Coos County Watchdog


  • Home >>>
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Links
    • Whistle-Blower’s Page
  • Blog >>>
    • Info Blogs
  • Issues >>>
    • Johnson Creek Dam
    • Jury Nullification >
      • Jury Nullification on Facebook
    • More Choices in Bandon
    • NO Bandon Marsh Expansion >
      • Bandon Marsh Expansion on Facebook
    • Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance >
      • S.A.S.O on FB
    • State of Jefferson >
      • State of Jefferson on Facebook
    • The Coos County Charter
    • Urban Renewal Information

DEQ ~ Rulemaking Restrictions for NF Smith River Public Comment & Meeting

1/15/2017

Comments

 
Picture
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is proposing amendments to its administrative rules at OAR 340-041.

Summary
 
DEQ will ask the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission to approve proposed rule amendments to:
  • Declare the North Fork Smith River in Oregon, and its tributaries and associated wetlands, as Outstanding Resource Waters under Oregon's antidegradation regulations under the Clean Water Act
  • Establish policies to protect the unique water quality values and outstanding values and ecological characteristics of the North Fork Smith River and its tributaries and associated wetlands   
 
Public Participation
 
DEQ will accept public comments on this proposed rulemaking until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. You may submit comments electronically at the website for this rulemaking: North Fork Smith River 2017 Rulemaking. You may also send comments directly to DEQ at the following address:
 
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Attn.: Aron Borok
700 NE Multnomah Blvd.
Portland, OR 97232
 
DEQ will also accept comments from the public at two hearings on this proposed rulemaking.
 
The first public hearing will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, at:
 
DEQ Headquarters, 3rd Floor
700 NE Multnomah St.
Portland, OR 97232
 
The second hearing will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, at:
 
Best Western Harbor Inn
16008 Boat Basin Rd.
Brookings, OR 97415
 
The public can participate in both hearings by video webinar or audio teleconference:
 
Video Webinar Link:
Webinar link
Teleconference Call-in Number: 888-363-4734
Teleconference Participant ID: 1910322
 
Instructions for joining webinar or teleconference:
Webinar instructions
 
Additional Information
 
To view copies of the notice documents, learn more about this rulemaking, and how to submit comments, you can view the rulemaking web page linked to above.

If you want to receive future email notices about this rulemaking, you must sign up at: DEQ Govdelivery.
 
You can also obtain more information about this rulemaking by contacting:
 
Aron Borok
503-229-5050
borok.aron@deq.state.or.us

The Petitioner/Enviro-Whacko

Petition to DEQ NF Smith River 2-23-2016
File Size: 7447 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The person filing the petition is Gordon R Lyford.

https://www.oregon.gov/deq/WQ/Documents/petitionorwo.pdf

Company Name:  WILD RIVERS WATER RIGHTS
File Number:  264264-94
Filing State:  Oregon (OR)
Filing Status:  Active
Filing Date:  January 21, 2005
Company Age:  11 Years, 9 Months
Registered Agent:  Gordon R Lyford
Po Box 118
O'brien, OR 97534

Principal Address:  
822 Lone Mountain Rd
O'brien, OR 97534


Wild Rivers Water Rights is an Oregon Assumed Business Name filed on January 21, 2005 . The company's filing status is listed as Active and its File Number is 264264-94.

The Registered Agent on file for this company is Gordon R Lyford and is located at Po Box 118, O'Brien, OR 97534. The company's principal address is 822 Lone Mountain Rd, O'Brien, OR 97534.

The company has 1 principal on record. The principal is Gordon R Lyford from O'Brien OR.

Petition to Designate the North Fork Smith River an Outstanding Resource Water
On January 4, 2016, Gordon Lyford submitted a petition to the Environmental Quality Commission and DEQ on behalf of a group of conservation and fishing organizations to designate the North Fork Smith River as an Outstanding Resource Water. Mr. Lyford withdrew the petition a few weeks later and resubmitted it with changes on February 23, 2016. State regulations require that the Environmental Quality Commission consider the petition within 90 days and either deny the petition, direct DEQ to initiate rulemaking proceedings, or deny the petition and direct DEQ to take other action.
The petition proposed amendments to DEQ’s antidegradation rule at OAR 340-041-0004 designating the North Fork Smith River and its tributaries Outstanding Resource Waters. In addition, the petition proposes amending the basin-specific criteria for the South Coast Basin at OAR 340-041-0305 as follows:

1) The North Fork Smith River and all of its tributaries and wetlands are ORWs.
2) The high water quality, ecological values, and existing and designated uses of these waters shall be maintained;
3) DEQ shall not allow new or expanded NPDES permitted discharges to these waters, upstream waters, or tributaries to these waters;
4) No activities shall be allowed that would degrade the water quality, ecological characteristics or values of these waters;
5) Exceptions may be made to respond to public emergencies or for restoration or enhancement of water quality or ecological values.

DEQ provided an opportunity for the public to submit comments on the petition
2 and received comments from more than 1000 people supporting the petition. These comments noted the qualities and values of the North Fork Smith River including its exceptional water quality and clarity; pristine nature; lack of dams; valuable fisheries including the Coho salmon, a threatened species in the Southern Oregon and Northern California coastal region; unique geology; rare wetland plants; recreational opportunities; and natural beauty. Some commenters also noted the importance of the North Fork Smith River to downstream users including tribes and as a source of drinking water to several communities. Commenters also stated that the ORW designation was needed to protect the river from potential mining and logging impacts and to protect it for future generations.

DEQ also received comments from more than ten parties opposing the petition. In summary, the comments stated that:


•
ORW designation is unnecessary to protect water quality of the North Fork Smith River;
• The petition bypasses the ORW screening process outlined in DEQ’s antidegradation regulations;
• The ORW designation is inconsistent with the management plan for the Rogue River National Forest;
• The designation may restrict timber harvest and grazing and thus prevent economic opportunity;
• The designation creates impediments to mining, eliminates the ability to obtain new water rights, eliminates activities with minor impacts that would not violate water quality standards; and
• The activities of dredge miners, which might be restricted, do more environmental good than harm.

DEQ staff presented information to the EQC on April 20, 2016, about the petition and the public comment received. At the meeting, the EQC directed DEQ to conduct rulemaking on the proposed rule language in the petition. In addition, the EQC directed DEQ to use the technical analyses from DEQ’s June 1995 ORW Implementation Plan (DEQ 1995) in evaluating the proposed ORW designation for the North Fork Smith River. Section 3 of this issue paper contains DEQ’s evaluation of this proposal relative to the 1995 ORW Implementation Plan.

1 Unless otherwise noted, references in this paper to the "NF Smith River" refers to the portion of the North Fork Smith River within Oregon and its tributaries.
2 OAR 137-001-0070(3)

Proposed Rulemaking
Aron Borok, 503-229-5050
Outstanding Resource Waters are high quality waters that constitute an outstanding state resource due to their extraordinary water quality or ecological values, or where special protection is needed to maintain critical habitat areas. The Environmental Quality Commission adopted Oregon’s ORW policy, part of the state’s antidegradation policy, in 1991 and may be found at OAR 340-041-0004(8). To date, no waters have been designated ORWs in Oregon.
 
Sign up for email updates on the rulemaking via GovDelivery
 
 Public Involvement
Submit a comment​ 
Comment period closes at 4 p.m. Feb. 28, 2017.

 
Public Notice Packet
Includes invitation to comment, notice, proposed rules, and any supporting documents
 
Advisory committee on North Fork Smith River Outstanding Resource Waters
DEQ has appointed an advisory committee to provide input on shaping the rules necessary to implement this designation.
 
Advisory Committee Roster
Related Posts:
DEQ ~ Imposing the Latest Sewer System Standards for Oregon Cities
DEQ ~ Designating Land-Grab Committee for N-Fork Smith River Meets Oct. 17, 2016
DEQ Proposes Temporary Rule Amendments for Invalid Portions of the EPA
#DEQ ~Eats Crow & Proposes Temporary Revisions to Greenhouse Gas Permitting
DEQ---Extends Public Comment to August 28 for Proposed Air Quality Permitting  
DEQ---Public Comments by July 31, 2014 Proposed Revisions Air Quality Permitting
EPA---Public Comments on Proposed Water Rule to Make Federal Land Grabs Easier 
EPA---Public Comment on Disapproval of OR Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control 
SCOTUS---Did EPA Overstep on Global Warming 

Comments

    Categories

    All
    A.F.P.
    Agenda 21
    Bandon
    B.I.A.
    B.L.M.
    Coos Bay
    Coos County
    Coos County
    Coquille
    County Charter
    Curry County
    C.W.A.
    Democratic Party
    D.E.Q.
    Eco Devo
    Eco Devo
    Economic Development
    Educational
    Elections
    E.P.A.
    F.D.A.
    F.E.M.A.
    Individual Rights
    I Spy Radio
    Jury Nullification
    Legislation
    Letter To Editor
    Mary Geddry
    N.D.A.A.
    News Wave
    N.O.A.A.
    North Bend
    O&C Land
    O.D.F.W.
    O.D.O.T.
    O.F.F.
    O.H.A.
    O.P.R.D.
    O.R.C. Mining
    O.W.E.B.
    P.E.R.S.
    Petitions
    Port Of Coos Bay
    Public Comments
    Public Events
    Regulation
    Republican Party
    S.A.O.V.A.
    State Of Jefferson
    The Bandon Marsh
    The Economy
    The Rob Taylor Report
    The Supreme Court
    The Tea Party
    Urban Renewal
    U.S.A.C.E.
    U.S.D.A.
    U.S.F.S
    U.S.F.W.S.

    Sign-Up Now to Stay Informed

    * indicates required

    View previous campaigns.

    Send Letters to:
    ​cooscountywatchdog@gmail.com​

    Disclaimer: Letters to the Editor and other opinions published in The Coos County Watchdog blog are not necessarily the views of the Editor, Publisher, or possible anyone else in their right mind.  The Watchdog reserves the right to edit, omit, or copy any and all submissions. 
    Letters to the Editor must be attributed with a name, address, and contact phone number. 

    WARNING:
    Political correctness is not practiced on this
    page & some content is inappropriate

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from DieselDemon