KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
ANDREW CUTLER
Publisher/Editor
ERICK PETERSON
Hermiston Editor/Senior Reporter
THuRSDAy, AuGuST 25, 2022
A4
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
Questions
over the
River
Democracy
Act linger
I
t means a lot when a river gets the
federal designation of “wild and
scenic.” Stirring views will be
protected. Water quality gets armor around
it. People can savor that the waterway will
be preserved. Wildlife gets a better chance
to thrive.
The River Democracy Act would add
4,700 more miles of wild and scenic water-
ways to Oregon. Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden
and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats, have led
the legislation.
The act has inescapable appeal. But
there are also questions about what it will
mean for property owners in the area desig-
nated and around it.
The concise answer: The federal agen-
cies that administer wild and scenic rivers
have stated in the past that the government
may take action to protect river values. But
there is also clear language in the River
Democracy Act that should allay many
fears.
Now we’ll go through a detailed answer.
Feel free to skip to the bottom if you don’t
want to wade through details.
How does the federal government regu-
late wild and scenic waterways? We found
some good answers in two places on the
rivers.gov website — a document prepared
by federal managers of wild and scenic
rivers and a search tool.
The document says the wild and scenic
act “neither gives nor implies government
control of private lands within the river
corridor” and that “management restric-
tions would apply only to federal lands.
… The federal government has no power
to regulate or zone private lands under the
Act; however, administering agencies may
highlight the need for amendment to local
zoning.…”
So what happens when the federal
government believes the uses of private
land are incompatible with a wild and
scenic river?
“Should some proposed or actual use
clearly threaten the values the river was
designated to protect, the river manag-
ing agency would work with a land-
owner to explore ways to avert the threat
through local zoning, state provisions, land
exchanges, or purchases on a willing-seller/
willing-buyer basis. Condemnation would
be a last resort, would only be feasible if
funding were available, and is prohibited
on some wild and scenic rivers by their
enabling legislation,” the search tool says.
Since condemnation was mentioned,
here is a relevant section of the River
Democracy Act … “may not acquire any
private land or interest in private land
within the detailed boundaries of a covered
segment without the consent of the owner.”
The River Democracy Act also explicitly
states that nothing in the act affects private
property rights, which may help some land-
owners relax. Wyden’s office helped clarify
what that means.
“The language is intended to ensure
that the designation of any new segments
doesn’t affect private property rights
whether the landowner lives within the
boundaries of the segment or outside of it,”
Hank Stern, Wyden’s spokesperson, told
us.
Wyden and Merkley have written the
River Democracy Act to add more protec-
tion to Oregon waterways and to protect
private property rights.
But yes, of course, the federal govern-
ment would take action if it believes river
values are threatened.
After all that, I saved a dollar
TAMMY
MALGESINI
INSIDE MY SHOES
M
y life straddles a divide
between an analog and digital
world. For the first dozen or so
years as a professional in the workforce,
I didn’t use computers. In fact, I initially
learned to type on a manual typewriter.
So I get that people become frus-
trated with grocery shopping and digital
coupons. In Coos Bay where my folks
live, my mom is able to get the discount
by explaining she doesn’t have a smart-
phone.
My husband, who doesn’t have the
Safeway app on his phone, tried that a
few times. However, either he doesn’t
look old enough or local stores are more
insistent that people use the apps to get
the savings. A couple of recent letters to
the editor and my personal experience
suggest the latter.
First of all, I don’t really enjoy
grocery shopping. It probably dates
back to when John and I were first
married. Back then, with gas cheaper
and our budget tight, I’d go through the
grocery ads in the newspaper. After
plotting my trip, I’d hit three different
stores to make our purchases.
While I don’t like the time and
energy it takes these days to embark
on lengthy shopping excursions, I still
want to save money when I can. Thank-
fully, my husband does the bulk of our
grocery shopping. I take care of pickup
orders at Walmart. And if we only need
a few items or if John sees something he
wants on a digital coupon, then I’ll go to
the store.
Such was the case earlier this month
when I had to buy some Dr. Pepper to
settle a baseball bet with Daniel Watten-
burger — yeah, yeah, I know I owe you
more, I’m still suffering from Post-Trau-
matic Shopping Disorder from my last
trip to the store.
Anyway, I whipped out my phone
and tried to scan the bread John wanted
to activate the digital coupon. As I stood
there mumbling to myself, I grew frus-
trated.
Although an employee was stand-
ing a few feet away, she did not make
an attempt to see if she could help —
granted, I hadn’t asked. However, when
I did, her response was something to the
effect of I don’t know what to tell you.
Seriously!? As a senior in high
school and during summers/Christmas
breaks while in college, I worked at
the J.C. Penney Co. store in Coos Bay.
Such a lack of customer service would
undoubtedly have resulted in my imme-
diate termination.
I took a photo of the digital coupon
and when I went to the register, I
explained the problem to the checker.
Although I attempted to scan it in front
of her, she evidently thought I wasn’t
utilizing the correct wrist action.
The checker asked if she could try.
Sure, what could possibly go wrong?
I will tell you. After she couldn’t get
it to work, she hit the back screen on
my cellphone one too many times and
logged me out of the app. She immedi-
ately handed my phone back, gesturing
for me to log back in.
At that point, I would have had a
better chance of reciting the Gettys-
burg Address than remembering my
password. Exasperated, I finally asked,
“Can’t you punch a few buttons and give
me the discount?”
Thankfully, she did. However, in
retrospect, I have to wonder if the dollar
I ended up saving was worth all the
hassle.
———
Tammy Malgesini, the East Oregonian
community writer, enjoys spending time with
her husband and two canine kids, as well as
entertaining herself with random musings.
YOUR VIEWS
Don’t discard
Brian Hemphill
After reading the article
regarding the email sent by
Rebecca Ninburg concern-
ing Brian Hemphill’s status
as a servant of the public
(“Coming under fire” in the
Saturday, Aug. 20, edition
of the East Oregonian), I’m
at a loss for what she had
hoped to accomplish. It may
be common practice in Los
Angeles to casually discard
flawed human beings, and
kicking people while they’re
down may be acceptable
forms of advancement in
California, but this is umatilla
County. It would behoove Ms.
Ninburg to familiarize herself
with the people who live here
before making such wild
aspersions of character.
I’ve known Mr. Hemphill
since we were both toddlers. I
don’t know what’s happened
in his recent adult years to
lead him to the low point he
had hit, but I can firmly attest
that it in no way is it a reflec-
tion of his personal character.
I recall him pouring through
volumes of first responder
manuals at an age when
most would turn green at the
imagery depicted. you don’t
simply discard commitment
like that.
And so I hope Ms. Ninburg
will take the time to leave
her old life behind and start
life anew in our community.
Because we ruralites have no
interest in becoming as soul-
less as Los Angeles.
Mark Elfering
Hermiston
Follow-up to the
Pendleton Food
Pantry Team Food
Giveaway
Thank you to the East
Oregonian for your coverage.
your reach into the commu-
nity translates well into less
time explaining our intent —
people are more comfortable
responding to invitations to
attend and to organize.
Our volunteer team
includes like-minded
community builders in addi-
tion to Pendleton Baha’i
Community members —
Altrusa, Presbyterian, the
professional community
builders from Commu-
nity Action Program of
East Central Oregon and a
substantial group of like-
minded advisors/activists
whose idealism takes them
out of their homes to advise,
lug boxes and deliver food.
We’ll be back.
Bill Young
Pendleton Food Pantry
Team
Pendleton
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. PRESIDENT
Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
GOVERNOR
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
U.S. SENATORS
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande office: 541-962-7691
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
Pendleton office: 541-278-1129
REPRESENTATIVES
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Cliff Bentz
2185 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
Medford office: 541-776-4646
SENATOR
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us