A6
THE ASTORIAN • SATuRdAy, MAy 14, 2022
2017
2018
2019
2020
The number of abortions
among people from Clatsop
County has remained
relatively constant over the
past five years, according to
the Oregon Health Authority.
2021
ABORTIONS AMONG
PEOPLE FROM
CLATSOP COUNTY
Abortion access: Recent change by
the federal government could expand
local access to one type of abortion
enthood, which provides about 75% of the
abortions in Oregon, said most choose med-
difficulties are compounded.
ication abortions.
At Columbia Memorial, which is
Last year, the Food and Drug Adminis-
Lutheran-affiliated, obstetrician-gynecol-
tration lifted a restriction on abortion pills,
ogists offer phone and office consultations
allowing patients to have telemedicine
when patients want to discuss abortion. The
appointments with providers who can pre-
scribe and mail abortion pills directly to
women’s center provides information on
them.
abortion options and offers ultrasound and
Before the rule change, the first dose of
blood testing in advance. Patients can also
the two-medication regimen was required to
follow up with health care providers after-
ward if needed.
be dispensed at a health care facility.
Social workers and a board-certified
In Oregon, some health care providers
chaplain are available to provide unbiased
have already been conducting telehealth
support and counseling throughout the pro-
appointments and mailing pills through
cess if patients pursue abortion.
the TelAbortion Project, a research project
The hospital also provides assistance
authorized by the FDA.
with logistics, such as insurance, travel and
The federal agency decided to stop
financial issues. Staff is available to help
enforcing the in-person requirement in April
manage potential complications or medi-
2021, and in December it was lifted per-
cal emergencies for patients who terminate
manently, allowing the pills to be mailed
pregnancies.
directly to patients.
Providence Seaside, part of a Catholic
Reproductive health care experts say the
health care system, declined an interview
decision could make access to abortion eas-
ier, particularly in underserved places like
for this story.
Tracy Erfling, a naturopathic doctor who
rural Oregon.
serves as Clatsop County’s reproductive
Restrictions on abortion in neighboring
health provider, said she is not aware of any
states could draw more women seeking to
clinics or hospitals in the region that offer or
end their pregnancies to Oregon.
plan to offer abortion services.
Idaho has sought to enforce an abortion
“It’s a very big political hot topic,” she
ban after about six weeks of pregnancy by
said. “So some people just don’t want to dip
allowing family members to sue abortion
their toe in that pool and just would rather
providers. The law is modeled after a similar
utilize the sort of functioning entities that are
law in Texas that was crafted to get around
already there to do those services rather than
constitutional protections.
try to take that on.”
“What Idaho is going to do is really shut
Without meaningful access, Planned
down access for people in Idaho with this
Parenthood has said, “abortion is a right in
new law,” Udall said. “We believe that we
name only.”
will begin to see high percentages of people
Barriers to reproductive health care are
coming into Oregon.”
often higher based on race, income and dis-
A report by the Guttmacher Institute,
tance from urban centers.
a research and policy organization that
“Oregon has worked very hard – even in
favors abortion rights, estimated that even a
more conservative parts of the state – to be
15-week abortion ban could mean a 234%
a state where women and people who need
increase in the number of people whose
abortions have complete
nearest abortion pro-
vider would be located
and total access to that
in Oregon.
service free of charge,”
‘IF THE GOOd
Given the reality of
said Anne Udall, the
TEACHINGS OF
abortion access in Ore-
president and CEO of
gon and the anticipated
Planned
Parenthood
CONTRACEPTION
demand coming from
Columbia Willamette.
(ARE) OuT THERE,
“From sort of a finan-
other states, Planned Par-
enthood is providing
cial support, Oregon is
THEN THIS WHOLE
medication abortions by
just truly one of the lead-
ers in the country for sex-
mail. People who live out
THING’ — THE
ual reproductive heath
of state can access the pills
QuESTION OF
care. We know that the
if they provide an address
rural parts of the state —
in Oregon or Washing-
ABORTION — ‘IS
ton state, which can be a
it’s much harder,” Udall
friend’s house or clinic.
said.
POTENTIALLy
Planned Parentood
AVOIdEd.’
has been focused on
‘A scary and
Eastern Oregon, she
stressful time’
If the Supreme Court
said, “but we are also
Tracy Erfling | naturopathic doctor
overturns
Roe v. Wade, as
increasingly
paying
who serves as Clatsop County’s
a leaked draft of a ruling
attention to the lack of
reproductive health provider
indicated, more than two
abortion access on the
dozen states are likely to
coast.”
In Erfling’s experience, the more rural a
ban or significantly restrict access to abortion.
population, the more acceptable it is to have
Oregon, Washington state and California
unintended pregnancies.
have taken proactive steps to protect access.
“If someone wants to have a kid, even if
The Reproductive Health Equity Act,
it’s unintended, we all have to be OK with
passed by the Oregon Legislature and
that because it’s going to happen,” she said.
signed into law by Gov. Kate Brown in
But Erfling still thinks about a patient
2017, codified abortion into state law and
she saw 20 years ago: a pregnant 13-year-
required private health insurance plans to
old who came into the county Public Health
cover abortions with no out-of-pocket costs.
Department with her mom.
The law also covers abortion services for
“I’ll just never forget the look on her
undocumented immigrants.Bracing for an
face,” she said. “She just had this blank
influx, new legislation this year established
stare. I don’t even think that information
a $15 million fund intended to cover, in part,
was filtering into her mind.”
the costs for patients who travel across state
The teenager’s mother was nonchalant
lines and the costs for abortion providers.
about the situation, saying she and others
In Astoria, news of the Supreme Court’s
she knew also got pregnant at a young age.
potential decision ignited something in
Education about contraception and the
Johnsen. Fresh in her memory was her own
ability to have conversations about the
abortion and the lack of local resources she
options during pregnancy are critical, Erfling
encountered.
believes. In 2020, the county’s reproduc-
In a matter of days, she launched the
tive health program averted 49 unintended
nonprofit Lemonade Foundation. She is still
pregnancies due to access to contraception,
finalizing the nonprofit status, but the foun-
dation’s mission will be to help people who
according to the Oregon Health Authority.
want to end a pregnancy through every step
In 2019, the county averted 59 unintended
of the process: from scheduling appoint-
pregnancies.
The number of abortions among peo-
ments and organizing companionship so no
ple from Clatsop County has remained rela-
one goes through a procedure alone to pro-
tively constant over the past five years. The
viding funds to cover things like transporta-
tion or child care.
Oregon Health Authority tracked 60 abor-
tions in preliminary data from 2021, 46 in
Johnsen plans to reach out to other local
2020, 47 in 2019, 64 in 2018 and 67 in 2017.
nonprofits and find ways to connect with
Oregon, like many states across the
the people they see. She feels there are
country, has seen abortions steadily decline
likely many in the community who don’t
over the past few decades.
know about the resources that are available
“If the good teachings of contraception
to them or how to access those resources if
(are) out there, then this whole thing” —
they are considering an abortion.
the question of abortion — “is potentially
“It can be such a scary and stressful
avoided,” Erfling said.
time,” she said.
With the Lemonade Foundation, Johnsen
Medication abortion
wants people who have chosen to or who
A recent change by the federal govern-
need to end a pregnancy to know “that you
ment could expand local access to one type
are not just being denied care from every
of abortion.
provider in our region. That there is someone
For women who are still early in their
here that is going to aid you with care and
pregnancies, a medication abortion —
can connect you to care and be present for it.”
achieved by taking the prescription drugs
This story is part of a collaboration
mifepristone and misoprostol — is an
between The Astorian and Coast Commu-
nity Radio.
increasingly common method. Planned Par-
Continued from Page A1
Hyak: Lift would be able to hoist
vessels weighing up to 1,500 tons
Continued from Page A1
investment in the site.
During the meeting, several shipyard own-
ers and workers asked that the funding be
denied or delayed for further analysis, claim-
ing it would give Hyak an unfair advantage
and harm other businesses on the river. They
also questioned the amount of public funding
going to the project.
Robert Dorn, Hyak’s CEO, said the project
would increase Oregon’s shipyard capacity
rather than cut into the market. He said exist-
ing shipyards cannot support the demand for
repairs.
The meeting followed a six-month appli-
cation review process by the Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation.
Timo Toristoja, the owner and president of
JT Marine, which has locations in Rainier and
Vancouver, Washington, said the company
recently purchased a dry dock for Rainier that
will now be a wasted investment.
Dry-docking involves draining the water
from a section of the port, which is a slower
process than Hyak’s lift, which would hoist
ships from the water to an on-site repair area.
“I feel like we’re fighting for our life here,
and our very existence in this market,” Tor-
istoja said. “With our ability to do between
20 and 30 dry-dockings a year, Hyak will be
able to do that at one time. Our average cost
to dry dock a vessel is between $10,000 and
$15,000. (Hyak) can do it in less than half that.
So to try to say that it won’t affect us is just
crazy.”
Frank Manning, the vice president of
Diversified Marine in Portland, asked the
commission to reject the funding request. He
said that Dorn and partner Gordon Smith’s
personal wealth and successful business
should be considered.
“It’s going to cannibalize our existing mar-
ket and — I beg you. I ask you respectfully
that you consider this and reject the Hyak
funding,” he said.
Hyak’s lift would be able to hoist vessels
weighing up to 1,500 tons, allowing it to ser-
vice boats that would otherwise travel out
of state or join a waitlist. Hyak’s application
included letters of support from tugboat oper-
ators who say available dry docks haven’t
kept up with demand.
An independent economic impact study
by the Columbia-Pacific Economic Develop-
ment District, or Col-Pac, contracted by Hyak,
included figures for Hyak’s future spending
and contributions at the site.
The study estimates the project will create
51 full-time jobs at Hyak upon installation,
with an average salary of around $78,000.
It also projects an additional 50 jobs five
Colin Murphey/The Astorian
Hyak Maritime hopes to create higher-
paying shipwright jobs.
years after installation, bringing the total to
over 100 full-time jobs.
The Col-Pac study predicts that the lift will
add $400,000 in annual local and state tax rev-
enue by 2025 and $700,000 annually by 2030.
At the meeting, Dorn pointed to the eco-
nomic impact study and its finding of lack of
shipyard capacity. He said he intends to col-
laborate with existing shipyards on the river.
“The state, to invest in this, is such a good
investment. I assure every other operator of
a shipyard on the Columbia River that we’ll
support them,” Dorn said. “There’s more
work than we can handle. There may need to
be another travel lift project in the Columbia
River in the future. We’ll support that. We’ll
support anything that can enhance the mari-
time repair ability, shipbuilding process here.”
Following the public comments, Erik
Havig, the Department of Transportation’s
statewide planning and policy manager,
who oversaw the project funding selection,
explained the review process and answered
questions from commissioners.
Havig said that as the applicant, Hyak pro-
vided the economic information used in the
impact analysis. The state relies on its econ-
omists, area commissions and review groups
to determine how projects would impact the
economy on a local, regional and state level.
“There’s no way that ODOT can be
experts — our economists experts — in ship
repair. Nor would Business Oregon regional
development officers be statewide experts in
that industry, so they use the best informa-
tion they have available,” Havig said. “So it is
not detailed, trying to dissect every claim, or
every specific issue to that kind of level. That
would take a lot more time, energy and cost.”
Along with approving the funding, the
commission also asked that the Depart-
ment of Transportation carry out an informal
review of the Connect Oregon grant selection
process and revisit the application require-
ments, including the amount of public fund-
ing acceptable for each project.
SUZANNE BONAMICI
IS DELIVERING FOR
NORTHWEST OREGON.
SUZANNE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
$219 million distributed to Oregon families
through the Child Tax Credit
$289 million in rental assistance for Oregonians
$87 million to assist Oregonians paying their energy bills
$4.5 billion to invest in Oregon’s infrastructure, including broadband
Advocating for good-paying jobs and workforce training to grow
Oregon’s economy
AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE, SUZANNE WILL CONTINUE TO
FIGHT FOR WHAT WE NEED.
SUZANNE BONAMICI FOR CONGRESS
Building a better future for all Oregonians.
bonamiciforcongress.com
/SuzanneBonamici
Paid for and Authorized by Bonamici for Congress.