Support Riverkeeper's Appeal to Protect Farms and Prevent Reckless Development

Columbia Riverkeeper and allies are standing together to protect farmers and wildlife and stop reckless development along the Columbia River. We need you to join us. The Columbia County Board of Commissioners recently approved the Port of St. Helens' proposal to rezone high-yield farmland and expand heavy industrial development at Port Westward, near Clatskanie, Oregon. This move makes way for dirty fuels and will displace farmers, pollute the water and air, and disrupt the entire county with increased unit train traffic.

Paddlers enjoying the river and wildlife at Port Westward. Fall 2012

 

We work every day to protect the Columbia and our river communities.  Will you help us challenge the Columbia County Board of Commission's short-sighted decision?

 

The Seely Mint farm is one of many farms at stake if we don't appeal the Port Westward rezone decision.

What's at stake?

  • Over 800 acres of industrial development for "bulk commodities" like oil.
  • The destruction of farmland and peacefulness.
  • The potential for dozens of new coal or oil trains every day disrupting Scappoose, St. Helens, and Rainier.

If we can get your support, here is what's next:

Riverkeeper can partner with the Crag Law Center to challenge the rezone at the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). The appeal deadline is just twenty-one days from the County's approval.

A private law firm would cost $50,000 to take on this appeal. We operate at lower costs because our attorneys do this work because we believe in it, not for high wages. We have a track record of success, including two victories at LUBA over Bradwood Landing LNG.

Land use challenges are not easy. We cannot promise success. But, we will do everything we can to protect farmland and our communities. That includes appealing the rezone to LUBA, and opposing a "Regionally Significant Industrial Area" designation under Senate Bill 766, which would fast-track industrial development with little public involvement.

We can't do this without you. Please donate to our Port Westward Fund and forward this request to your friends and neighbors committed to preserving farmland and stopping dangerous oil and coal trains from disrupting Columbia County.

For questions about Port Westward, please contact Riverkeeper's Community Organizer Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky at (503) 929-5950 or jasmine@columbiariverkeeper.org.

 


 

For online donations, please indicate in the box designated 'This donation is in honor of' that your donation is a contribution to the Port Westward Legal Fund. Checks can be mailed to:

Columbia Riverkeeper 111 Third Street Hood River, Oregon 97031 Please write Port Westward Legal Fund  in the memo line of your check.