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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2020)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian A2 Wednesday, January 15, 2020 Court rejects environmentalist challenge to Lostine project By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press SALEM — A federal appeals court has rejected an environmen- talist challenge to a 2,000-acre for- est thinning project along 11 miles of the Lostine River in Northeast Oregon. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld an earlier rul- ing that determined the U.S. For- est Service complied with envi- ronmental laws in authorizing the project. The agency didn’t violate the Healthy Forest Restoration Act by concluding that “extraordinary circumstances” did not justify an environmental study of the thin- ning project, which is aimed at reducing wildfire risks, according to the 9th Circuit. The Forest Service properly ana- lyzed “resource conditions” along the river in the Wallowa-Whit- man National Forest in deciding the project was eligible for a “cat- egorical exclusion” from such envi- ronmental reviews, the 9th Circuit said. “The Forest Service rationally concluded the Lostine Project had no effect, no adverse effect, likely no adverse effect, or a neutral or beneficial effect on each applica- ble ‘resource condition,’” the rul- ing said. Likewise, the thinning proj- ect is consistent with the land and resource management plan for the national forest, the ruling said. “The Forest Service reasonably interpreted its plan, adhered to its EO Media Group Photo/Ellen Morris Bishop The Lostine River Canyon has heavily forested lower slopes partly due to fire exclusion. The 9th Circuit Court just upheld a USFS thinning project that will treat about 2,100 acres along the Lostine River Road outside of the adjacent Eagle Cap Wilderness. relevant processes, documented its findings, and made rational conclu- sions based on those findings.” Contrary to allegations by the environmental plaintiffs, the Greater Hells Canyon Council and Oregon Wild, the agency’s “collab- orative process” for planning the project was sufficient and didn’t require a formal group, the 9th Circuit said. The Forest Service followed guidelines requiring the plan to “involve relevant stakeholders” and to use an “open, inclusive and trans- parent process,” the ruling said. Capital Press was unable to reach representatives of the envi- ronment groups for comment as of press time. Tumalo man announces his bid for Rep. Greg Walden’s seat in Congress Forecast for Pendleton Area TODAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Wallowa County, which inter- vened in the litigation to defend the project, is glad the 9th Circuit has agreed the thinning should proceed, said Caroline Lobdell, executive director of the Western Resources Legal Center, which rep- resented the local government. The project is in the “wild- land-urban interface,” so it’s needed to protect local residents, tourists and emergency responders in the region, Lobdell said. The county also argued that thinning will support the economic stability of the area’s forest products industry, such as a 23-employee firewood processor that depends on the project for wood. “Economic development is always important for rural coun- ties,” Lobdell said. The American Forest Resource Council, a timber industry group that tracked the case, said the 9th Circuit ruling is a win for reducing fuels and improving forest health. “This is really a high risk area for wildfire. The focus of the proj- ect is really community protec- tion,” said Lawson Fite, an attorney with AFRC. It’s also heartening that the 9th Circuit found the project didn’t adversely affect sensitive resources and wasn’t subject to the narrow definition of “collaborative pro- cess” favored by environmental groups, he said. “This project is a great example of listening to the community,” Fite said. Though the 9th Circuit’s ruling doesn’t set a binding legal prec- edent, it does show that federal courts are starting to understand the need for management to control fire, disease and pest risk, as called for under the Healthy Forest Resto- ration Act, he said. “They’re giving the Forest Ser- vice the appropriate amount of def- erence to implement the statute,” Fite said. SUNDAY By BRENNA VISSER EO Media Group Cloudy and cold Mostly cloudy and cold Chilly with periods of sun Cloudy, a bit of snow; chilly Mostly cloudy and chilly PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 37° 32° 36° 26° 38° 27° 40° 29° 38° 31° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 36° 29° 36° 26° 39° 29° 40° 30° 36° 29° OREGON FORECAST ALMANAC Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yest. HIGH LOW TEMP. Seattle Olympia 41/36 30/29 28/22 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 34/32 Lewiston 39/36 33/29 Astoria 43/36 Pullman Yakima 33/28 39/34 32/29 Portland Hermiston 42/35 The Dalles 36/29 Salem Corvallis 44/35 Yesterday Normals Records La Grande 34/31 PRECIPITATION John Day Eugene Bend 47/36 37/28 37/33 Ontario 37/31 Caldwell Burns 26° 15° 41° 28° 65° (1994) -5° (1930) 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date Albany 45/36 Trace 0.13" 0.58" 0.13" 0.18" 0.58" WINDS (in mph) 37/33 31/23 0.19" 0.60" 0.76" 0.60" 0.12" 0.76" through 3 p.m. yest. HIGH LOW TEMP. Pendleton 32/30 45/37 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date HERMISTON Enterprise 37/32 33/28 27° 12° 41° 27° 62° (1961) -9° (1930) PRECIPITATION Moses Lake 39/33 Aberdeen 27/25 22/17 Tacoma Yesterday Normals Records Spokane Wenatchee 39/36 Today Medford 45/34 Thu. NE 6-12 SE 8-16 Boardman Pendleton NNE 3-6 SSW 6-12 SUN AND MOON Klamath Falls 35/28 Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020 Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today 7:32 a.m. 4:37 p.m. 10:52 p.m. 10:47 a.m. Last New First Full Jan 17 Jan 24 Feb 1 Feb 8 NATIONAL EXTREMES Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 92° in Falfurrias, Texas Low -24° in Scobey, Mont. NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY BEND — Jimmy Crump- acker, a Tumalo businessman and Republican, announced his bid for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District on Monday. Crumpacker is running against Bend physician Knute Buehler, Jason Atkinson, Cliff Bentz, David Campbell, Kenneth Medenbach, Mark Roberts and Jeff Smith for the seat currently held by Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River. Walden, the state’s only congressional Republican, announced he was not seek- ing re-election in October. A seventh-generation Ore- gonian, Crumpacker was born and raised in Portland before going to Georgetown University and earning a bachelor’s degree in govern- ment, according to his web- site. He has worked for Amer- ican Insurance Group and as an investor in oil on Wall Street for First New York Securities. He moved from the East Coast back to Ore- gon seven years ago. Since then, he founded and manages Crumpacker Asset Management. He has also served on the board of the Oregon Ballet Theatre and Meals on Wheels, an organi- Photo courtesy of Crumpacker for Congress Jimmy Crumpacker, of Tumalo, announced Monday his in- tention to run for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District. zation that delivers meals to seniors. Crumpacker decided to run for the 2nd Congressio- nal District after hearing of Walden’s retirement, accord- ing to his campaign website. Crumpacker describes himself as a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and ardent defender of free market capitalism. “For far too long, Wash- ington insiders have forgot- ten so many folks like those in rural Oregon — farmers, ranchers; folks who just want a fair shake,” Crumpacker said in a written release. “That’s why this district voted for Donald Trump in the first place,” the release stated. “They were tired of getting the short end of the stick. Rural Oregonians can rest assured knowing that I will work tirelessly with this President to deliver real results for the district.” For Crumpacker, that means defending the Second Amendment, securing the border, and “putting an end to the spread of radical social- ism,” according to the release. Crumpacker had raised nearly $600,000 by the end of last year, according to a press release. The Democrats who have filed to run are Nick Heuertz, John Holm, Jack Howard, Alex Spenser and Isabella Tibbetts. BRIEFLY Senate president out for medical treatment SALEM — Senate Pres- ident Peter Courtney, D-Sa- lem, is out of the Capitol this week while being treated for a hip injury at Oregon Health & Science University, according to his office. Courtney Courtney’s absence occurs as state lawmakers convene in the Capitol for a series of meet- ings in preparation for the legislative session next month. The senate president “started having severe hip pain while at an out of state conference in Arizona,” his office said in a statement. “We expect him to be released in the next few days, and he will likely have to do some physical therapy.” Courtney “fully expects to be back in time for the February session,” the statement con- tinued. The session starts Feb. 3 and can last up to 35 days. The 76-year-old has been Oregon Senate president since 2003. — EO Media Group Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. -10s -0s 0s showers t-storms 10s rain 20s flurries 30s snow 40s 50s ice 60s cold front E AST O REGONIAN — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed major holidays EastOregonian.com To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to EastOregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ East Oregonian (USPS 164-980) is published daily except Sunday, Monday and postal holidays, by the EO Media Group, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, OR. Postmaster: send address changes to East Oregonian, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Copyright © 2020, EO Media Group 70s 80s 90s 100s warm front stationary front 110s high low CORRECTIONS: The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818. 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