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August 12, 2010 Front Page |
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EPA Denies Ash Grove Subcategory, But The Plant May Have More Time To Comply
By Jason Smith
The Environmental Protection Agency recently ruled against allowing the Ash Grove cement plant to have a provision that would give it a subcategory for mercury emissions.
The plant in Durkee faces a unique challenge. The limestone that is quarried at Ash Grove has an unusually high amount of naturally occurring mercury, which is a result of the volcanic nature of the rock in this area. Curtis Lesslie, vice president of environmental affairs at Ash Grove, stated in a phone interview that the Environmental Protection Agency said by granting a subcategory, it would still allow too much mercury to be emitted into the air. Lesslie said that in 2007, Ash Grove entered into a voluntary agreement with the state of Oregon to research a way to reduce the mercury emissions. The company invested approximately $20 million into an Activated Carbon Injection System, which resulted in an emissions reduction of about 85 to 90 percent. However, this still did not meet the standard the EPA is requiring, which calls for at least a 95 percent reduction.
Kee To Be City Manager
by Mark Bogart
In a unanimous vote the Baker City Council chose Ontario Police Chief Mike Kee to be the new City Manager. Tuesday’s council meeting was marked by smiles and compliments among the councilors, who were clearly pleased both to land Kee as manager and to do it without argument or criticism of the process.
Kee is a graduate of Baker High School. He served in Ontario as a police officer and then as chief. His limited experience with city government beyond the police department occurred when he served as Ontario’s interim City Manager in 2008.
The council had three choices going into Tuesday’s meeting. Besides Kee, they could have selected former Baker City Manager Jerry Gillham, or they could have continued their search using a recruiting agency selected at the last council meeting.
Two Teenagers Arrested After Vandalism Spree
By Debby Schoeningh
After a spree of vandalism to vehicles and theft from vehicles, two 15-year-old juveniles have been arrested and charged with the crimes.
Baker County Sheriff Mitch Southwick said the two boys, on July 19, allegedly vandalized the Haines Elementary school, cut hoses and vandalized several unattended cars by pouring food inside (one car), puncturing tires and writing on the vehicles with caulking sealant.
The youths are also charged with entering and vandalizing approximately 15-20 cars in the Haines area last weekend. Southwick said along with stealing small items like change and cigarettes, a handgun was stolen out of one vehicle. He said all of the vehicles involved were unlocked.
Rattlesnake Found At Home In Western Heights
By Debby Schoeningh
Bob and Shannon Moon of Baker City discovered a rattlesnake Friday on their property in Western Heights. Bob said he had heard of people seeing rattlesnakes in other areas on the outskirts of town, including the local golf course, but this is the first one he knows of that has been found in the Western Heights area.
He said Shannon had spied the snake while she was mowing the lawn earlier in the day.
"It startled her and slithered off, and she ran in the opposite direction," he said.
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