The hearing was continued for a week so the public could have more opportunity to participate in what is rapidly becoming a highly controversial project, made all the more so by the applicant’s threat to sue if not allowed to disregard the oceanfront setback requirements, on grounds that obeying the requirements would be an unconstitutional “taking.”  

ORCA strongly opposes the proposed Roberts house for several reasons, especially because it is critically important that new construction be required to meet ocean setback requirements. This is fundamental good planning in a town perched on the edge of the ocean, and the rules have been in place since the 1990s. Roberts knew about them when he bought the lot. Furthermore, the effects on the adjacent Oswald West cabin have been little discussed, as have the geological hazards of building a pillar-supported driveway on this small, steep lot. Testimony due by Thursday, October 29 at 5:00 PM. Send testimony to [email protected] by this Thursday at 5:00 PM.

DSL received an application from Edge Cable for the so-called “encroachment easement” to allow the company to leave their abandoned drilling trash under the seafloor forever. Comments due by November 5th to Blake Helm: [email protected]. The application is vague about many things, including equipment location, hazards involved, and the likelihood of encountering the trash when drilling a new borehole.

The Department of State Lands, which grants the principal permits for submarine cable projects, asked the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries to review the company’s hazard analysis. DOGAMI noted that areas with sandy seafloor, like the project site, change seasonally as sand moves under shifting wave patterns, a hazard not noted by Facebook’s report. Even more sobering, there is a large, deep-seated (and currently inactive) landslide immediately south of the project site, which could rearrange nearshore sediments in the event of a major earthquake. The company will be responding to these concerns and others in the coming weeks.

ORCA continues to advocate for study of this situation by Oregon oceanographers, who are familiar with our seafloor dynamics. In addition, this project should never be allowed to start again, given the track record of coverups and incompetence shown thus far. It will also be essential to place standards in Oregon law to prohibit submarine cable landings in residential areas, and ensure that future cable projects meet strict showings of need.

Clatsop County sent out a questionnaire to County residents asking about the proposed Resiliency Project. They have tabulated the responses, and have been making public statements that the results show the public agrees with the County on moving this project ahead. 

But that is not what the results actually show. For starters, the questionnaire was poorly designed and included no maps — people who do not live in the immediate area may very well not know where the proposals are even located. Second, the questions were confusing, and about 30% of the questionnaires had blank or only partly filled in responses. That is a high percentage.

The responses gave the greatest amount of support for moving the Public Works Department out of the tsunami zone, 69% of respondents agreeing with that, and some 43% said that should be the top priority. Almost as high a percentage agreed the County should acquire existing private roads for alternate or emergency routes, if available. But in questions asking respondents to rank priorities in the Project, the County’s favored alternate route — the private logging road known as the Mainline — came in lowest. Only only 8% of respondents thought acquiring it should be the top priority. In other words, it was not the favored choice among members of the public.

Given the flawed nature of the questionnaire, and the high (often 30%) number of partially blank or confused answers, plus the poor level of support for the County’s cherished alternate route proposal, the County would do well not to consider this survey a ringing vote of support for forging ahead with current plans. Instead, let the County take away the message that residents are principally supportive of moving Public Works out of the tsunami zone. The County should pursue the most sensible and cost-effective location for doing so, most appropriately the North Coast Business Park parcel the County already owns. Still not on the tax rolls after many years’ effort, it probably is the best bet for a relocated Public Works.