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7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 *02PHGLDWLRQELOO¿QDOO\HQFRXQWHUVIRHV Legislation faces objections after initial lack of controversy By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Bureau SALEM — After an uncontro- versial start, legislation that would require mediation for disputes over biotech crops in Oregon is now fac- ing opposition from critics of genetic engineering. House Bill 2509, which would di- rect the Oregon Department of Agri- FXOWXUHWRPHGLDWHFRQÀLFWVRYHUJH- QHWLFDOO\PRGL¿HGRUJDQLVPVGLGQ¶W initially meet with objections and passed the House by an overwhelm- ing margin. The bill arose from a work group convened by Rep. Brian Clem, D-Salem, that evaluated a range of GMO proposals. During a May 20 legislative hear- LQJ&OHPVDLGKH¶VVXUSULVHGE\WKH recent surge of antagonism toward HB 2509, which emerged from the concerns of GMO critics who wor- ULHG WKDW ELRWHFK IDUPHUV ZRXOGQ¶W agree to mediation. “This came from the anti-GMO community,” he said. “This was de- signed to be helpful for people wor- ried about being interfered with by GMOs.” Friends of Family Farmers, a group that favors stronger GMO regulation, participated in the work group negotiations and credited the AP Photo/John Miller, File A genetically engineered potato pokes through the soil of a planting pot inside J.R. Simplot’s lab in south- western Idaho. bill with providing an incentive for mediation during a work session last month. Now that HB 2509 is before WKH 6HQDWH KRZHYHU WKH QRQSUR¿W group and other GMO critics are asking lawmakers to reject the pro- posal because they say farmers who are harmed by biotech cross-pol- lination should not be forced into mediation. “I strikes us that mediation should be a choice farmers make, not a mandated situation,” said Ivan Maluski, policy director of Friends of Family Farmers, during the recent hearing before the Sen- ate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. If a dispute over genetically engineered crops occurs between farmers, the bill calls for ODA to provide mediation to seek a coexis- tence solution. If a grower refuses mediation and later loses a lawsuit LQ WKH GLVSXWH KH¶G EH UHTXLUHG WR SD\ WKH RSSRVLQJ SDUW\¶V OHJDO costs. While Friends of Family Farmers believes mediation may be useful in some circumstances, the group has decided to oppose the bill because mandatory mediation could impose D¿QDQFLDOEXUGHQRQVPDOOJURZHUV The mediation requirement may delay a timely court decision when a farmer faces market rejection of his crop due to cross-pollination, the group claims. Our Family Farms Coalition, which successfully campaigned for a GMO ban in Jackson County, ar- gues that HB 2509 would hinder the ability of organic and conventional growers to enforce that prohibition. The group argues that small farm- ers would effectively be blocked from seeking a “quick legal action to prevent contamination of their crop” due to fears of paying astronomical attorney fees. “This bill would prevent that as a practical matter,” said Kellie Barnes, a representative for the group. The Center for Food Safety, a QRQSUR¿W LQYROYHG LQ SURPLQHQW OH- gal battles over GMOs, alleges that 2'$ FDQ¶W EH WUXVWHG WR RYHUVHH the mediation program because the agency has served as the “mouth- piece of the agricultural biotechnol- ogy industry.” Since the mediation requirement lacks any limit on duration or ex- pense, ODA could use it as an obsta- cle for farmers who need a fast legal remedy to their dispute, the group says. Scott Dahlman, policy director of the Oregonians for Food and Shelter DJULEXVLQHVV JURXS VDLG KH¶V GLVDS- pointed by the hostility toward HB 2509 after the work group tried to establish a middle ground. The bill was intended to shed OLJKWRQKRZPDQ\ELRWHFKFRQÀLFWV actually exist in Oregon and encour- age compromises that would be dif- ¿FXOWWRUHDFKLQFRXUWKHVDLG “It might be as simple as commu- nicating your planting schedule with your neighbor and planting at differ- ent times,” Dahlman said. The Capital Bureau is a collab- oration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. -XGJHUXOHVVRPHRI&\OYLD+D\HV¶ HPDLOVDUHSXEOLFVRPHSULYDWH Capital Bureau SALEM — In a split decision, a Marion County circuit judge ruled Thurs- day that forcing former first lady Cylvia Hayes to release emails from her private account would be a violation of her Fifth Amendment rights — un- less they relate to any of the more than 94,000 emails already made pub- lic by the state. In February Hayes filed suit to block the release of emails from her private account to The Oregonian in response to a public re- cords request seeking re- cords concerning her tenure as first lady. Hayes and former Gov. John Kitzhaber are under investigation by the U.S. $WWRUQH\¶V 2IILFH IRU SR- tential influence peddling. In her lawsuit, Hayes ar- gued that emails in her private account were pri- vate and exempt from re- OHDVH XQGHU 2UHJRQ¶V SXE- lic records law, and that a release would violate her Constitutional right against self incrimination. In a ruling on the pa- SHU¶V PRWLRQ IRU SDUWLDO summary judgment, Judge Tracy Prall said the news- SDSHU¶V UHTXHVW IRU UHFRUGV was narrowly constructed to exclude material of an exclusively personal na- ture, and had proven a le- gitimate public interest in the release of records relat- ed to official business. However, Prall ruled that ordering Hayes to pro- duce the emails would re- quire her to admit that the emails exist, are in her con- trol, and authenticate their content. That would violate her Fifth Amendment rights against self incrimination. However, Gov. Kate Brown has already re- leased 94,000 emails from .LW]KDEHU¶V WHQXUH KHOG E\ the state. Therefore, Prall ruled, emails held by Hayes that correspond to those already released should be made public because “any testimonial aspect is a fore- gone conclusion.” Hayes filed a lawsuit in ASTORIA FLYING CLUB In vites Pilo ts & An yo n e in terested in flyin g to the Asto ria Airpo rt o n S a turd a y, M a y 2 3rd • 10a m M eet at the old T erm inal Building February to stop the dis- closure of emails on her private account that dealt with state business, after the Oregon Attorney Gen- HUDO¶V2IILFHRUGHUHG+D\HV to release the emails in re- sponse to a public records request by The Oregonian newspaper. The Oregonian had asked Prall to dismiss +D\HV¶ HQWLUH ODZVXLW DQG order Hayes to release the HPDLOV +D\HV¶ UHVSRQVH WR that motion is currently due by the end of the month, Oregon Judicial Depart- ment Legislative Com- munication Manager Phil Lemman wrote in an email. Pool photo/Statesman Journal Judge Tracy Prall ruled Thursday that former first lady Cylvia Hayes must release emails in her private account that relate to more than 94,000 emails from the Kitzhaber administration already released by the state. The release of unrelated emails, however, would violate Hayes’ Fifth Amendment rights. SOILS! Seminar Instructor Ja m es Ca ssidy from the O regon Sta te University Crop a nd Soil Science D epa rtm ent w ill present a progra m on the com plex na ture of soils! For m ore in fo contact: Cla tso p SW CD 75 0 Co m m ercia l Ro o m 207 Asto ria , OR Phon e: 5 03-325 -4 5 71 Em ail: csw cd @ cla tso psw cd .o rg W eb: cla tso psw cd .o rg FREE Seminar SE V E RAL AIRC RAF T O N SITE Tra i l ’s E n d Art Asso ci a ti o n Summer Workshops SIG N UP N O W ! July 6,7,8 — Portrait Painting in watercolor with Fealing Lin July 16 — Process Painting for teens using acrylics with Aziza Balle and Anne Pechovnik July 20-24 — Kids’ Circus Adventure art camp with Kathy Karbo and Sarah Ferguson August 13 — Managing Your Digital Images on your computer with Richard Newman August 17-21 — Watercolor Workshop with Don Andrews August 22-23 — Basketry Workshop (ages 13-adult) with Catherine Ridenour and Judi Marsh-Garrity For d eta iled cla ss d escription s a n d to sign u p go to tra ilsen d a rt.org or ca ll 5 41- 419- 5 869 Trail’s End Art Center is located at 656 A Street in Gearhart, OR OPEN Wed thru Sun 11am to 4pm W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 VOLUN T E E R PICK OF THE WEE K Pinky a 7 year old female Boxer Blend -- Pert & Pretty Entertainment Center, Completely Interactive for Hours of Enjoyment. Sa turd a y M a y 3 0th 2015 6 :00-8:00p m L oca tion : F ort George B rew ery Sh ow room 1483 D ua n e Street • Astoria This sem in a r w ill b e suita b le fo r urb a n resid en ts, fa rm ers a n d g a rd en ers a like! The p ro g ra m w ill co ver ho w so ils a re fo rm ed , so il hea lth a n d m icro b io lo g y a n d m o re! Sem ina r is FREE, but plea se RSVP to Cla tsop SW CD The Clatsop SWCD is an equal opportunity employer, providing services to the public without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or family status. Thank You! Our family would like to thank everyone who were there for Joe White’s “Celebration of Life”. You helped to make some of our darkest hours brighter by showing your support. Thank you very much for the beautiful flowers, many cards, and memorial contributions. Special thanks to CMH staff for Joe’s loving care and comfort. Also, to Pastor Carl Jackson for his words of wisdom and being there for all of us. We are grateful to everyone involved in giving us assurance through this difficult period of time. You are our angels! Thank you forever and we love all of you! The family of Joe White: Gloria, Linda, Joyce, Don, Rhonda, Mike, Tony, and all the rest of our family! Sponsored by Clatsop Animal Assistance CLATSOP COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER 1315 SE 19th St., Warrenton • 861- PETS www.dogsncats.org Noon to 4pm, Tues-Sat M EMORIAL D A Y ceremony May 25, 2015 Memorial services will begin at 11:00 am Dropping of the wreaths by the Coast Guard Guest speakers A potluck immediately following the services at the American Legion — bring your favorite dish This Year A N A VENUE O F C ROSSES & F LAGS WILL BE DISPLAYED AT THE O CEAN V IEW C EMETERY . Crosses & Flags will not be placed on individual grave sites. ASTORIA AMERICAN LEGION 1132 Exchange Street • 325-5771