Good news! It's not over yet folks!

As I explained in the last e-mail Clean Columbia County voted unanimously to appeal the re-zoning of Port Westward from Prime Agricultural to Rural Industrial. There's MORE good news!Columbia Riverkeeper has agreed to help our community challenge this rezone! They will team up with the Crag Law Center to challenge the rezone with the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). 

At stake are nearly 837 acres of industrial development for "bulk commodoties" like coal and oil. 

The destruction of prime farmland, river wildlife habitat and peacefulness. 

The potential for dozens of new coal and oil trains (the oil trains are already running as we speak) every day disrupting Scappoose, St. Helens and Rainier! These train oil tanks are poorly designed as we have seen in accidents in Alabama and Quebec (where 47 people were killed). The railroad insists there is no need to improve them because it is too expensive.

A private law firm would cost $50,000 to take on this appeal. Columbia Riverkeeper will need to raise at least $15,000. They do this work for far lower costs because they believe in the good work they do protecting our communities. They have had big successes including two victories at LUBA over the Bradwood Landing LNG project.

There is no guarantee of success but they will do everything they can to save our communities. That includes appealing the rezone to LUBA, and opposing the "Regionally Significant Industrial Area" designation under senate bill 766, which fast tracks industrial development without public input.

Can you make a tax deductable donation to Columbia Riverkeeper's Port Westward fund to help them raise $15,000 to appeal the rezone. Here is a link to their Port Westward fund. For online donations please indicate in the box designated "This donation is in honor of" that your donation is a contribution to the Port Westward Fund.

http://columbiariverkeeper.org/featured/support-riverkeepers-appeal-to-protect-farms-and-prevent-reckless-development/ 

Legal Fund. Checks can be mailed to:
Columbia Riverkeeper
111 Thrid Street
Hood River, Oregon 97031
Please write Port Westward Legal Fund in the memo line of your check.

Thank you all for sticking with us! We need you now more than ever!
Best Wishes,
Tracy Prescott-MacGregor

CENSORED NEWS: Lakotas throw out TransCanada reps selling tarsands snake oil

GO LAKOTAS!

Lakotas throw out TransCanada reps selling tarsands snake oil

CENSORED NEWS: Lakotas throw out TransCanada reps selling tarsands snake oil

The Port approved Global Partners request to double the amount of crude oil unit trains. The County Commissioners approved the Port's request to rezone agricultural land for industrial use. 

County approves Port Westward rezone applications

Created on Friday, 15 November 2013 09:16 | Written by Darryl Swan |

http://portlandtribune.com/scs/83-news/201391-county-approves-port-westward-rezone-applications

Decision rezones 837 acres of farmland to allow industrial uses

---

by: SPOTLIGHT PHOTO: DARRYL SWAN - Columbia County Commissioner Earl Fisher reads a prepared statement outlining his support of the Port Westward rezone plan. Several who opposed the rezoning plan at the standing-room-only hearing wanted more discussion, but were not allowed to speak as the record for public testimony is closed.

Just a thought...

Maybe Columbia County should take a page from Sweden's book. Instead of trying to keep our jails FULL we should work to eliminate the NEED for them. 

	What's Right with Sweden? Prisons Close as Demand Falls
	Republished from commondreams.org By Jon Queally

With focus on rehabilitation and more reasonable sentencing, nation shutters four state-run jails

http://www.filmsforaction.org/news/whats_right_with_sweden_prisons_close_as_demand_falls/

Port of St. Helens commissioners approve increase to train traffic

By Lyxan Toledanes

Port of St. Helens commissioners Wednesday morning approved a request by Global Partners LP to double the number of crude oil trains going to Port Westward to 34.

http://tdn.com/news/local/port-of-st-helens-commissioners-approve-increase-to-train-traffic/article_820acbb4-4c9e-11e3-a4e7-0019bb2963f4.html

We'll See Everyone shortly before 10:00am 

at The Columbia County Courthouse

230 Strand Street

St. Helens, OR 97051.

November 13th, 2013...TOMORROW

and remember to ask our Columbia County 

Commissioners not to rezone Port 

Westward! 

CHOOSE SOIL NOT OIL!

CHOOSE FOOD NOT CRUDE!

STATUS: THREATENED

CRITICAL HABITAT: DESIGNATED 

Have you seen this bird on Port Westward? It is known to nest out on the islands in the Columbia River here in the area. It nests in grassy sandy dredge-like sand. Port Westward sounds PERFECT for it!

More info-

http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/Species/Data/StreakedHornedLark/

Here is a photo

Streaked horned lark potentially occurs in these Oregon counties: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, Yamhill (Map may reflect historical as well as recent sightings)

 

Making corn-based ethanol 

badly hurting environment: 

AP

The consequences are so severe that environmentalists and many scientists have now rejected corn-based ethanol as bad environmental policy. But the Obama administration stands by it, highlighting its benefits to the farming industry rather than any negative impact.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57611891/making-corn-based-ethanol-badly-hurting-environment-ap/

Rail car design flaw ignored

Tanker often used to haul hazardous liquids had role in many blasts

Associated Press

Published 10:10 pm, Wednesday, September 12, 2012

http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Rail-car-design-flaw-ignored-3861079.php#photo-3446979

"The rail and chemical industries have committed to a safer design for new tankers but are pressing regulators not to require modifications to tens of thousands of existing cars, despite a spike in the number of accidents as more tankers are put into service to accommodate soaring demand for ethanol, the highly flammable corn-based fuel usually transported by rail."

"Industry representatives say a retrofit isn't feasible because of engineering challenges and costs. They insist the threat of serious accidents is overstated."

FILE - In this June 19, 2009 file photo, a car at right is seen engulfed in flames from rail cars loaded with ethanol that derailed in Rockford, Ill. A Rockford woman died as she tried to flee the derailment. For two decades, one of the nation’s most common types of rail tanker, known as a DOT-111, has been allowed to haul hazardous liquids from coast to coast even though transportation officials were aware of a dangerous design flaw that almost guarantees the car will tear open in an accident. The rail and chemical industries have committed to a safer design for new tankers, but they do not want to modify tens of thousands of existing cars. That’s despite a spike in the number of accidents. (AP Photo/Rockford Register Star, Scott Morgan) MANDATORY CREDIT

NBC Nightly News Video:

Danger on the tracks: Unsafe rail cars 

carry oil through US towns

"For two decades, federal officials have warned that the tank car that carries oil and ethanol, known as the DOT-111, has a serious design flaw and can split open in an accident, turning a derailment into a fiery catastrophe. At least five times since 1991, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has raised concerns about the car’s design, including its relatively thin metal skin and the possibility that cars could tear holes in each other during accidents, creating a domino effect of spills."

http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/05/20343288-danger-on-the-tracks-unsafe-rail-cars-carry-oil-through-us-towns?lite&ocid=msnhp&pos=2

For those attending the Port of St. Helens meeting tomorrow, November 13th at 8:30

The Port will meet at 1840 2nd Street, Columbia City. (Not 100 E Street)

Colorado Rejects Fracking: The Money's Not Talking; Social Media Is

Colorado was ground zero in the hydraulic fracturing debate on Tuesday, as four local municipalities voted on moratoriums or outright bans.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/richardlevick/2013/11/07/colorado-rejects-fracking-the-moneys-not-talking-social-media-is/

Thank you everyone who has signed our SAY "NO" TO RE-ZONING PORT WESTWARD Petition so far and made this petition's social media outreach possible! Less than 24 hours left until delivery!

Bill Eagle! Defending Columbia County Farms!

A Little Humor

Dear Port of St. Helens Commissioners. As you have likely noticed the farmers of Port Westward have purchased about 957 acres of the Port land. I know times have been tough and you've needed the cash. In any case we are applying to rezone this land to prime Agricultural. I know...I know you've invested millions in infrastructure and now its all going to be bulldozed...in the name of food! It's hard to say goodbye to all that beautiful concrete being replaced by healthy soil. Relax. We've got your back. There will be no problems once we take out all the rail roads going through the Port areas. Fewer organic blueberry spills. I completely understand your worry about the environmental impact..all that juice running onto your precious concrete and asphalt. Please understand we work VERY hard to keep our train cars in ship shape so that this will not happen AND there will be fewer cars per day going through town. I understand your concern about the loss of Port jobs. Well, we believe that farm jobs are better.  These are FAMILY wage jobs and frankly...just...better OK!

Sincerely,

Tracy Prescott-MacGregor

ENOUGHNESS: Restoring Balance to the Economy in the Most Awesome Way Ever

http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/enoughness_restoring_balance_to_the_economy/#.Un6kzqQUM1M.facebook

Boom in oil train traffic across Montana, Northwest expected from Bakken fields

Troy Wayrynen

Edie Cotton, second from left, of Vancouver, protests outside Hudson's Bay High School before the start of a public information meeting of a proposed transfer facility to handle railcars carrying North American crude oil Monday, Sept. 30, 2013 in Vancouver, Wash. About 100 people attended a presentation Monday night in Vancouver on plans to build an oil-by-rail terminal at the Port of Vancouver. Supporters say it will create jobs and tax revenue and support energy independence. There were about 20 protesters outside the hearing with environmental and safety concerns. (AP Photo/The Columbian,Troy Wayrynen)

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/boom-in-oil-train-traffic-across-montana-northwest-expected-from/article_0a0fe0da-3f34-11e3-9077-001a4bcf887a.html

If you want to see what it looks like to have to clean up and flood plain area after an oil spill this is a good example. 

(WARNING! This video does not instill confidence in ANY oil corporation's ability to clean up a leak! Are they cleaning this river up with paper towels? This is Exxon Mobil. They were responsible for the Exxon Valdez oil spill! Is this the best they can do in the 25 years since that catastrophe happened?)

Montana farmers fret at oil spill's impact

By Patrick Oppmann, CNN

July 8, 2011 8:20 a.m. EDT

Montana farmer Mike Scott says he's concerned about the impact of the Yellowstone River oil spill on his livelihood.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/08/montana.oil.spill/

Imagine a clean up like this 

at Port Westward after a 

Storm on the Columbia and

 the subsequent

flushing of water through 

the dike lands! 

LETS DO THIS HERE IN COLUMBIA COUNTY!

http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/how-the-voters-of-one-small-county-may-have-stopped-48-million-tons-of-coal

How the Voters of One Small County May Have Stopped 48 Million Tons of Coal

In a council election unlike any other in the history of Whatcom County, voters sided with representatives believed to be against a proposed coal export facility.

Document Actions

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by Rachael Stoeve

posted Nov 06, 2013

Rainforest Action Network projected the phrase "Keep Washington Beautiful No Coal Exports" on industrial buildings in Seattle, Wash. Photo by Rainforest Action Network / Flickr.

Letter I wrote to Rep. Brad Witt and his response. He must not have seen the news about the train wrecks in Alabama, Quebec and Gainford, Alberta.
(In all fairness Alabama hadn't happened yet)

Tracy Prescott MacGregor	Oct 27 (12 days ago)
to Rep.BradWitt

Dear Mr. Witt,

My husband and I have a farm not far from the proposed Port Westward rezoning. We oppose it vehemently. The Port Of St. Helens has failed to establish that that an "energy" hub including coal and oil would be monitored well enough to allow farming to continue unharmed, not to mention the devastation of 2 miles of riparian wildlife habitat along our beloved Columbia River. The expanded traffic would destroy small towns and businesses all along the proposed route. 

Many of us who are in opposition to the rezoning and development of an industrial terminal at Port Westward were disappointed that you did not attend the hearing on October 3, 2013 at Clatskanie Middle/High School. We would have liked for you to hear our thoughts and perhaps taken some of our concerns into consideration. 

There were many issues brought up that need adequate addressing before, if ever, the opponents feel comfortable with the rezoning plan.

Fortunately the testimony was videotaped. Please take a moment to view the following testimony by local farmer Scott MacGregor.

There will be more testimony to come as it becomes available.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9AOP0A520c

Thank you for your kind attention to this issue.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Rep Witt	3:29 PM (21 hours ago)
to me

Dear Tracy,

The rezoning of Port Westward is not about coal and there is no reason to assume that the shipment of Bakken crude would disallow farming or harm the adjacent riparian zone.

I did not attend the 10/3/13 hearing because I had to work my regular job that night.  Please know, however that my staff was in attendance and briefed me fully.  Please know too that I am no more of a decision maker in this process than you are.  The decisions pertinent to the rezoning will be made by the County Commissioners.

I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns and appreciate your taking the time to share them with me.

Best regards,

Brad Witt

State Representative

MY RESPONSE

Tracy Prescott MacGregor	10:18 AM (0 minutes ago)
to Rep

Dear Mr. Witt,

Thank you very much for responding to my letter. I really appreciate the opportunity to discuss this issue and I am grateful that you are open to a dialog.

I am VERY aware that you are not a decision maker on the re-zoning of Port Westward. What I am disturbed by is your and Senator Johnson's apparent wholesale support of the re-zone without consideration of the impact the fossil fuel terminal will have on local farmers and folks along the proposed rail lines. I'm not just talking about rail traffic either. Please note that in the last few years three enormous train wrecks and leaks have occurred along rail roads carrying Bakken crude. Forty seven people were killed in one of the accidents in Quebec. 

These rail tanks were not built for carrying the crude and the rail industry believes it is too expensive to rebuild them. At least five times since 1991, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has raised concerns about the car’s design, including its relatively thin metal skin and the possibility that cars could tear holes in each other during accidents, creating a domino effect of spills.

The minute you can assure me that this re-zoning is a good idea and SAFE for the communities along the rail lines carrying the crude and the barges are fool-proof traversing the Columbia River I will join you in support of this project.

Attached please find several articles from several neutral news sources.

If you have studies and information to the contrary please share it with me. Show me that this kind of thing will NEVER happen at Port Westward or the rail lines and barges from North Dakota to the West Coast of the country.

In the meantime your public enthusiasm for the re-zone and related projects appear short-sighted and without consideration of the potential negative impacts.

http://news.yahoo.com/train-carrying-crude-oil-derails-explodes-alabama-154303871.html

http://www.examiner.com/article/oil-mislabeled-crude-oil-mislabeled-july-s-quebec-train-wreck-that-killed-47

I apologize Mr. Witt. I accidentally sent my e-mail with out adding the last links for you to look at.

Here they are.

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/10/20/canada-train-derailmenthighlightsdebateovercrudeoiltransportatio.html

http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/05/20343288-danger-on-the-tracks-unsafe-rail-cars-carry-oil-through-us-towns?lite&ocid=msnhp&pos=2

Thank you again for your open mindedness regarding this subject. 

Wishing you grace in all things,

Tracy Prescott MacGregor

Rainier resisting plan to increase train traffic

FIRM SEEKS TO DOUBLE OIL TRAIN TRAFFIC THROUGH TOWN TO PORT WESTWARD TERMINAL

Print Email

Roger Werth / The Daily News

This mile-long oil train rumbled through downtown Rainier last February.

http://tdn.com/news/local/rainier-resisting-plan-to-increase-train-traffic/article_4bc33a2e-4847-11e3-a015-001a4bcf887a.html