreational mari- juana groups took an interest in the case. So did lobby groups representing wastewater treat- ment and industrial agriculture companies. In a February 2014 blog post, James Slaughter, an attor- ney who works on behalf of the wastewater treatment industry, said the Wahkiakum ruling “will be important nationally for land application,” meaning that it FRXOGLQÀXHQFHKRZRWKHUFRP- munities deal with increasing objections to biosolids. On April 29, the Supreme Court denied Bigelow’s petition and put an end to the county’s ban — a clear victory for the state and other groups who see biosolids as a cheap and neces- sary means of dealing with mas- sive volumes of treated human waste. “There’s no appeal from this,” Bigelow said in an email. “The Court of Appeals basical- ly ruled the state runs the show. That means biosolids opponents have to lobby the state Leg- islature if they want the rules changed.” Once the formal mandate from the state is processed in Cowlitz County Superior Court, locals may begin applying for permits to spread biosolids. Among the interested par- ties? Cathlamet, Wahkiakum County’s only city and the county seat. According to the Wahkiakum County Eagle, city leaders hope to reduce costs by applying biosolids on a local property, rather than hauling them to Lewis County. Former sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 14 days in jail By NATALIE ST. JOHN EO Media Group SOUTH BEND, Wash. — Former sheriff’s dep- uty Vance Johnson was sentenced April 27 for his March conviction on charges of official miscon- duct and reckless endanger- ment. During the hearing in North District Court, Judge William Faubion sentenced Johnson to 14 days in jail, a suspended 350-day jail sen- tence, $1,549 in fines, fees and costs, and two years of probation. He must report to the jail to begin his sentence within 30 days, according to a representative for the state Attorney General’s Office. Johnson was dismissed from the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office last Sep- tember, after he was ac- cused of using his position to intimidate a group of North County youths who egged his personal vehicle, and subsequently attempt- ing to coerce their families into paying for the damage in spring 2014. Johnson is appealing his dismissal from PCSO. John- son has said he cannot speak with the media until ongo- ing arbitration proceedings with PCSO are over. A state court records database shows Johnson is also appealing his convic- tion in Pacific County Su- perior Court. On April 16, Johnson filed a Notice of Appeal with the Superior Court Clerk. Documents from the North District Court sentencing hearing and Superior Court appeal filing were not immediately available. Submitted photo Pictured, a flock of birds flies over the White-Tail Slough at the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-tailed Deer. New trail, slough open Saturday at Cathlamet white-tailed deer refuge CATHLAMET, Wash. — The U. S. Fish and Wild- life Service is holding a grand opening celebration of the White-tail Trail and White-tail Slough at Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-tailed Deer from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The refuge is located at 46 Steamboat Slough Road in Cathlamet. “The Refuge’s White-tail Trail and White-tail Slough provide rich opportunities for wildlife observation, photography and simply en- joying the great outdoors,” said Project Leader Jackie Ferrier. Beginning Saturday, the Refuge’s White-tail Trail will be open for hiking and biking and the White-tail Slough to nonmotorized wa- tercraft from sunrise to sun- set year-round. The grand opening day features the following events: • 9 a.m.: Guided bird walk on the White-tail Trail lead by a refuge biologist; • 10 a.m.: Wahkiakum 4-H’s 31st annual Great White Tail Run begins with ribbon breaking around 10:15 a.m.; • 10:30 a.m.: Canoeing the White-tail Slough with the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership; • 12:30 p.m.: Telemetry lessons, search for Colum- bian White-tailed Deer with refuge staff; • 1:30 p.m.: Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge prize drawing. A variety of food will also be available throughout the day from the Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. To reserve a spot on a special kayaking tour of the White-tail Slough, contact Columbia River Kayaking at 360-747-1044. For more information about the event, or Julia But- ler Hansen Refuge for Co- lumbian White-tailed Deer, email willapa@fws.gov, call 360-795-3915 or go to www. fws.gov/refuge/julia_but- ler_hansen C UT H ER E NATALIE ST. JOHN — EO Media Group BU Y O N E G ET ON E 1/2 O FF Vance Johnson sat quietly during the first day of his trial in March, taking notes as witnesses testified about their encounters with him. He was sentenced April 27. W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A LUNCH S P ECIAL H A P P Y H O U R SP E C IA L 2 to 5pm • M on th ru Frid ay A n y A ppetizer, Soft D rin k , Beer an d of cou rse M arg arita’s! BU R R ITO S E N C H IL A D A S C O M BIN A TIO N S M on - Fri O N L Y , E qu al or lesser valu e, exclu des seafood item s D IN E IN O R TA K E O U T 11 A M -C L O SE 335 0 HW Y 101 N. Gea rha rt • 5 03- 738 - 7091 Acros s the s treet from Dairy Queen at the T raffic L ight Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 C OUP ON Coa st River Bu sin ess Jou rn a l is n ow in clu d ed w ith you r Da ily Astoria n N EW! O n the first Frida y of every m on th, Da ily A storia n rea ders w ill receive the CRBJ a s a n a dded bon u s CRBJ is the on ly bu sin ess jou rn a l tha t focu ses exclu sively on the Colu m bia -Pa cific region . It provides the region ’s m ost com prehen sive covera ge of the bu sin ess com m u n ity in Cla tsop a n d Pa cific cou n ties in a high-qu a lity, fu ll-color ta bloid Look for the CRBJ the first Frida y of every m on th in the Da ily A storia n a n d get 24/7 a ccess to the region ’s best bu sin ess n ew s on Da ilyA storia n .com Yo u’re invited to join us at a GILENYA ® Go Program ™ Event A n opportunity to m eet K iren K resa-Reahl, M D learn about prescription GILENYA ® , and connect w ith people in your com m unity. T ELL O R B R IN G A FR IEN D ! Accessible to people w ith disabilities. Light m eal served. Parking w ill be validated. S pace is lim ited. Presented by T HE D AILY A STORIAN Visit w w w .Da ilyA storia n .com /su bscribe or 503-325-3211 for con ven ien t hom e delivery You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FD A . Visit w w w .fda.gov/m edw atch, or call 1-800-FD A-1088. 5/20/15 6:30 pm B aked A laska 12th Street #1 A storia, O R Please RSVP 1-866-682-7491