A12
News
Blue Mountain Eagle
DEQ
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
cern to everyone affected by the
situation. His full statement ac-
companies this article.
At last week’s meeting, DEQ
project manager Bryn Thoms
said he expects it will take two
to three weeks to pinpoint the
The second part of the DEQ
effort
will entail assessing
OMPANY RESPONDS
groundwater, with soil and wa-
ter extraction efforts underway
property next week, which fected by this situation.
this week.
are intended to identify any Triangle Oil expresses its
The third task is the source
release of gasoline into the sincere empathy and con-
cern for everyone who has
investigation.
environment.
This week, vapor extraction
Triangle Oil is commit- been inconvenienced in
wells are being installed on some
ted to complying with all any way. If Triangle Oil’s
properties where the vapors
applicable local, state and investigation concludes it
have been relatively high. The
federal laws and regulations is responsible for gasoline
systems, made with PVC pipe,
that apply to its bulk plant odors or other environmen-
will be used to remove remain-
and investigation. It is not tal impacts to the commu-
ing vapors and/or contaminat-
aware of any release of gas- nity, Triangle Oil will work
ed groundwater from beneath
oline at its bulk plant that with DEQ to remedy those
buildings and the surrounding
could explain the conditions impacts and protect human
area. Homeowners were told
that have been the subject of health and the environment.
Sincerely,
they can feel free to approach
the EPA and DEQ’s emer-
Russ Young,
workers installing the equipment
gency response.
President and owner of
to make suggestions on the best
As a small, close knit
placement, for example, to make
community, we are all af- Triangle Oil Inc.
it easier to mow the lawn.
A fact sheet handed out by
Thoms said it could take one
exact cause of the problem.
7KHDJHQF\¿UVWZLOOIRFXVRQ to two months for the vapors to (3$RI¿FLDOVGHVFULEHVWKHSUR-
“temporary mitigation,” he said, go down – and the fumes could cess.
“These extraction wells pull
making sure homeowners have spike at some point, before an
LPSURYHPHQW RFFXUV 2I¿FLDOV contaminated material from the
ventilation systems in place.
“The DEQ’s priority is health noted that ventilation machines ground and treat it. Installation
may include some noisy activi-
have been helpful.
issues,” he said.
ty and some noticeable vapors.
DEQ will monitor the systems
for performance, noise levels
and noticeable vapors in the
outdoor air. DEQ will contin-
ue to work with the potentially
responsible party on source in-
vestigation and control of petro-
leum releases.”
Franklin said if residents
smell a new odor or if new prob-
lems crop up, they should call
John Day Dispatch at 541-575-
0030, and the state will be noti-
¿HGLPPHGLDWHO\
It was also noted that resi-
dents in the area of the fumes
should not drink well water.
“I want to remind folks to
call if there is a problem … We
know you’re probably a little bit
tired (of this),” Franklin said at
the close of the meeting.
For concerns about the
health effects of vapors, call
John Combs at the Grant Coun-
ty Health Department, 541-575-
0429. For other information, call
Bryn Thoms, 971-563-7298.
crowd last weekend.
In addition to Reynolds,
the presenters included Edie
Komning, bringing to life
Emma Dustin; Rose Coombs,
as Emeline McCallum Hazel-
tine; Andrew Copenhaver, as
John Long; Dave Traylor, as
O.P. Cresap; Sam Bentz, as Dr.
F.C. Horsley; Leslie Traylor, as
Annie Luce; and Chris Lewal-
len, presenting Louisa Sewell.
The actors took their po-
sitions near the appropriate
headstones, and waited for the
visitors to stroll through the
cemetery lanes and gather for
their talks.
The Historical Museum
provided a brochure with brief
biographies of the historic char-
acters featured in the event, as
well as a few others that are apt
to crop up in future programs
– F.C. Sels and Cy Bingham,
among them.
The Friends invite res-
idents and visitors alike to
learn more about the county’s
FRORUIXO KLVWRULFDO ¿JXUHV E\
Eagle photos/Scotta Callister
visiting the museum in Can- Chris Lewallen awaits her turn to talk about the life of
yon City.
Louisa Sewell, a subject she hopes to turn into a book.
Leslie and Dave Traylor
each had a role in the
Voices of the Past
program last Saturday.
C
Editor’s note: Follow-
ing is the statement issued
Monday by Russ Young of
Triangle Oil.
Triangle Oil Inc. is com-
mitted to determining wheth-
er the recent gasoline odors
along South Canyon are in
any way related to its bulk
plant facility. It is work-
ing closely with DEQ and
EPA, and it has retained an
experienced environmental
consultant to spearhead its
investigation, which is al-
ready underway. That inves-
tigation will include a variety
of activities at the bulk plant
Continued from Page A1
• Fresh gasoline was found
in vapor tests at the Grant Coun-
ty Library parking lot and on
Fourth Street near the alley.
“The good news is the va-
pors have not moved and ha-
ven’t gone any farther than the
complaints,” Franklin said.
The EPA announced last
week it was wrapping up its role
in the probe, turning it over to
the state Department of Envi-
URQPHQWDO4XDOLW\2I¿FLDOVDOVR
said Triangle Oil is looking into
the problem.
Russ Young, president of
Triangle Oil, said he is working
with the DEQ and EPA, and
conducting a private investiga-
tion into the matter to determine
if the vapors are related to his
bulk plant facility.
In a statement issued Mon-
day, Young also expressed con-
PAST
Continued from Page A1
Born in 1870, she died in
1963 – but her life was one
of several highlighted for the
( ) = Bargain Matinee
$9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth
RANCH
Continued from Page A1
02193
INSIDE OUT PG - Disney/Pixar
Animation. After young Riley is uprooted
from her Midwest life and moved to San
Francisco, her emotions conflict on how to
best navigate a new city, house, and school.
FRI-THURS (4:20) 7:20 9:30
JURASSIC WORLD PG-13 - 22
years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla
Nublar now features a fully functioning
dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World.
FRI-THURS (4:00) 7:00 9:40
INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 PG-13 -
Horror. A prequel set before the haunting of
the Lambert family.
FRI-WED (4:00) 7:10 9:35
THURSDAY(4:00) 7:10 9:35
SPY R - Comedy. A desk-bound CIA
analyst volunteers to go undercover to
infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer.
FRI-THURS (4:10)
through the use of prescribed
fire and pre-commercial thin-
ning.
“Roger and Meredith’s goal
has always been to leave a
KHDOWK\ ¿UH UHVLVWDQW IRUHVW IRU
future generations,” he said.
The Box T Ranch is also
home for one of the largest
trees currently growing in Grant
&RXQW\±D'RXJODV¿UUHIHUUHG
to by the family as “General
Grant.” The tree has a diameter
of 72 inches and an estimated
lumber volume of 9,000 board
“It’s a Grand Ol’ Flag”
GRANT COUNTY 4TH OF JULY
PRAIRIE CITY PARADE REGISTRATION
Category:
P rize:
Address:
City:
Name:
Phone:
Zip:
feet, and is about 600 years old.
Roger is retired after 30 years
as an educator in Grant School
District No. 3, and Meredith
worked 17 years as the Grant
County Court clerk. They contin-
ue their day-to-day ranching oper-
ations as the Box T Ranch reaches
Century Farm/Ranch status.
The Oregon Tree Farm Sys-
tem helps private forest land-
owners manage their lands with
the goals of conserving forest,
water, and wildlife while pro-
moting natural resources based
recreational opportunities. They
support the responsible harvest
of renewable resources and the
Oregon Wood Products Indus-
try.
Description:
Riders:
A. Classic Vehicles
B. Floats
C. Walking Individuals
D. Non-motorized Vehicles
E. Walking Groups
F. Horse Drawn Entries
G. Mounted Individuals
H. Mounted Groups
I. Decorated Vehicles
J. ATV/Dirtbikes, Motorized
K. Derby Cars/Custom
L. Trucks
M. Emergency Vehicles
I agree to enter the parade at my own risk and release PCCA, The City of
Prairie City and the Volunteer Fire Dept. from any and all liability. I agree to
obey rules of the parade committee for the safety of others.
Name:
Date:
Take preregistration to Bar WB or Mail to: Bar WB, PO Box 924, Prairie City,
97869. For further information call (541) 820-3675 • fax (541-820-3753)
Join us in Prairie City
for a Grant Co. 4th of July
“IT’S A GRAND OL’ FLAG”
You are invited to join our parade
Grand Marshals: Jim & Lynette Sullens
Whiskey Gulch gang Cannon salute starts the parade.
Parade Time: 12:00 Noon
Parade Line-up on North Johnson Parade Judging 11:15
Entry Forms available at:
Bar WB, The roan coffee Shop
J.D. City Hall & P.C. City Hall
S weepstakes winner receives
$ 100.00 cash award.
Before the Parade:
Fabulous Flapjacks 7am-10am at the Teen Center
American legion Hamburgers at the VFW Hall
After Parade:
Tug O’ War - John Day Fire Department
“Slice of Pie” - to support the Food Bank
Fay Burrill Memorial Jackpot Horseshoe Tournament 1pm?
PC Basketball BarBQ
Lori Butterfield
of Joseph is
accompanied
by a preserved
Alaskan wolf at
a booth at the
Oregon Cattlemen’s
Association meeting
in John Day.
The Eagle/Scotta Callister
WOLF
Continued from Page A1
The Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife investigator
ruled it a “probable” kill, not
FRQ¿UPHG D FDOO WKDW VWXQQHG
Nash.
He appealed the decision,
but to no avail. He noted such
appeals are heard within the
agency.
The OCA is pressing the
state to have livestock death
investigations handled by a
different agency, and several in
the John Day audience echoed
that stand, calling it unfair for
an agency to police its own de-
cisions.
&RQ¿UPDWLRQ
QXPEHUV
could be critical to the ranch-
ers’ case for delisting wolves
and empowering landowners to
eliminate problem wolves.
Wolf advocates argue
against delisting and lethal
force, and have cited relatively
low kill counts to bolster their
case. As noted at the meet-
LQJ ZLWKRXW FRQ¿UPHG NLOOV
wolf advocates can claim the
problems are minimal and that
nonlethal control methods are
working.
Asked about the nonlethal
methods, Nash noted the state
urges ranchers to clean up their
FDUFDVV SLOHV DQG XVH ÀDJJLQJ
FDOOHG ÀDGU\ WR GLVFRXUDJH
Member
APPRECIATION DAY
June 26 th
11:30 am - 2:00 pm
Please stop by and
join us in celebratin g
Scheduled Events:
Fun for all ages,
Concert in the park “The Area” will be playing
2pm-5pm
Fabulous FFA Tri-Tip Dinner
Water Games at the City Park 1pm-5pm
Green Thumb Garden Club Serving Strawberry
Shortcake 10am-4pm
De Witt Museum open to the public
Fireworks at dusk on the Oxbow Ranch
Presented by GPCCA and the City of Prairie City
enjoy
Please come
ks.
chips & drin
hamburgers,
O L D W E S T
FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
650 W. Main | John Day
wolves from hanging around
their ranches.
Although he acknowledged
carcasses will attract wolves,
he said, “I have mixed feelings
about that. If they’re eating dead
cattle, they’re not eating live
cattle.”
Nash said he and other
UDQFKHUV KDYH IRXQG ÀDGU\
“next to useless” unless it’s
HOHFWUL¿HGEXWKHVDLGNHHSLQJD
charge in wet, snowy or windy
terrain is impossible.
Nash said another obsta-
FOH WR FRQ¿UPLQJ NLOOV LV WKDW
wolves tend to leave little evi-
dence behind.
He showed a trail cam-
era photo of a pack of wolves
working on a large cow carcass.
He said when the camera owner
went back to the site a day lat-
er to repost the camera, only a
single hoof was found on the
ground.
More often, ranchers will
end up with missing animals
but no way to prove wolves at
fault.
Nash said the impacts ranch-
ers extend beyond missing or
dead animals.
“Just getting them run,
chased, can be pretty traumat-
ic,” he said, noting the weight
and reproduction losses add up.
He cited one rancher’s expe-
rience: after turning out 90 pair,
he ended up short nine calves
and seven cows. The other
cows came back at unusually
low weights, a sign of being
harried by predators.
The overall losses were
valued at more than $46,000,
but the rancher was left with-
RXW FOHDU HYLGHQFH WR FRQ¿UP
wolves as the culprits.
Nash also noted continuing
battles in the political arena,
where the proposal to delist
wolves in Oregon is a hot topic.
ODFW says the state has 77
known wolves, and is at seven
breeding pairs, enough to war-
rant removing them from the
state endangered species list.
The state Fish and Wildlife
Commission is expected to
make a decision on delisting as
early as next fall. The Oregon
Wolf Plan also faces a 10-year
review. Nash noted the state’s
tally of 77 wolves is only a
“minimum count” – represent-
ing “known” wolves, those ob-
served or collared.
Nash said the real count
would be much higher, but it’s
harder to see a wolf than most
people think.
He said wolves have been
documented in the area where
he ranches since 2008, “and
I’ve only seen two so far.”