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December 29, 2011 Opinions |
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—LETTERS—
Resource Plans Need Your Input
To The Record-Courier:
The release of the 1800 pages of graphs, maps, and new proposed resource areas, was announced this past week. You can expect the 1989 document with its amendments, to be replaced with one of the numbered new alternatives.
Resource Management and Travel Management are not the same. BLM would like you to believe the focus on resource will not impact roads. The “no action alternative” best preserves the roads we presently travel and enjoy.
Currently, the public has two plans to deal with. The forest service Travel Management Plan, and the recently released BLM Resource Management Plan. On the heals of these two will be the Forest Service Resource Plan for the Blue Mountains, then the BLM with a Travel Management Plan. Is it intentional to overwhelm the public with these plans?
Fortunately Baker County has created a natural resource committee to guard our best interests. The County Commission and the Resource Committee need to hear from you. Individuals need to make written comments to BLM and voice their opinions.
Beginning Jan. 10, 2012, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at Durkee Community Hall, will begin a series of public meetings. Take time to be informed and attend the meetings, then follow up with written comments.
Wanda Ballard
Lifetime Northeast Oregon resident
Exploiting Dirty Agendas
To The Record-Courier:
Well, you know that seems to be the character make up of the world that we live in nowadays. Trying to make some sense or good out of all of it is beyond me or probably anyone for that matter.
Seems like when one is ousted in any given event, then it is on to the next one of who they can exploit the backgrounds of. In a lot of ways how we represent ourselves in public, giving one’s opinion and how it comes across (hopefully in an appropriate manner) says a lot of one's character.
It seems as though who I thought would be the least popular of the candidates for president is making some advancements. But I wonder now before all is said how well the individuals will hold and defend themselves after the issues of behind closed doors is exposed. To me these issues would never come about if the individual or individuals involved never had the complications of past issues to begin with. They could stand firm on a clean record against all who would be guilty of such actions. It was mentioned that it is kinda of like a circus now.
Now it seems as though they are trumping on whoever and will see how far it can ride. So yes probably for some of us, why bother to vote when there isn't much to vote on or anyone who can get the job done. Time will tell.
It’s wishful thinking that Congress would put issues aside and get their acts together and really take care of business before we all really feel the affects of their stupidity and on-going doings that is being placated before anything can get done to begin with. Yes with all those high wires that they try to balance themselves on, no matter what it is like a circus.
Like the weather with trees and strong winds, they aren't as solid as they are deemed to be. It makes you wonder what leaders will be tripping themselves up and be shaken to the point that there will be no ground left for them to stand on where they once thought it was solid enough to hold them upright. Even those who have been long standing could be shaken. Look what is happening around the world with all of the leaders being ousted. It’s pretty sad to see what all this is amounting to.
So aside from all this exploiting of dirty agendas, think I will stick to my Looney Tune characters. They seem to be harmless. I will enjoy them and my coffee doings and hope that all these issues will blow over as one would say no matter how strong the winds may be.
Coffee Anyone?
Brenda Dickison
Baker City, Ore.
Wind Over Coal
To The Record-Courier:
Wind power is the future. It’s the most cost-effective source of renewable energy, and is starting to undercut fossil fuels. Power from conventional coal costs $68 per megawatt-hour, while wind power in high resource areas cost $65 per megawatt-hour.
Supplies of coal and oil dwindle each day, but there will always be wind. And since wind will always be there, it isn’t subject to the type of supply-side market fluctuations that exist for fossil fuels.
Moreover, coal has serious underlying environmental implications. The combustion of coal is required for it to be used for energy, and this combustion releases multiple tons of carbon dioxide and other gases, which contribute to respiratory diseases and climate change.
Combustion of coal exceeds both natural gas and crude oil in its emissions. Although some of these emissions can be reduced through technology, they are proven to create serious health problems in areas where they are emitted excessively.
The only environmentally unfriendly thing about wind is its effect on birds and their migration. Cars, glass, cats, and pesticides all make far greater contributions to bird mortality than windmills. Wind companies are working to further minimize this impact.
Global energy consumption is on the rise, wind power even more so. Thirty-five percent of all new U.S. generating capacity added in the last 4 years was wind. The energy, jobs and environmental benefits of wind hold great promise, not just for the rural Midwest and Great Plains, but for all of America, rural and urban alike.
Tom Means
Center for Rural Affairs
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