Dangerous rainbow fentanyl in Oregon
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2022
VOL. 131, NO. 17
NEXT air quality permit approved Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has approved a required air quality permit for the proposed $2 billion NEXT Renewable Fuels project at Port Westward. “This permit is being issued in accordance with the provisions of ORS 468A.040 and based on the land use compatibility findings included in the permit record,” according to the DEQ’s issued permit on the state agency’s website. “The key criteria used to approve a permit is that all state and federal rules that apply to the facility and its emissions generating equipment have been applied and that there are sufficient inspection, reporting, record keeping, and monitoring requirements have been applied to ensure compliance with those requirements,” DEQ Public Affairs Specialist Lauren Wirtis. “The permit for NEXT includes all of the applicable requirements and robust compliance requirements.” Wirtis said there is an appeal process to the permit approval, which provdes 20 days to contest the DEQ’s decision. “Additionally, anyone may also submit a petition for reconsideration within 60 days per OAR 137-0040080,” Wirtis said. “DEQ may then determine whether to grant or deny none, part or all of the petition. See this example of DEQ’s decision related a petition for reconsideration from 2020 for Columbia Pacific BioRefinery.” NEXT still has additional permit requirements through the DEQ, according to Wirtis. “NEXT has applied for a 401 water quality certification,” she sais. “DEQ is awaiting additional
Courtesy image from NEXT
The proposed renewable fuels development is planned for Post Westward at Clatskanie.
information from NEXT to inform the certification decision. NEXT will also have to get a stormwater construction (1200-C) permit for managing stormwater during facility construction and an industrial stormwater (1200-Z permit) for ongoing stormwater management.” The Chief has gathered responses concerning the latest DEQ permit approval from NEXT and from key members of those opposing the proposed project. NEXT Response Michael Hinrichs Director of Communications NEXT Renewable Fuels The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) has approved the air quality permit for NEXT Renewable Fuels’ $2 billion clean fuels project. The approval is a significant milestone and key state permit for developing the renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel facility at Port Westward in Colum-
bia County, Oregon. The air permit was awarded after ODEQ performed an exhaustive 18-month review. The extended review period included a host of new and novel requirements that NEXT worked to meet and exceed. As such, ODEQ acknowledged that the NEXT facility does not have an appreciable impact on local air resources. In its approval, agency leadership stated, “NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon, LLC is not a major source of EPA-listed hazardous air pollutants,” and “DEQ has concluded the potential emissions meet health risk standards for the community and do not require additional controls to be protective of public health.” The NEXT project is a tangible investment in making Oregon’s climate protection goals a reality, especially because it is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7 million tons each year. ODEQ has stated that “using renewable diesel can cut lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions up to 85%.” With no need
for engine modification, renewable diesel creates an immediate environmental and human health benefit while curbing reliance on fossil fuels. “It’s imperative that we transition away from fossil fuels towards a cleaner fuels economy as quickly as possible,” emphasized Chris Efird, NEXT CEO and Chairperson. “Our project accelerates green job creation and helps Oregon reach its aggressive decarbonization goals.” Efird’s comments echo those of ODEQ Director Richard Whitman, who wrote a guest editorial in the Oregonian highlighting how “renewable fuels production and refining are burgeoning industries in Oregon creating hundreds of new, high paying jobs.” NEXT’s facility is expected to create 3,500 green jobs during construction and 240 long-term green jobs during operation. Forecasts show that the facility will generate more than $45 million in annual tax revenue for the State of Oregon and Columbia County. Tax revenues
could be used for public safety, education, infrastructure, libraries, and other public services. NEXT has already received county land use approvals and an Oregon Department of State Lands Removal Fill permit. The company continues advancing through the National Environmental Protection Act process overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For more information on the clean fuels project, visit www.nextrenewables.com Opposition response Dan Serres Conservation Director Columbia Riverkeeper The overwhelming majority of those who testified at the DEQ hearing from the Port Westward community spoke in opposition to the project. Many argued that DEQ was
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Big ‘Kicker’ credit for taxpayers JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
This new front office area greets students, staff and visitors as they come through the front entrance of Clatskanie Middle/High School.
Back to School in Clatskanie The new school year will bring new changes to schools in Clatskanie. Classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 6 for the elementary and middle school students. Classes begin Wednesday, Sept. 7 for the high school students. Over the summer, voter-approved building renovations were developed. At Clatskanie Middle/High School, a new, brighter, more convenient front entrance has been installed with additional security. “What’s been done at the school is beautiful,” Clatskanie School District Superintendent Cathy Hurowitz said. “We have windows across the front. We have a secure entry and the flooring upstairs of the high school has been replaced.” Over the next several months, the
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middle school will become separated to the first floor of the high school. This year, the middle school classes will be conducted on the second floor of the building. Due to the national supply chain disruptions, student lockers have yet to be installed on the second floor for the middle school students “So, the middle school students will have to carry their backpacks from class to class,” Hurowitz said. Renovations to the district school building restrooms will be conducted during the holiday breaks this year, according to Hurowitz. “We’ll still have boys and girls restrooms, but we are making completely enclosed stalls for student privacy,” she said. “We just want kids to feel safe and to have privacy.” COVID-19 protocols Hurowitz said the Clatskanie School District is also providing individual student testing as each student enters the school buildings. “We will have staff there with portable and very quick temperature checks at both the high school and the elementary school,” she said. “Basically, also an eyeball check for any sickness symptoms. We are asking families not to send their children to school sick. Face coverings also are permitted at the schools. “We are encouraging students and our staff that if they are more comfortable wearing a mask, to wear the mask,” she said. The district is continuing its dis-
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Oregon taxpayers are in line to receive a share of the projected state revenues in the form of a tax credit, called the ‘kicker.’ The September Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast shows the projected personal kicker is $3.5 billion. Overall, the forecast shows the state will see an estimated $600 million in additional surging tax revenues. The report by the Oregon Department of Administrative Service issued Aug. 31 to Oregon ‘s legislators, also comes with a warning about a national recession. “The risks are real. The outlook is essentially a coin flip between the soft landing and a recession,” the state revenue forecast’s economic outlook states. Governor Kate Brown issued the following statement about the state’s September revenue forecast: “Thanks to the fiscally responsible decisions the State of Oregon has made over the last several years, we are well positioned with significant reserves to weather any economic challenges that lie ahead. Now, we must continue to make investments to benefit Oregon’s working families, so that all Oregonians can feel the benefits of our strong economic recovery.” “With rising costs of living continuing to impact Oregon families and businesses, the Legislature can, in the budget for the next biennium, build on the investments we made in the last session––particularly in housing, workforce development, behavioral health, and child care.” “And, thanks to the work of Oregon’s congressional delegation and the Biden-Harris administration to pass the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we can continue to invest federal dollars to lower costs and create jobs for working families.” Revenue Forecast Executive Summary Economists are on recession watch. The combination of slower economic growth, high inflation, and rising interest rates has histor-
ically been problematic. That said, despite the crosscurrents in the economic data so far this year, the U.S. economy is unlikely to have entered into a recession. Employment and industrial production continue to grow. Personal income and consumer spending are rising quickly but struggling to outpace the fastest inflation the U.S. has experienced since the early 1980s.While this may be reassuring today, the risks to the outlook are real. Inflation remains the key issue. Even as headline inflation slows in the months ahead, the underlying inflation trend is likely to remain above the Federal Reserve’s target. As such, the Fed is raising interest rates further to cool the economy. Given the impact of rate increases is generally felt one to two years down the road, getting policy just right is extremely difficult. In our office’s recent forecast advisory meetings there was a strong consensus that the risk of recession was uncomfortably high. The outlook is essentially a coin flip between the soft landing and a recession. For now, our office is keeping the baseline, or most probable outlook as the soft landing and continued economic expansion. Employment, income, and spending continue to grow, but at a slower pace than assumed in previous forecasts. This slower growth is needed for inflation to subside. However, if inflation does not slow as expected, and the Federal Reserve raises rates even further, our office’s alternative scenario of a mild recession beginning in late 2023 is more likely. Heading into the budget development season, growth in Oregon’s primary revenue instruments continues to outstrip expectations. Both personal and corporate tax collections remain strong, in keeping with income gains seen in the underlying economy. The forecast for the current 2021-23 biennium has been revised upward. Although the near-term forecast calls for additional revenue, this is offset in future budget periods by a more pessimistic economic outlook. Growth in spending and wages will need to slow to tame inflation, which translates into less state revenue growth across a
broad range of taxes. The potential recession would weigh heavily on revenues over the next several years. However, even if the economic expansion persists, General Fund revenues are due for a hangover in 2023-25. General Fund resources have continued to expand in recent years despite large kicker credits being issued. This growth is expected to pause in the near term, as nonwage forms of income return to earth and gains in the labor market slow. Recent gains in reported taxable income have been driven by taxpayer behavior as well as underlying economic growth. Investment and business income are not always realized for tax purposes as the same time they are earned in the market. Late 2021 was a great time to cash in assets, with equity prices and business valuations high, and potential federal tax increases on the horizon. Income reported on tax returns last year grew at more than double the rate of economic measures of in income. After so much income was pulled into tax years 2020 and 2021, less will be realized in the near term. And with recessionary risks rising, profits and gains could turn into losses, and a smaller share of filers could be subject to the top rate. The bottom line is that the unexpected revenue growth seen this year has left us with unprecedented balances this biennium, followed by a record kicker in 2023-25. The projected personal kicker is $3.5 billion, which will be credited to taxpayers when they file their returns in Spring 2024. The projected corporate kicker is $1.1 billion, which will be retained for educational spending. If current balances are not spent, net General Fund revenues for the upcoming 2023-25 biennium will be reduced by $24 million relative to the June 2022 forecast. The Oregon economic forecast is published to provide information to planners and policy makers in state agencies and private organizations for use in their decisionmaking processes. The Oregon revenue forecast is published to open the revenue forecasting process to public review. It is the basis for much of the budgeting in state government. The report is issued four times a year; in March, June, September, and December.