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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 2015)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015 State Democratic leaders call for Energy Department overhaul By HILLARY BORRUD Capital Bureau SALEM — Democratic leaders in the state Legislature announced Wednesday after- noon they will form a commit- tee next year to consider wheth- er to overhaul or eliminate the state Department of Energy. State Senate President Pe- ter Courtney, D-Salem, and House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, issued a joint statement calling for a “full and open legislative over- haul” of the agency. The law- makers said they will direct the committee to issue recom- mendations and legislation for the full Legislature to take up in 2017. “It’s time for the Legis- lature to bring the problems sues at ODOE. Is it the struc- at the Department of Energy ture? Is it the purpose? Is it the into full focus and determine personnel? Is it time for the KRZ ZH FDQ ¿[ Department of En- them once and for ergy to go away?” all,” Kotek said in Michael Kaplan, a written statement. director of the Ore- Courtney went gon Department of even further in his Energy, said the agen- written statement cy can improve with Wednesday after- help from lawmakers. noon. “(Department of “Session after Energy) staff have session we have been working hard had to address Senate President to move this agency problems at the Or- Peter Courtney forward, and we be- egon Department of lieve we’ll be more Energy,” Courtney said. “The successful with the Legislature’s (business energy tax credit) help,” Kaplan said in a written program has gotten the most statement. “We look forward to attention, but it’s been more the opportunity to discuss the fu- than just the BETC. We need ture of energy policy, safety, and to get to the bottom of the is- siting in the state.” Republicans have called for probe A group of Republican state lawmakers on Monday called for an investigation of allegations that em- ployees at the De- partment of Energy and Department of Revenue vio- lated state law on energy tax credits, Problems go engaged in favor- back years itism and allowed House Speaker However, prob- some people to Tina Kotek lems at the agency evade capital gains tax. The lawmakers outlined go back years, to when staff the allegations in a letter to lowballed the cost of the state Attorney General Ellen controversial business ener- Rosenblum, the state’s U.S. gy tax credit under pressure Attorney, the FBI, the IRS and from the administration of Marion County District Attor- then-Gov. Ted Kulongoski. Port of Ilwaco withdraws from CREST By KATHERYN HOUGHTON EO Media Group ILWACO, Wash. — The Port of Ilwaco withdrew from its membership with the Co- lumbia River Estuary Study Taskforce because they no longer used their services, ac- cording to the port manager. Manager Guy Glenn noti- ¿HGWKH$VWRULDEDVHGDJHQF\ that the port was removing their membership on Monday. CREST is a contracting organization that focuses on environmental planning and habitat restoration. The or- ganization offers expertise in project design, funding, man- agement, implementation and monitoring. Glenn said since he began working at the Port of Ilwaco in 2012, he can only remem- ber contracting with CREST’s services once, when the Port held a public outreach meet- ing about updates to the dis- covery trail in October. “There are some good peo- ple in their organization and we may use their services at a non-member price in the fu- ture,” Glenn said. Congress says, ‘We need your app’ The Daily Astorian BEAVERTON — U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici invites lo- cal high-schoolers to design an award-winning computer app. Her district, which in- cludes Clatsop County, is again participating in the annual Congressional App Challenge. Established by members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the contest is a nationwide event designed to encourage students to ex- press their creativity while participating in Science, Tech- nology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics education. Stu- dents across the country cre- ‘Creativity leads to innovation, which we need to grow our economy...’ — Suzanne Bonamici U.S. representative ate and demonstrate an app for a mobile phone, tablet or other computer. “Participating in the Con- gressional App Challenge ZLOOUHTXLUHFUHDWLYHWKLQNLQJ so students will be engaging both halves of the brain,” said Bonamici, D-Ore. “Creativity leads to innovation, which we need to grow our economy. As the co-chair of the Con- gressional STEAM Caucus, I see this challenge as a great opportunity for students to develop technology while raising awareness about the value of educating innovators and problem solvers.” Students entering the com- petition must submit their app’s source code online be- fore Jan. 15, as well as pro- vide a video demonstration explaining their app and what they learned through the com- petition process. Winners will be announced Feb. 15. A panel of local experts will review the submissions. Winners from each con- gressional district will be acknowledged in a district awards ceremony and fea- tured on www.house.gov. There will also be a display in the U.S. Capitol to honor all of the district winners. Learn more at http://ti- nyurl.com/htkcvf9 Comments invited on statewide trails plan The Daily Astorian The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is inviting public comment on a draft plan for recreational trails. Comments will be accept- ed through Jan. 5. The plan, Oregon Trails 2015: A Vision For The Fu- ture, guides public recreation providers in their manage- ment of off-highway vehicle trails, snowmobile trails, trails for walking, hiking, bicycling and other non-motorized trail recreation and water trail pad- dling routes. In addition, the plan es- tablishes a review process for potential additions to the state scenic waterway corridor. The state’s scenic waterways pro- JUDP VHWV VSHFL¿F UXOHV IRU selected corridors to balance protection of natural resourc- es, scenic value and recreation. The plan was developed using public feedback gath- ered through statistically re- liable surveys of trail users and non-motorized boaters, according to the state. Staff gathered feedback and opinions from 7,450 randomly selected residents. Workshops were held in 14 locations across the state to gather additional public input on trails issues and funding needs. 6WDWHV DUH UHTXLUHG WR GH- velop a trails plan to be el- igible for matching federal grants for trails projects. The trails plan is used to direct grant awards for federal- ly-funded Recreational Trails Program grants and the state’s All-Terrain Vehicle grants, ZKLFK LV ¿QDQFHG E\ QRQUH- funded gas tax revenue and ATV permit sales. Comments can be made online at http://tinyurl.com/ o3lvfah, or emailed to ter- ry.bergerson@oregon.gov. Comments can also be mailed to Oregon Parks and Recre- ation Department, 725 Sum- mer Street NE, Suite C, Sa- lem, OR 97301-1271, Attn: Terry Bergerson. County receives assistance with farms and forests The Daily Astorian Clatsop County will re- ceive technical assistance from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation to up- date farm and forest zoning laws. Except for a few minor changes, the county’s farm use and forest zones have not been updated since 1993. The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners approved the agreement Wednesday. Updating the county’s farm and forest codes will help the county address increasingly popular agritourism activities such as farm-to-table dinners, farm stands and classes. “While these activities are valued by the greater com- munity, they impact adjacent property owners and infra- structure,” county staff wrote the Board of Commissioners. “What’s the right balance for Clatsop County?” The county was selected by the state Department of Land Conservation to partici- pate in the project. The project will create new or amend ex- isting chapters of the zoning laws so farm and forest uses are consistent with state law and the needs of the county. There is no cost to the county. As part of the agreement, the county formed a farm and forest advisory committee to review project materials and advise on issues throughout the project. In other business Wednesday: • The Board of Commis- sioners decided on the inter- view process for county man- DJHU¿QDOLVWV7KHGHDGOLQHWR apply for the position is Dec. 31. Finalists will be decided by Jan. 13, and invited for a county tour and reception on Jan. 28. Interviews will be held on Jan. 29. g r andson Jack Gummow and Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber his mommy & daddy. 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 Terri Haskins Richardson on Saturday, December 12th at the Warrenton Community Center from 1-4 PM 170 SW 3rd St. Warrenton, OR Tax credits issued to pro- vide incentives for renew- able energy and efficiency projects could cost the state $1 billion in tax revenue it otherwise would have re- ceived. Then there was the state Department of Justice in- vestigation into whether the Department of Energy steered part of a contract to Cylvia Hayes, who at the time was the compan- ion of former Gov. John Kitzhaber. Hayes’ company came in last in the bidding, but she was not accused of wrongdoing. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. No remaining environmental risk from sunken vessel DERXW¿YHPLOHVQRUWKRI3DFLI- ic County. The owner of Persistence reported that there were po- WESTPORT, Wash. — A tentially 250 gallons of diesel sunken vessel in Westhaven and 15 gallons of oil on board, Marina no longer poses and according to the release. When environmental risk after U.S. WKH\ DUULYHG WR ¿QG WKH YHV- Coast Guard personnel re- sel submerged at the pier, moved 500 gallons of oil and responders observed a sheen water form the vessel’s tanks. on the water, and placed a A report of a sinking vessel containment boom around was received Sunday afternoon, Persistence to prevent any oil and a vessel from the Grays from spreading. The fuel tanks on the vessel Harbor Coast Guard station was launched in response, according weren’t punctured, and were to a Coast Guard news release. emptied to prevent any oil It’s not yet known what caused from potentially spreading into WKHIRRWFRPPHUFLDO¿VKLQJ the water, Read said. “Right now our main vessel Persistence to sink, said &RDVW*XDUG3HWW\2I¿FHU)LUVW thought process is the mitiga- tion of any pollution and get- Class Levi Read. Personnel from the Coast ting that thing up off the bot- Guard National Response tom,” he said. Even with the tanks emp- Center and the Washington State Department of Ecology ty, the Coast Guard will leave responded to the report, the the boom around the vessel to release said. The marina is lo- prevent any residual oil from cated just inside Grays Harbor, spreading, he added. By CYNTHIA WASHICKO EO Media Group 6SRUWFUDE¿VKLQJ reopens in Willapa Bay VKHOO¿VKPDQDJHU5HFHQWWHVWV by the Washington Department OLYMPIA, Wash. — of Health show toxin levels in :DVKLQJWRQVWDWHVKHOO¿VKPDQ- Willapa Bay crab are well be- agers reopened the recreational low health-safety standards. FUDE¿VKHU\LQVLGH:LOODSD%D\ Commercial crabbing in after test results showed the Willapa Bay remains closed. crab are again safe to eat. 5HJXODUWHVWLQJRIVKHOO¿VK The Washington Depart- species found in Willapa Bay ment of Fish and Wildlife — including oysters, hard- announced the opening last shell clams and mussels — week after a monthlong clo- VKRZV WKRVH VKHOO¿VK UHPDLQ sure prompted by elevated safe to eat. The state continues to levels of domoic acid. Domoic acid, a natural tox- test for domoic acid in razor in produced by certain types of clams along Washington’s marine algae, can be harmful coastal beaches, where dig- or even fatal if consumed in ging has been closed this fall. VXI¿FLHQW TXDQWLWLHV &RRNLQJ Domoic acid tends to remain or freezing does not destroy in the fat cells of razor clams ORQJHU WKDQ RWKHU VKHOO¿VK GRPRLFDFLGLQVKHOO¿VK Levels of domoic acid in species. The state will make Willapa Bay crabs have de- an announcement once toxin clined over this past month, levels drop to safe levels and said Dan Ayres, a state coastal digging can begin. EO Media Group 12 TH AVE. & HWY. 101, SEASIDE, OR Grandma & Grandpa Reames are thankful for our brand new W A NTED Please join our family in celebrating the life of ney Walter Beglau. The Department of Energy came under increased scrutiny this year after news reports revealed the agency wrongly awarded millions of dollars in tax credits and allowed people to ignore state regulations on energy tax credits. Friday, December 11th Roast Pork Dinner Potatoes Augratin, Veggie, Apple Sauce & Salad Bar 4 ‘ til gone! $ 8 Saturday, December 12th Dance to the music of DJ Dave 6pm ASTORIA AMERICAN LEGION Post 12 11 3 2 E x c h a n g e S t r e e t • 3 2 5 - 5 7 7 1 Kiwanis Christmas Trees on sale now! Proceeds go to Kiwanis Club, YJKEJRWVUMKFUÇTUV OPEN Monday-Saturday 10-8, Sunday 10-6