Islands' Sounder, June 27, 2012

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Sounder The Islands’

Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County

WEDNESDAY, June 27, 2012 n VOL. 45, NO. 26 n 75¢

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Island views

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Council set to pass revised rules on wireless communication Check out

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Island views

Poor cell phone service may be coming to an end with new ordinance by Steve Werhly Journal reporter

Check out the July 4th celebrations on Orcas – page 9

Spotty cell phone coverage in the San Juan Islands, where boaters at Sucia Island get better reception than many Orcas residents, might be coming to an end. Island cell phone users, county emergency service personnel and even disgruntled whale watchers at Lime Kiln Park are being promised better cellular phone service if the San Juan County Council passes the Broadband/Emergency Services/Wireless Ordinance at a June 26 public hearing. Cell phone service has been a perennial issue for residents of all islands, but communication needs of public safety personnel and emergency service providers have been a priority concern since an ad hoc citizens group was formed in 2008 to address constraints of local land use rules

on the sites of communications antennas. If approved, the pending wireless ordinance would replace regulations on siting of cellular antenna siting that went into effect in 1997. Drawing on recommendations of the citizens group and the planning commission, the proposed ordinance liberalizes the permitting process that would allow for more locations for cellular service antennas, especially for antennas classified as “joint use” and those that meet aesthetic and safety design standards. “We have gone through a long process,” said County Councilman Howie Rosenfeld. “There’s things we might have done differently, but it’s something we need to get done, especially for law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs.” But it’s not a done deal quite yet. The county council recent-

Hazards on the horizon

Oil tankers harming Salish Sea?

Sounder deadlines

by CALI BAGBY Staff reporter

The proposed Cherry Point Coal Terminal near Ferndale, Wash., has been causing an outcry on the islands, but local conservationists are concerned about multiple hazards. Nationwide environmentalist have applauded President Barack Obama’s refusal so far to authorize TransCanada proposed 1,179-mile Keystone XL pipeline running from Alberta, Canada to Nebraska, but stopping the pipeline wouldn’t necessarily mean stopping the potential risk to the islands’ ecosystem. More tar sands may be exported through the Salish Sea instead of the pipeline, according to Chom Greacen of Islands Energy Coalition, a Lopezbased organization advocating for local and sustainable energy. “If the fossil fuel industry has its way, the risk of major oil spills will grow significantly as plans are underway to make the Salish Sea a major tanker highway for exporting coal and tar sands oil to Asia,” Greacen said. “Now our Salish Sea and the Strait of Juan de Fuca are

ly received notice from Verizon Cellular asserting that the proposed ordinance discriminates against cellular providers in favor of Orcas Power and Light Cooperative. The recent letter reiterates positions taken during public hearings on the ordinance earlier this year and has been reviewed by County Prosecutor Attorney Randy Gaylord. Gaylord said he has vetted the ordinance as well as the arguments advanced by Verizon and others in the letter and during the public hearing process. His conclusion, which he provided to the council yesterday, is that the ordinance “addresses the concerns expressed” by the service providers and “is ready to be passed” by the council. Council Chairwoman Patty Miller acknowledged that “there has been a question raised” about “preferential treatment.” But, she said, “I do not expect it will derail the ordinance which we expect to pass as early as next Tuesday [after the Sounder went to press].” And none too soon perhaps for islanders weary of yelling, “Can you hear me now?” on their cellphones.

contributed photo

Above: A coal tanker in Canada. Island environmentalists are concerned about more tanker activity. seen by the tar sand industry as an attractive gateway to export this excess oil to Asia. In fact, it’s already been happening.” She is referring to Kinder Morgan’s 714-mile “Trans-Mountain” oil pipeline from Alberta to Vancouver, B.C., with its smaller pipeline tapping off from the main trunk to Anacortes. The line provides the only access for Canadian oil to reach the West Coast of the United States. The system is currently capable of carrying 300,000 barrels a day and Kinder Morgan has announced plans to double that to 750,000 barrels a day. America’s main and growing source of oil imports is from Canada, even surpassing the Middle East and Mexico, according to the

Department of Energy. More than half of the Canadian oil production in 2010 was from tar sands – a sticky tar-like form of crude oil mixed with sand and clay in Alberta, and one of the largest remaining deposits of oil in the world. Already very large, the tar sands crude production is expected to grow 150 percent by 2025, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. The association has also said that the Canadian oil industry is in an “oversupply” situation and looking for an “outlet.” This, combined with plans by SSA Marine – a division of the world’s largest cargo termi-

See HAZARDS, Page 6

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