Crowding out the bald eagles (Jack Bog's Blog)

The latest draft of the "study" document is floating around for the Port of Portland's inane plan to pave over most of the open space on West Hayden Island for a mystery shipping terminal. The draft is here. One doesn't have to read too far into it to realize that the decision has already been made to build the thing. The writers of this manifesto are in full justification mode.

They acknowledge that there are bald eagles nesting on the island, but they claim they'll comply with the laws protecting the birds:

The USFWS removed Bald Eagles from the endangered species list in June 2007 because their populations recovered sufficiently and the State of Oregon removed Bald Eagles from the Oregon Endangered Species List in 2012. However, the protections under the Bald and Golden Eagle Act continue to apply. When the Bald Eagle was delisted, the USFWS proposed regulations to create a permit program to authorize limited take of Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles where take is associated with otherwise lawful activities. The permits will authorize limited, non-purposeful take of Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles; authorizing individuals, companies, government agencies (including tribal governments), and other organizations to disturb or otherwise take eagles in the course of conducting lawful activities such as operating utilities and airports. Most permits issued under the new regulations would authorize disturbance in limited cases, a permit may authorize the physical take of eagles, but only if very precaution is taken to avoid physical take. Removal of eagle nests would only be allowed when it is necessary to protect human safety or the eagles.
There are nesting bald eagles on West Hayden Island. The Port has established a 600 foot buffer as outlined in the USFWS Bald and Golden Eagle Act guidelines to prevent activities that would disrupt nesting activities and rearing of young.

Do you think the eagles are going to want to live next to a shipping terminal? From the looks of things, more than half of the current wildlife area will be sacrificed. The "green" hypocrites are at their worst here.

Oh, and don't miss "economic equity" on page 69! We have to chase the eagles away. It's for "equity."

Comments (5)

So we can have a fit about people driving cars and living in single family dwellings, but F the eagles? Makes sense.

Posted by Kent Mulder | April 18, 2012 2:53 PM

Based on my quick look, the terminal would be for autos, grain, or dry bulk - not containers (see page 76). That would be for importing cars, exporting grain, and importing/exporting (?) dry bulk cargo such as...coal. The Port tells Jack it's not a coal terminal but a dry bulk terminal could handle coal.

Posted by dg | April 18, 2012 3:43 PM

Geez! That map looks just like a ravenous crocodile with a lot of bad things on it's mind.

Posted by Mojo | April 18, 2012 4:40 PM

The idea that the city would produce an ESEE analysis at this point in the process is a total joke. The only thing they have worked through at this point is whether the development area would meet the Port's development objectives. The community impacts remain almost entirely unaddressed and the environmental mitigation plan remains in limbo while the Port continues to argue that it shouldn't have to do any meaningful mitigation. Not sure how you produce a credible Economic, Environmental, Social and Energy Analysis when three out of four areas remain almost entirely unresolved....unless of course the city is once again working backwards from a predetermined outcome.

As for the eagles, the Port's claims to protect the eagles is also a total joke. The eagles are nesting right in the middle of the 300 acres they plan to turn into parking lots. That entire grove of trees will be cut down if this project goes forward. Also note that the eagles are nesting in the middle of the area that the Port claims has no habitat value.

The rezoning of Hayden Island was stopped once before back in 1999. People are going to have to make their voices heard if we want to stop it again.

Bob Sallinger
Conservation Director
Audubon Society of Portland

Posted by Bob Sallinger | April 19, 2012 12:18 AM

Bob Sallinger,
Can you give us any timeframe, dates of hearings, is this going to be done at a city council hearing?

This just doesn't seem possible, to be happening in our "green sustainable" city, same as our Bull Run water in jeopardy. Why isn't there more outrage?

The whole scene seems like a nightmare!

Posted by clinamen | April 19, 2012 1:03 AM

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Crowding out the bald eagles

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