The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Monday, October 3, 2022
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Oregon DEQ Fines Lincoln City Company For Falsely Claiming It Produced Environmental Credits From A Car Charging Station That Did Not Exist
State environmental regulators issued their largest fine ever, $2.7 million, to an electric charging company over fraudulent claims, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality announced on Friday. The Lincoln City company that builds electric vehicle charging stations defrauded the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality out of $2 million in carbon credits, according to the agency.
DEQ discovered Thompson Technical Services, or TTS Charging, sold more than $2 million in fraudulent credits through the agency’s clean fuels program. The program, implemented in 2016, is designed to help the state reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector by 37% by 2035. It provides incentives, like credits, to companies that produce transportation fuels like electricity or biofuels. Those companies can then sell credits to other companies as a way to comply with state rules around reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Each credit is equal to 1 ton of reduced emissions.
According to DEQ, TTS Charging falsely claimed more than 16,000 in credits on June 10, alleging it dispensed nearly 15 million kilowatt hours of electricity from three vehicle charging stations earlier this year.
“It turns out that really wasn’t true,” said Harry Esteve, a spokesperson for DEQ. “They hadn’t dispensed any electricity, they hadn’t even set up the charging stations.”
The company then sold the credits on June 27 for nearly $1.8 million to an oil and natural gas transportation company, Elbow River Marketing, based in Canada.
DEQ has revoked TTS Charging’s account with the clean fuels program. The agency has ordered the company to purchase legitimate credits to replace the ones it falsely claimed and sold, and pay the civil penalty of $2.7 million.
“The clean fuels program is one of the most effective ways that Oregon has right now for lowering greenhouse gas emissions and those are the primary causes of human-caused climate change,” Esteve said. “It’s a market-based program, and so the generation of these credits and the sale of them is what makes this program work. So we are very concerned about maintaining the integrity, and that’s one of the reasons why this fine is so large.”
Since its inception, the clean fuels program has reduced 7.6 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, according to DEQ. That’s the equivalent of more than 1.6 million gas-powered vehicles driven for one year.
“The Clean Fuels Program has been highly successful, but selling fraudulent credits seriously undermines the program’s environmental benefits,” DEQ’s interim director Leah Feldon said in a statement. “This penalty is intended to encourage the violator to return legitimate credits to the market and should serve as a deterrent to anyone considering similar fraudulent behavior.”
Friday’s action is the largest fine DEQ has ever issued. Earlier this year, the agency issued a $2.1 million fine to a Portland roofing company, Herbert Malarkey Roofing Co., for air quality violations. In July, the agency and the company settled for $1.45 million. The Port of Morrow also received a hefty fine, $2.1 million, earlier this year for several wastewater violations that polluted the area’s groundwater.
Coos Bay Police Searching For Hit-And-Run Suspect
Coos Bay police are searching for the perpetrator of a hit-and-run incident that left a victim with serious internal injuries Wednesday morning, Coos Bay police are searching for a perpetrator.
According to the Coos Bay Police Department, at about 7:15 a.m. on September 28 they responded to reports of a man yelling for help in the area of Johnson Avenue and south Broadway. Police said they arrived to find a 20-year-old man from North Bend injured and confused. They add that the victim was taken to a nearby hospital with significant internal injuries.
The man had apparently been hit by a vehicle traveling southbound at the intersection at about 6:10 a.m. Police are looking for information from anyone who may have knowledge of the incident. They ask anyone with information to call them at 541-269-8911.
Man Arrested for Arson in Astoria
A Lake Oswego man was arrested on Saturday for first-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief and six counts of reckless endangering.
Braden William Ragsdale, 26, allegedly set fire to items in a parking garage beneath an apartment complex off Marine Drive. The fire damaged a vehicle.
The Florence Police Department is requesting assistance in helping to identify the human remains that were located off of Hwy 101 across from Fred Meyer.
Officers located other items with the remains that included; a Chevy key and fob, black athletic track style pants with a white stripe down the legs, black hoodie sweater, large in size brown rubber boots and black sunglasses.
The Lane County Medical Examiner’s Office was able to determine that the remains were a few years old, they are believed to be from a Caucasian male and the victim had a medical condition known as Mandibular Tori which caused overgrown bone in the lower jaw.
The remains were first discovered on Sept. 21 in the brush area off of Hwy 101, South of Munsel Lake Rd across from Fred Meyer.
The reporting party took the officers to the location, which was over the top of the sand dune in a heavy brush area.
Working in cooperation with the Lane County Medical Examiner’s Office, Florence Police investigated the scene and recovered the remains and some clothing. No form of identification was found.
Due to the condition of the remains it is believed they were there for a considerable amount of time and there were no obvious signs of foul play.
If any of these items or the medical condition are familiar to a missing person Florence PD requests anyone who might have information to please contact Det. Bailey at 541-997-3515.
Nearly one in five adults who’ve had COVID-19 report persistent symptoms, a condition known as long COVID-19. In the last two years, researchers have been studying long COVID to find out why it occurs and how to help those who live with it.
Join a free webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to learn about the symptoms, treatments and advocacy tips for long COVID: http://ow.ly/RLok50KXCMl
Experts will discuss and answer questions about the latest research surrounding long COVID as well as workplace rights for those with long COVID under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
If you have questions about long COVID for the experts, submit them in advance here: http://ow.ly/8FSG50KXCMn
The webinar will offer Spanish translation, live captions/CART and American Sign Language interpretations. A recording will be available.
Oregon Roads Ranked 10th Among the Most Dangerous in the Country
Traffic deaths are on the rise in the United States, according to a recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. An estimated 20,175 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes from January through June 2022, the most in the first half of any year since 2006.
The latest increase in traffic fatalities comes as Americans are spending more time on the road. U.S. drivers traveled 43.2 billion more miles in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.
The recent increase in traffic fatalities is a continuation of a troubling long-term trend. Deaths on American roads rose for seven consecutive quarters, from mid 2020 to early 2022. A recent survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that the trend is partially the result of rising instances of risky behavior among motorists – including speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Some states stand out for having especially high traffic fatality rates so far this year. According to the NHTSA, there were an estimated 250 traffic fatalities in Oregon in the first half of 2022, the 23rd fewest among states.
After adjusting for vehicle miles traveled, however, Oregon has the 10th highest traffic fatality rate in the country – with 1.45 roadway deaths for every 100 million miles traveled. For context, there were an estimated 1.27 deaths per 100 million miles nationwide in the first half of the year.
| Rank | State | Traffic deaths per 100M VMT, first half of 2022 | Total traffic deaths, first half of 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | 1.71 | 517 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 1.64 | 341 |
| 3 | Arkansas | 1.63 | 286 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 1.59 | 432 |
| 5 | Florida | 1.58 | 1,951 |
| 6 | New Mexico | 1.58 | 210 |
| 7 | Delaware | 1.58 | 76 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 1.56 | 636 |
| 9 | Texas | 1.5 | 2,183 |
| 10 | Oregon | 1.45 | 250 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 1.44 | 806 |
| 12 | West Virginia | 1.43 | 121 |
| 13 | Kansas | 1.41 | 205 |
| 14 | Georgia | 1.4 | 901 |
| 15 | Nevada | 1.39 | 194 |
| 16 | Alabama | 1.36 | 486 |
| 17 | Kentucky | 1.34 | 335 |
| 18 | Colorado | 1.32 | 339 |
| 19 | California | 1.29 | 2,149 |
| 20 | Nebraska | 1.26 | 127 |
Oregon Senators Announce More Than $1.1 Million Coming To Oregon For Emergency Preparedness
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced that Oregon will receive a combined more than $1.1 million in Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration funds for emergency preparedness.
Wyden said, “The past few years of raging wildfires, floods, hail storms, power outages and ice have only reinforced the need to prepare our communities for emergencies like a pipeline incident threatening Oregonians and our homes, neighborhoods and small businesses”.
Merkley said, “This funding will provide critical support to enhance GIS mapping and training, as well as educating the public to help keep everyone safe”.
A release said the funds will be allocated with:
*Over $99,000 going to the City of Irrigon to develop ways to reduce risk of pipeline emergency incidents and the impact of a possible pipeline failure, and advance safety, public health and environmental sustainability.
*Nearly $43,000 to the City of Umatilla to help identify and evaluate the safety risks, develop and enforce standards for design, construction, operations and maintenance near hazardous pipelines.
*Over $669,000 to the Oregon Public Utilities Commission to reimburse the State for pipeline safety programs.
*Nearly $346,000 to the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal to design and implement emergency preparedness planning and training programs.
More information on the allocation is linked: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-more-than-11-million-to-oregon-for-emergency-preparedness-with-pipelines
Pacific Power Offers a New Low-Income Discount Program to Help Manage Costs
Eligible customers will see power bill discounts ranging from 20% to 40%
PORTLAND, Ore. (Sept.30) – Pacific Power is helping customers manage costs with a new low-income discount program, set to debut in October.
Starting October 1, customers receiving energy relief from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) will automatically receive a 20% discount on their Pacific Power bills. The program will also give these participants the opportunity to qualify for a 40% discount if they meet additional income requirements.
“Our customers count on us every day for the energy they need, and we’re working to keep that power affordable, especially for customers experiencing income restraints,” said vice president of customer and community solutions Cory Scott. “The Low-Income Discount program will provide relief to customers who qualify on their power bills.”
Eligible customers will receive the following discounts:
- A 20% discount if their income is between 21% and 60% of state median income
- A 40% discount if their income is between 0% to 20% of state median income
To learn more about the program and see if they qualify, customers can visit http://pacificpower.net/LID starting October 1. Customers can also reach out to our customer care team at 1-888-221-7070 in English or 1-888-225-2611 in Spanish. Translation services are available in several additional languages.
About Pacific Power
Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 764,000 customers in Oregon, Washington, and California. The company supplies customers with electricity from a diverse portfolio of generating plants including hydroelectric, thermal, wind, geothermal, and solar resources. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 2 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net.
United Airlines Suspending Service Between Los Angeles And Eugene / Medford
United Airlines is going to be suspending route service to two Oregon airports. According to a report on ThePointsGuy.com, United will stop service between:
- Los Angeles and Eugene
- Los Angeles and Medford
Service between Chicago and Eugene had already been suspended according to United.
The route changes are among a bigger group of cuts and changes coming to America’s second-largest carrier.
“These are primarily seasonal changes and we plan to resume most of these routes at a future time,” said Maddie King, United spokeswoman. King added “We regularly adjust our schedule for a variety of reasons, including demand and the broader needs of our network.”
United says the changes will take place in January 2023.
National Public Lands Day Event Removes 1.7 Tons Of Metal From Public Lands Near Hart Mountain
The Bureau of Land Management Lakeview District and U.S. Forest Service Fremont-Winema National Forest announced recently that more than 1 ton of metal was removed from publics lands during the 29th annual National Public Lands Day.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, volunteers worked at a dumpsite adjacent to Anderson Lake near the Warner Wetlands.
According to a press release, “The site located north of the Warner Wetlands Day Use Site on Hart Mountain Road contained a plethora of old metal cans, junk, wire, trash and a truck frame.
Ten volunteers spent four hours collecting and sorting items in the site and recycling the metal. A total of 1.7 tons of metal was recycled, in addition three truck loads of trash was removed.”
The work of those volunteers, the press release states, will help restore the public lands to their natural state. National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. The day was established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September.
Cedar Creek Fire Update
#CedarCreekFire October 3rd Morning Operational Briefing. Northwest Team 7 Operations Section Chief Scott Coulson gives a detailed look at the tactics being used on the East Zone of the Cedar Creek Fire as well as today’s planned operations.
An aerial look at the successful structure protection of Waldo Lake Lookout.
Eric Hendrickson, Public Information OfficerFirefighters are working to keep the fire west of the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway and Cultus Lake recreational area and north of Highway 58 and Charleton Lake Road.
As of 5:30 AM, there are currently 896 firefighting personnel working to contain the #CedarCreekFire. The fire is now 120,694 acres and 32% contained. Resources assigned include: 17 Engines 14 Handcrews 3 Dozers 14 Masticators 7 Helicopters 1 Air Attack Platforms
Cedar Creek Fire Information https://www.facebook.com/nwteam7https://www.youtube.com/c/CedarCreekFire — https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8307/
New Online Portal Gives Access To Half Million Northwest Records And Photos
A digital portal is now online which gives people instant access to more than half a million records and historical photos from northwest history, the State Library of Oregon announced last week.
The project is a collaboration between the State Library of Oregon, Oregon Heritage Commission and Washington State Library, featuring archives from more than 150 institutions in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
Anyone can browse the site for documents, photos, maps, oral histories and more. Search options allow users to narrow their results across a variety of categories.
Evan Robb, project coordinator at the Washington State Library, said the platform is a unique, regional slice of the nationwide Digital Public Library of America. “Researchers can discover online historical materials and government documents from a variety of sources, some of which don’t rank prominently, or display at all, in search engine results,” Robb said.
Katie Henry with the Oregon Heritage Commission said she looks forward to how the tool will be an asset to anyone interested in the past. “Helping to make Oregon and Washington’s unique cultural heritage collections accessible to researchers, the public, and other organizations,” Henry said.
Study Shows Oregonians Watch Most Hours of Netflix In US
Oregonians watch more Netflix than any other state, with the average viewer watching 798 hours a year, according to numbers released by Netflix on Friday.
While residents of this state may win in the watch-hours category, Oregon ranks 11th for password sharing – 48% of Netflix users admit to sharing their login credentials with others. The winner of this dubious honor goes to Ohio, with 59% of subscribers saying they do it.
That, of course, assumes people are answering honestly.
The U.S. states that follow Oregon in watch hours are Utah, Arizona and Hawaii, with residents watching an average of 782, 777, and 777 hours respectively.
North Dakotans watch the least amount of Netflix, with an average of 662 hours per person.
People can explore more state’s numbers in an interactive map Netflix has released here.
This is just a small compilation of missing women and their pictures in the area. There are of course women missing all over Oregon and men and children missing too. We don’t mean to dismiss that, however, there is an inordinate amount of women who go missing each week and there could possibly be a connection with an anomaly or two here and there. Sadly most of them never get any attention. Family and friends must keep any information going and lead investigations so that they aren’t just forgotten.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/
