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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 31, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 State opposes deregulation of biotech bentgrass By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Bureau CORVALLIS — Oregon farm regulators are object- ing to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposed deregulation of a genetically engineered grass variety that escaped ¿eld trials more than a decade ago. Last year, USDA reached an agreement with Scotts Miracle-Gro, which devel- oped the glyphosate-resistant biotech creeping bentgrass, to lift federal regulations on the crop as long as it’s not commercialized. Scotts would also con- duct a 10-year management plan to control the grass, but some farmers have com- plained that the proposal will allow the company to even- tually wash its hands of the problem while leaving them with spray costs and poten- tial export barriers. The Oregon Department of Agriculture has come out against the proposal, arguing it’s inappropriate to deregu- late the bentgrass while it’s still infesting areas of central and Eastern Oregon. “We think it needs to be eradicated before deregu- lation,” said Lisa Hanson, department’s deputy direc- tor, during a meeting this week of the Oregon Board of Agriculture. The state claims the bio- tech bentgrass doesn’t meet the federal requirements for deregulation because it “clearly falls into the cate- gory of a plant pest and nox- ious weed,” according to a letter sent to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. “It is invading irrigation canals and displacing native species in riparian areas in the affected Oregon coun- ties,” the state’s letter said, noting that the crop should remain regulated until “a means to eradicate this pest becomes available.” The state also recom- mends that USDA convene a task force to evaluate the impacts of deregulation. Biotech bentgrass is of particular concern near waterways because they can allow the crop to spread to new areas and potentially get out of control, said Helmuth Rogg, the state Department of Agriculture’s plant pro- gram director. There are also limited chemical methods for treat- ing the bentgrass, he said. Not only is it resistant to gly- phosate, but other herbicides often can’t be used in irriga- tion canals without poten- tially harming crops. Canals can be treated with herbicides before they’re used to convey sum- mer irrigation water, but that time window poses another challenge, Rogg said. “The problem in early spring is it’s not easy to iden- tify,” Rogg said. At that point, the variety looks much like any other grass, he said. The crop is more distinctive in late summer. Scotts developed the bentgrass for golf courses and began testing it with USDA’s consent in a “con- trol area” in central Oregon designated by the state, but the cultivar escaped ¿eld tri- als in 2003 and continues to be found in Jefferson and Malheur counties. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. The Harbor announces new executive director The Daily Astorian The Harbor, Clatsop County’s domestic vio- lence and sexual assault resource agency, has announced that Melissa Van Horn is the new exec- utive director. In February, she began ¿lling the vacancy created by Julie Soderberg’s depar- ture. The selection was made after a regional search and selection process. Van Horn has spent the last 20 years engaged in community work and service. She is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where she served as an avia- tion electrician’s mate/ plane captain and fueling skids supervisor, supervis- ing and training 32 naval airmen. Her resume also includes over five years of development, adminis- tration, communications and marketing experience in the nonprofit sector and social services. Prior to the appointment as executive director, Van Horn has been connected with The Harbor as an advocate, con- sultant and board member. “Domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking are crimes that affect the health of the entire com- munity,” she said in a statement. “As such, I look forward to continuing to serve and partner with businesses, social service agencies and townspeople in this new capacity. “As a survivor, I am deeply dedicated to our program because we aide in the empowerment of survi- vors. We at The Harbor play a key role in working to end violence in our world.” Last September, Soder- berg tried to temporarily suspend programs at The Harbor, complaining about the commitment of the board of directors. Ag regulators may seek power to ‘stop work’ State explores re¿ned authority By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Bureau CORVALLIS — Food manufacturers and pesticide applicators could be subject to “stop work” orders under new regulatory authority being considered by Oregon’s farm regulators. The state Department of Agriculture may seek new reg- ulatory power to halt speci¿c unlawful actions that endanger public safety. Currently, the depart- ment can suspend or revoke the license of a food estab- lishment or pesticide appli- cator that’s violating the law, but such sanctions may be overkill in some situa- tions, said Lauren Hender- son, the agency’s assistant director. “We don’t have anything that’s speci¿c to an activity. It’s all or nothing,” he said during this week’s meeting of the Oregon Board of Agricul- ture in Corvallis. Revoking a license or obtaining a temporary restrain- ing order in court also involves fairly high legal hurdles, Hen- derson said. Taking such drastic steps would be overly burdensome for the agency and the busi- ness in the case of minor vio- lations, such as a faulty ther- mometer in a refrigerated meat cooler, he said. Under the proposed “stop work” authority, the Depart- ment of Agriculture could sim- ply require a company to cease using that cooler until it’s ¿xed, he said. “We’re looking at some- thing very narrow and prob- ably short-term,” Henderson said. The proposal is in a very early stage but the agency is considering it as a possible “leg- islative concept” for the 2017 legislative session, he said. Henderson acknowledged the “stop work” idea has met with some trepidation among regulated companies. “The industry as a whole is pretty nervous about us having that authority,” he said. Aside from possibly affect- ing pesticide applications, the proposal could impact on-farm processing, such as dairymen who make farmstead cheese. Doug Krahmer, a blueberry farmer and board member, said companies should have a way to challenge a “stop work” order. “I would caution you to put some sort of judicial mecha- nism in there, so if a grower or an owner takes issue with a stop work order, there is a quick way to get adjudica- tion,” he said. The U.S. Department of Labor did not provide such recourse when it issued “hot goods” orders in 2012 that halted the sale of perishable fruit based on alleged labor violations, he said. Krahmer said he would char- acterize the actions as “tyranni- cal” and he doesn’t ever want to describe the Department of Agriculture that way. Katy Coba, the depart- ment’s director, said the agency is still examining simi- lar authority in other states and recognizes the importance of protecting due process while ensuring public safety. “It’s ¿nding in statute the right balance,” she said. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Coast Guard rescues surfer caught in ebb tide The Daily Astorian GRAYS HARBOR, Wash. — The U.S. Coast Guard res- cued a surfer caught in an ebb tide near Grays Harbor’s north jetty Wednesday. The Coast Guard’s com- mand center at Air Station Astoria in Warrenton received a report from Grays Harbor’s 911 dispatch of two surfers in distress and issued an Urgent Marine Information Broad- cast seeking assistance from nearby mariners. A 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Grays Harbor eventually reached the scene and recovered a 29-year-old male surfer wearing a drysuit and using his board as a Àota- tion device. He was then taken to Station Grays Harbor but declined further medical care. The other surfer, a 46-year- old male, had made it safely to shore prior to the Coast Guard’s arrival. “The Coast Guard sup- ports safe recreational use of our beautiful coastline and encourages safe prac- tices similar to the surf- ers that needed help today,” Chief Petty Of¿cer Matthew Degerolamo, the chief duty of¿cer at the command cen- ter, said in a statement. “The surfers used the buddy sys- tem, dressed appropriately for the water temperature and used a Àoatation device to stay aÀoat.” Migrating whales pass the Oregon Coast Gray whales make their spring migration By LYRA FONTAINE EO Media Group CANNON BEACH — Locals and spring break visi- tors had the opportunity to spot gray whales swimming north, part of the 6,000-mile round-trip migration the mammals make each year. Ecola State Park was one of the 24 designated sites for the Spring Whale Watch Week hosted by Oregon State Parks and Recreation. About 300 volunteers were stationed along the coast last week, helping state park visi- tors identify and learn about the expected 20,000 gray whales heading to summer feeding grounds in the Arctic’s Bering and Chukchi seas. Volunteers spotted 1,552 gray whales statewide, the state reported. Ecola State Park whale-watching volunteers had already spotted 14 whales on the morning of March 22. “It’s a good day to see them,” said volunteer Carl Hosticka, from Tualatin, using binoculars to look for whale spouts. “The sun illuminates the spouts so they will be easier to see.” Gray whales will keep swim- ming past the coast until Octo- ber or November, Oregon State Parks and Recreation ranger Lyra Fontaine/EO Media Group Volunteer Carl Hosticka helps visitors scan for whales. Luke Parsons said. Resident gray whales that stay in the central Oregon Coast area also show up later in spring. “These whales are the ¿rst- wave migration, the males and the immature females,” Parsons said. “The majority of the moth- ers and the calves start showing up in late April and May.” When it gets dark in the Arc- tic around October, gray whales head back south. Hosticka also volunteered for the Winter Whale Watch Week in December, when gray whales can be seen travel- ing from the Arctic to lagoons in Baja California, Mexico, where they mate and give birth. Volunteers, trained with the Whale Watching Spoken Here program, taught visitors about whale migration and feeding habits. Gray whales, which prefer to eat organisms near the bottom of the ocean such as small crus- taceans, do not eat much while migrating. “There isn’t much for them to eat along here,” Hosticka said. “They bulk up and swim day and night because they can sleep with half their brain.” How long does it take for gray whales to migrate to the Arctic? It depends on the whale. “Some of them are in a hurry and it will take them three or four months, and for some it takes even longer,” Parsons said. “The mothers will travel quite a bit slower with their little babies. It’s nonstop for several months just to get there. They’re dedi- cated animals.” The length of an average female gray whale, 45 feet, was displayed in the grass using mea- suring tape. Females are usually larger than males, and their milk is rich, made up of more than 50 percent fat, Hosticka said. Instead of teeth, gray whales have rows of bristly plates called baleens, which allow them to ¿lter the food and water they scoop off the ocean Àoor with their mouths. On the journey north from Baja California, the babies con- tinue to nurse and begin learning how to eat. “The mothers are teaching them tricks of the trade,” Parsons said. Spaghetti Dinner Friday April 1 st 4 pm ‘til gone $7 .00 6PM “Karaoke Dave” W A NTED ASTORIA AMERICAN LEGION Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Cla t sop Post 12 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 1132 Exchange Street 325-5771 Leinassar Dental Excellence Trusted, Caring and Affordable Dental Care Hear what loyal and new patients alike are saying... Friend ly, com petent service...I ha d a tooth em ergency a nd they sta yed la te to fix it the very d a y I called . - D avid M . 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