Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (July 5, 2018)
Page 4A East Oregonian Thursday, July 5, 2018 CHRISTOPHER RUSH Publisher KATHRYN B. BROWN Owner DANIEL WATTENBURGER Managing Editor TIM TRAINOR Opinion Page Editor Founded October 16, 1875 OUR VIEW Clean water shouldn’t be taken for granted O regon is known for its pristine drinking water — so good that some corporations want to bottle it for sale. But a new threat has emerged: toxins produced by algae blooms. State and local officials were caught off-guard in late May when cyanotoxins were discovered for the first time in treated drinking water in Oregon — Salem’s water supply. Officials were slow to alert the public, and their initial announcements created confusion. Residents were outraged, and rightly so. Most people could drink the water without becoming ill, but the botched communications left them wondering how public officials would respond in the event of a true disaster, such as a devastating earthquake. Since then, the state and city of Salem have gotten their act together. To her credit, Gov. Kate Brown soon pushed the issue by declaring an emergency — an administrative action that allowed the Oregon National Guard to provide water and enabled other state agencies to help out. Last week, the Oregon Health Authority issued temporary rules requiring as many as 200 water suppliers around the state to regularly test for cyanobacteria — harmful algae blooms — and alert the public when cyanotoxins are found. “In an era of climate change that we’re seeing, these kinds of things are likely to be more frequent, longer lasting, more About cyanotoxins Location: Since 2013, harmful algal blooms have been found at various times in Baker, Coos, Clackamas, Clatsop, Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow and Multnomah counties. However, most Oregon lakes and rivers are not regularly monitored for cyanotoxins. Appearance: Algal blooms generally appear as thick foam or scum on the water surface. They may resemble pea soup. They can be bright green, bluish-green, white or brownish-red. Exposure: Cyanotoxins can be ingested, whether accidentally while swimming or by drinking the tainted water. Inhalation is a low risk. Cyanotoxins cannot be absorbed through the skin but can create a skin rash. Health effects: Symptoms can include numbness, tingling and dizziness that can lead to difficulty breathing or heart problems and require immediate medical attention. Skin irritation, weakness, diarrhea, nausea, cramps and fainting should also receive medical attention if they persist or get worse. Vulnerable people and pets: When cyanotoxins are present in recreational water, children and pets are at increased risk for exposure due to their small size and high level of activity. In drinking water, cyanotoxins create a greater risk to children under age 6, adults age 65 and older, people with compromised immune systems or liver conditions, pregnant or nursing mothers, people on dialysis and other medically fragile individuals, as well as pets. Other facts: Typical camping or home-use water filters do not remove cyanotoxins. Boiling may increase their concentration. Source: Oregon Health Authority intense, and it’s an emerging threat we need to respond to,” OHA Director Patrick Allen said. The rules took effect Sunday, July 1, and will last for the rest of the year while permanent regulations are written. Too little research has been done on toxic algal blooms and their health effects on humans, but the OHA was smart to act. As for our state’s capital, Salem was ahead of the curve in testing for cyanotoxins. Few Oregon lakes and rivers are monitored routinely for the harmful algae blooms and resulting toxins, which can cause symptoms similar to food poisoning. Still, the blooms have been found in 16 Oregon counties — including the Willow Creek Reservoir near Heppner — during the past five years. Drinking water for Salem and several other communities comes from the South Santiam River. The river flows from Detroit Lake, a popular recreation area that has been under on-and-off health advisories for algal blooms this year. The city of Salem finally ended its water advisory on July 3 and on July 4 began permanently treating its drinking water for cyanotoxins. For weeks, Salem had operated round-the-clock water distribution sites while installing and testing the treatment process. Meanwhile, Douglas County recently issued a permanent health advisory about potential cyanotoxins in the South Umpqua River and Lawson Bar. Klamath County has as well. Oregon’s healthy, plentiful water has been in sharp contrast to much of the world. But we dare not take it for granted. OTHER VIEWS Donald Trump’s mainstream immigration policy P OTHER VIEWS It’s hotter than it looks The Eugene Register-Guard A Roseburg mother was charged with second-degree manslaughter earlier this month when her 21-month-old daughter died after being left unattended in a vehicle for several hours; the mother said she thought she had left her baby at day care. Even on mild days — it was only about 80 degrees in Roseburg — temperatures inside a vehicle can rise by more than 20 degrees in 15 minutes. Children have died in parked cars when outside temperatures were as low as 63 degrees. Leaving windows partially open makes little difference, nor is parking in the shade a reliable safeguard, according to a Univer- sity of California at San Diego study, which found that a child’s body temperature could reach 104 degrees in less than two hours, even in the shade. An Oregon law that went into effect last year absolves bystanders of liability for damage if they enter a car to rescue a child or pet they believe is in imminent dan- ger. But no one should rely on bystanders to keep a child from harm. The only way to prevent needless deaths of children, and pets, is to never leave either unattended in a parked car in warm weather, not even for what is expected to be just a short errand. This includes guarding against accidentally leaving a child in a car — by putting a purse or other needed item next to a child in the back seat, for example. So far this year, 18 children have died from heat stroke in the United States after being left in cars. That is 18 too many. CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES U.S. SENATORS Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5244 La Grande office: 541-962-7691 REPRESENTATIVES Greg Barreto, District 58 900 Court St. NE, H-38 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1458 Rep.GregBarreto@state.or.us Jeff Merkley 313 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753 Pendleton office: 541-278-1129 Greg Smith, District 57 900 Court St. NE, H-482 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1457 Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us U.S. REPRESENTATIVE Greg Walden 185 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6730 La Grande office: 541-624-2400 SENATOR Bill Hansell, District 29 900 Court St. NE, S-423 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1729 Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. erhaps no Trump policy has exchange. “Mostly they want provoked more emotional people who cross the border reaction than the practice of illegally to be turned around and separating illegal border crossers returned home efficiently.” from the children they brought with Penn’s polling found other them to the United States. There’s results broadly favorable to the no need to recount the number Trump approach to immigration. of times critics have called the For example, Penn asked, “Do Byron you think we need stricter or looser president a Nazi, or a fascist, or just York enforcement of our immigration plain cruel. Comment laws?” Seventy percent said The administration has now stricter, while 30 percent said stopped the separation policy. But it plans to continue prosecuting illegal border looser. Penn asked whether respondents crossers and, when those crossers bring “support or oppose building a combination children illegally into the United States, of physical and electronic barriers across will “detain families together during the the U.S.-Mexico border.” Sixty percent pendency of immigration proceedings,” supported the barriers, while 40 percent according to an administration court filing did not. Sixty-one percent said current in California. border security is inadequate. That, of course, will not satisfy the Finally, Penn found widespread support critics, and legal challenges are sure to for the fundamental provisions of the follow. But if a new poll is correct, it immigration bills, based on Trump’s “four appears the Trump administration, after pillars,” that were recently rejected by an enormously damaging few weeks, the House of Representatives. “Would has ended up squarely on the side of the you favor or oppose a congressional deal majority of American voters. that gives undocumented immigrants The new survey is a Harvard-Harris brought here by their parents work permits Poll, by former Clinton pollster and and a path to citizenship in exchange strategist Mark Penn. It was conducted in for increasing merit preference over late June with 1,448 registered voters. On the issue of separations, Penn began preference for relatives, eliminating the diversity visa lottery, and funding barrier with a threshold question: “Do you think security on the U.S.-Mexico border?” Penn that people who make it across our border asked. Sixty-three percent supported the illegally should be allowed to stay in the plan, while 37 percent opposed. country or sent home?” Sixty-four percent “Overall, Americans want to show said they should be sent home. Thirty- compassion for those that are here, but six percent said they should be allowed to want much tougher enforcement of stay. immigration laws,” Penn said. Then Penn asked: “Do you think that Reading Penn’s questions, and the parents with children who make it across respondents’ answers, it was hard not to our border illegally should be allowed to think of the presidency of Bill Clinton, stay in the country or sent home?” The for whom Penn worked in the 1990s. presence of children made little difference Clinton’s relatively tough stance on illegal in the result: 61 percent said they should immigration reflected Democratic thinking be sent home, while 39 percent said they of the time. Penn’s questions still do, should be allowed to stay. at least in the way they are worded. “In The vast majority — 88 percent — these polls I try to be as detailed in the opposed separating illegal immigrant policy questions as I was polling for six families while they are in the U.S., and years for President Clinton,” Penn said, they blamed the Trump administration for “because public opinion in America is far the policy. On the other hand, 55 percent more nuanced than people realize — small said illegal immigrant families should be held in custody “until a judge reviews their changes in policy make a big difference.” But Bill Clinton left office in 2001, case” — essentially the new Trump family in the faraway pre-progressive days of detention policy. the Democratic Party. Today, the party’s Put the numbers together, and a position on immigration has moved so far substantial majority said illegal border left that it is unrecognizable to some old- crossers, and the children they brought, should be returned to their home countries. style Clinton Democrats. And if Penn’s findings are correct, most Americans To that end, 80 percent favored hiring are now closer to President Trump than more immigration judges “to process present-day Democratic leaders. people in custody faster.” ■ “They (poll respondents) rejected Byron York is chief political correspon- family separation while narrowly favoring dent for The Washington Examiner. family detention,” Penn said in an email The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website. The newspaper reserves the right to withhold letters that address concerns about individual services and products or letters that infringe on the rights of private citizens. Letters must be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to managing editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.
