Outdoor Column

Oregon Senator Fears Plastic

In a never going to happen, total waste of time innovative idea, an Oregon legislator suggested to ban single-use plastic bags from the state’s checkout stands.

A man who visited Missoula once said: The Earth didn’t know how to make plastic. Could it be the only reason we are here? Could be the answer to our age old philosophical question of why are we here; plastic!

Anyhow, the measure being led by Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, would still allow paper sacks, but is aimed at getting people to use reusable bags.

Outdoor News

Idaho, Oregon Need To Cut The Smog

A number of states in the West could be impacted by a proposal announced Thursday from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding stricter health standards for smog, replacing a Bush-era limit that ran counter to scientific recommendations.

The new limit will likely put hundreds more counties nationwide in violation, a designation that will require them to find additional ways to clamp down on pollution or face government sanctions, most likely the loss of federal highway dollars, according to the EPA.

The new standards could impact counties in Idaho, Oregon and Nevada, among numerous others states for the first time based on EPA data. The tighter standards will cost tens of billions of dollars to implement, but will ultimately save billions in avoided emergency room visits, premature deaths, and missed work and school days, the EPA said.

DECADE IN REVIEW

Oh, What a Decade for the West

The last 10 years in the West was a wild roller coaster ride, a decade of explosions and implosions: nine years of mostly up, up, up and one year of solid down.

Here are five top trends that shaped region in the first decade of a new millennium. 

Energy

Boise Among World’s Top Cities For Geothermal Potential

During the United Nations Climate Change Conference held last week in Copenhagen, Denmark, world leaders agreed geothermal heat is part of the energy solution for cities and countries around the world. Among the cities discussed at length was Boise, and it seems the geothermal future is burning bright in Idaho.

Not only was Boise among the featured cities, it made the Geothermal Energy Association ten leading geothermal cities around the globe.

According to reports from the conference, Boise made the list for several reasons: the city’s public works department has the largest direct use geothermal system in the U.S.; the city’s geothermal system injects 100 percent of the water back into the aquifer; and the fact the Idaho State Capitol is among several buildings in the Capitol Mall area that are heated by the system.

Flathead Condo Developers Lose

Montana Supreme Court Ruling: Condo Plans Need Review

The state Supreme Court upheld a Flathead District Court ruling declaring that three Lakeside condominium projects are subject to the county subdivision review process, a ruling called both commonsense and baffling by those involved.

“It’s a decision that provides land use guidance when dealing with whether condominium projects can evade subdivision review and public participation and input,” said Flathead County Planning Director Jeff Harris.

The ruling affirmed District Judge Ted Lympus’ January decision to reject the claim that unzoned property does not have applicable building regulations.

Take the money and run

When Good Apples Get Spoiled

HOOD RIVER—Bill Neal has no problem explaining what the state should do with David Ryan and his juice company.

“They need to come up here and shut his ass down,” Neal said. “This has been a problem for 15 years.”

Ryan, the founder and CEO of Hood River Juice Company, was charged in late October with two misdemeanor counts of water pollution. This came as no surprise to Neal and a number of other farmers, ranchers and homeowners who reside near the business. After all, Ryan is already awaiting trial for six alleged felony acts of pollution tied to 16 separate charges. In addition, Ryan, 46, faces penalties for two felony counts of supplying false information to a regulatory agent, according to documents obtained by employees of this publication.

Deputy District Attorney Kate Stebbins is representing the state of Oregon in the case. Although she declined to comment specifically about Ryan and the charges, Stebbins did say it is unique for the D.A. office to become involved in an issue such as this. Stebbins is also working with the state Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department on the case.

Where to go? What to do?

Marijuana, Guns and Oregon

It’s no secret there are a number of Oregonians who enjoy smoking marijuana. And while that may be the case, there are millions in the West who don’t enjoy having their water polluted to produce the plant.

An estimated 200,000 marijuana plants were discovered in raids during the Oregon growing and harvest season this year, according to state and federal documents.

And while that number may be staggering, pools filled with chemical fertilizers to grow the plants are a main nerve of concern among state officials and environmentalists. 

News Nugget

LEED for Weeds: New Program Will Rate Green Landscapes

A coalition formed by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the United States Botanic Garden has created the nations first rating system for environmentally sensitive landscapes.

As LEED has done for buildings and Energy Star has done for appliances, the Sustainable Sites Initiatives will do for outside spaces. The groups describe the program like this: “Voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices.”

Nancy Somerville, Executive Vice President and CEO of ASLA said in a press release on the project, “While carbon-neutral performance remains the holy grail for green buildings, sustainable landscapes move beyond a do-no-harm approach. Landscapes sequester carbon, clean the air and water, increase energy efficiency, restore habitats and ultimately give back through significant economic, social and environmental benefits never fully measured until now.”

According to a USA Today story, “The rating will measure several criteria. They may include planting trees in a parking lot or paving with permeable materials to minimize heat and storm-water runoff. Or landscaping with native plants to reduce maintenance, irrigation and use of pesticides.”

Click here for that story and here for more information from the program itself.

Missoula Notebook

Tester’s Wilderness Bill: Q & A With Sun Mountain’s Tony Colter

I was curious about the potential effects of Sen. Tester’s act on businesses like Sun Mountain, so—after touring the sawmill—I interviewed Tony Colter, the company’s plant manager and vice president. He told me that Sun Mountain’s mill and logging operations combined could potentially employ up to 300 people, but times have been tough lately. Today, only 120 people work in the mill and finger-joint plant, and about 50 people work in logging. Sun Mountain hopes Tester’s bill could help turn things around.