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Supplemental Columbia River salmon BiOp filed
The federal government filed a Supplemental Biological Opinion yesterday. The updated BiOp adds three important elements to the May 2008 BiOp. It adds a review of new science. It incorporates the State and Tribal Fish Accords for habitat restoration. And, it incorporates the Adaptive Management Implementation Plan (AMIP) that was developed as part of the Obama Administration's review. The federal agencies did not add any spill or flow measures. There is nothing new that should affect navigation or hydropower, or add significant cost. The federal government makes a strong argument that it is appropriate to minimize the delay in resolving this case.
The federal agencies are expected file a Record of Decision in mid June. That is needed to formally adopt the actions in the updated BiOp. Then, court briefs will be filed. It is expected that plaintiffs will file in mid-July. The federal government and the defense coalition, including IPNG, will likely file responses in August. It is conceivable that oral argument would be scheduled for the fall, and Judge Redden could decide before the new year.
The Supplemental BiOp and related documents are available at www.salmonrecovery.gov.
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EPA seeks comments on Columbia Basin Toxics Reduction Plan
Comments are due June 25th on EPA's draft Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan. Two of the plan's five Initiatives will be of particular interest to PNWA members:
Initiative 2: Increase toxic reduction actions. These actions include: reduce discharge of toxics through more protective water quality standards, expand pesticide return programs, expand erosion prevention and sediment, stormwater and runoff controls, and increase technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to increase best management practices.
Initiative 3: Conduct monitoring to identify sources and then reduce toxics. Actions include: expand monitoring, monitoring to reduction efforts such as TMDLs and pesticide stewardship partnerships, integrate toxics reduction with salmon and lamprey recovery efforts, link and integrate land, air, sediment and water monitoring.
PNWA staff attended the Toxics Reduction Working Group meeting in Astoria May 11th. Though they are not binding on EPA pending receipt of comments, the Working Group in Astoria recommended five action plan priorities: monitor and prioritize contaminants, address new sources of contaminants, clean up known hot spots, expand outreach, and broaden "take backs". EPA is proud of its work with farmers and others to "take back" "legacy pesticides". They have collected and disposed of hundreds of pounds of old pesticides, some containing DDT, that have been sitting in barns and workshops for decades.
It was PNWA staff who advocated for increased attention on cleaning up the hot spots that have been known for years. Contaminants were identified 15 years ago in the Bi-State Water Quality Study for the lower Columbia River. Very little has been done since then to clean up those known contaminants. Lower Columbia ports helped fund the Bi-State Study and PNWA staff co-chaired the Bi-State Committee.
The Working Group is open to participation from any interested parties from throughout the Basin. PNWA encourages its members to actively engage. The draft plan and related documents are available at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/ecocomm.nsf/columbia/columbia. Comments may be emailed to soscia.marylou@epa.gov. Staff contact: Glenn Vanselow |
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PNWA-WPPA working group to meet with FEMA
PNWA and WPPA members will meet with FEMA on May 26th to discuss FEMA's draft Model Ordinance (MO) to meet flood protection and ESA requirements. The draft MO was developed for Puget Sound following a court case and Biological Opinion. It could have a significant impact on port development capabilities and costs.
The focus of the meeting will be for the region's ports and FEMA to work together to address port concerns, given that many port activities, by definition, must take place on the waterfront. The draft MO and PNWA's comments are available at http://www.pnwa.net/new/Environment.aspx.
Please contact glenn.vanselow@pnwa.net if you would like to join the PNWA-WPPA FEMA working group.
Staff contact: Glenn Vanselow |
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Sen. Patty Murray names new Southwest Washington Director
PNWA congratulates Page Phillips on being named Sen. Murray's new Southwest Washington Director. Since 2006, Page has been working as Deputy District Director for Congressman Brian Baird (WA-3), covering five of the seven counties in his district. In this role, Page has served as manager of major projects which include Columbia River Crossing, Lower Columbia River environmental and dredging issues, forest policy, renewable energy, and economic development for SW Washington. Page also has worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, and NOAA, serving as Congressman Baird's liaison to the federal agencies. In addition to her role with Rep. Baird, Page has worked with numerous Congressional representatives and campaigns in Washington, Oregon, California and Colorado.
PNWA has greatly enjoyed working with Page's predecessor, Theresa Wagner, who recently accepted a position with the Port of Vancouver USA. We look forward to continuing our strong working relationship with Page, as she transitions from Rep. Baird's to her new role with Sen. Murray. PNWA staff contact: Kristin Meira |
NOAA's Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) seeks applications
NOAA's HSRP is a Federal advisory committee that provides recommendations to the NOAA Administrator on NOAA's hydrographic and navigation products and services. They are currently seeking applications for their 2010 membership, and are encouraging applicants with expertise in navigation data, products and services; coastal management; fisheries management; coastal and marine spatial planning; geodesy; water levels; and other science-related fields as determined by the Administrator to apply for Panel membership. Applications must be sent to Kathy Watson, HSRP program coordinator, at Hydroservices.panel@noaa.gov, no later than June 30, 2010. For additional details, log onto http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/docs/HSRP_membsolicitation_09_0716_E9-16876.pdf. |
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New additions to the PNWA Mid-Year Meeting agenda
PNWA's Mid-Year Meeting will be held June 28-30 at Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Washington. Online registration for the meeting is now available - make your plans to participate today!New Additions to the PNWA agenda: Will Stelle, Incoming NOAA Northwest Regional Administrator (invited). Will Stelle is the past and future head of NOAA Fisheries Service's Northwest Region. He was first appointed by President Bill Clinton and served from 1994-2000, during the first round of listings of Pacific salmon under the Endangered Species Act. Last week, the Obama Administration announced Mr. Stelle's reappointment to the post, which oversees endangered salmon programs in the Columbia and Snake rivers, as of June 1, 2010. PNWA looks forward to working with Mr. Stelle as part of the salmon BiOp defense coalition and on our permit streamlining agenda.
Dr. Ken Cassavant, Professor of Economic Sciences, Washington State University. Dr. Cassavant will be studying the impact of the Columbia Snake River System's extended lock outage beginning December 10th of this year. He will be providing details of the study to our membership on Wednesday, June 30th during our Board Meeting. All PNWA members are encouraged to attend!
Dr. Cassavant is a nationally renowned transportation economist and Professor, and has received several teaching and research awards throughout his tenure, including being named "Distinguished Scholar" by the Western Agricultural Economics Association in 2003. He directed the successful Eastern Washington Intermodal Transportation Study (EWITS) and was instrumental in shaping the scope and direction of the Strategic Freight Transportation Analysis study. Topics Include: Corps of Engineers Commander UpdateExtended Lock Outage - The Latest InformationMCR Jetties Major Maintenance Report & Detailed Design Plan FEMA Flood Plain Ordinance & Effects on the Northwest President Obama's Climate Change Position & How Hydropower Fits In 2010 West Coast Ports Economic OutlookMarine Spatial PlanningThe Panama Canal Expansion & Impacts to West Coast TradeNext Steps in the FCRPS BiOp and much more! Speakers include: BG John McMahon, Division Commander, USACE, Northwestern DivisionCOL Anthony Wright, District Commander, USACE, Seattle District Alan Feistner, Deputy District Enginner, USACE, Walla Walla District Tim Hibbitts, Partner, Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, Inc.
Crescent Moegling, Hydrographic Team Lead, NOAA, Pacific Hydrographic Branch
John Graves, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Region 10
Hal Thomas, Business Line Manager, Operations Division, USACE, Walla Walla District
Matt Cutts, Program Manager, USACE, Portland District
John Pigott, Assistant to the President, Tidewater Barge Lines
Tammy Dennee, Executive Director, Oregon Wheat Growers League
Tom McCollough, Vice President/Branch Manager, Moffatt & Nichol
Zak Anderson, Director, Federal Government Relations, BNSF
Jay Waldron, Attorney, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt
Beth Ginsberg, Attorney, Stoel Rives LLP
Bob Nichols, Executive Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor, State of Washington
John Ogan, Attorney, Indian Law, Natural Resources & Water Law, Karnopp Peterson LLP
David Amble, Seaport Planner, Port of Seattle
Rick Finn, Federal Government Affairs, Port of Portland
Stephanie Bowman, Manager, Federal Governmental Affairs, Port of Tacoma
Mike Schmid, Senior Project Manager, KPFF Consulting Engineers
Jon Keiser, Vice President, PND Engineers, Inc.
Scott Vandegrift, Senior Project Manager, J.E. McAmis, Inc.
Christian Steinbrecher, Senior Project Manager, Ukiah Engineering, Inc.
Allan Rumbaugh, Partner, Northwest Port Planning
and many more!
Log onto our website, www.pnwa.net, and register today!
PNWA staff contact: Heather Stebbings |
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