LWVOR Legislative Report

is now available for May 13, 2019. Click: Legislative Report to read more

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LANE COUNTY COURTHOUSE

Several Action Committee/Board members attended a Feb. 6 briefing on potential new Lane County Courthouse. A few takeaways:

-Distinguish between Public Service Building (Lane County Admin, Eugene Mayor, etc.) and Courthouse (courts, LCSO). New PSB offices are not on the table.

-Key issues include safety (seismic, sanitation, general building functions) and functionality (separation of space, preservation of different roles in justice system, adequate space for courts today and into future).

-Commissioners considering a 20-year bond measure referral of an estimated $158 million, or $0.29 per $1,000 assessed value a year ($54 on a home valued at $187k).

We anticipate a referral to voters by Lane County Board of Commissioners—probably May 2019, possibly November 2019. At our March 6 meeting, Action will discuss whether to make a recommendation on LWVLC support/opposition/no position, which we’ll forward to the Board for March 20 meeting.

Background on Courthouse

http://www.lanecounty.org/courthouse

Short video — https://vimeo.com/309140754

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Jordan Cove Energy Project Alert

The League of Women Voters of Coos County will hold a free informational session April 18, 6:30-9 p.m., at the Egyptian Theater in Coos Bay. For more, please see www.lwvcooscounty.org.

Oregon’s Department of State Lands is now accepting public comments through 5:00 p.m. on February 3, 2019 on the revised removal-fill permit application for the Jordan Cove Energy Project. 

Why is this important?
The Jordan Cove LNG (liquefied natural gas) Export Project is a proposal by Canadian energy corporation, Pembina, to ship fracked natural gas from Canada and the Rockies through southern Oregon to the coast to be shipped overseas.  The associated Pacific Connector Pipeline, also known as the “LNG Pipeline,” would impact more than 485 rivers, streams and wetlands including the Rogue, Klamath, and Umpqua rivers. Many of the 600 landowners who would be directly impacted by the pipeline will face eminent domain if they don’t give up their property for the pipeline route. Constructing the pipeline would require clear-cutting a 95-foot buffer through public lands impacting a region with significant fire and earthquake hazards. (From Rogue Riverkeeper  a non-profit organization founded to provide public oversight of Clean Water Act implementation in the Rogue Basin; a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance.)

League of Women Voters Oregon opposes Jordan Cove and has as a legislative priority to Address Climate Change. The League’s position is to “Preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the ecosystem, with maximum protection of public health and the environment” with a focus on demanding pollution prevention. If the goal is to reduce emissions, the project is just the opposite. It will be the greatest carbon producer in the state. For more information on the Project click JORDAN COVE.
Comment Writing Guide: Click here for a Comment Writing Guide prepared by Rogue Climate.

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