Letters to EcoNews
acquiring container ships with self-loading/unloading cranes which can off-load on any port blacktop, regardless of the port’s industrial crane capacity. They are smaller ships and will fit in anywhere. It’s almost an answer to Ken Miller’s push for off-shore barging of goods (short-sea shipping) from a few years ago to make widening of 101 at Richardson Grove unnecessary. Merely saying “No” to development will likely not succeed for long.
Let’s not leave off acting until What can we do about this? the wolves are at the door First off, we need to establish firm environmental
guidelines for port development. Of course coal is unacceptable and it is pleasing And equally important, we need to adopt a thorough to watch the Supervisors, Huff man, McGuire and Eel River Canyon Restoration Plan to repair the legacy Wood beat the drum against opening up the rail line problems of the previous railroad. This should be to transport it through Humboldt Bay. spelled out in detail for every slope failure and creek My take, though, is that coal is a stalking horse for crossing. Rex Bohn says NCRA has the problem another initiative to “revitalize” a Humboldt Bay Port locations already mapped. and rail extension to the rest of the US. The resistance Next step is to put a price tag on each restoration to coal will be overwhelming to the developers of the site. This work should be done whether for a Redwoods rail and they will graciously switch to another reason for Trail or as initial steps for repairing the rail line. It the line: container landings which will bring toys from becomes the baseline Asia for “all the good cost that a rebuilt little boys and girls rail line will need to on the other side of meet. Having that the mountain” (as in place (studies, in The Little Blue costs, etc.) before Engine That Could). railroad proponents This is the prize. come out with their The consumer numb ers of the and export economy cost to make the of the US, as well line operational is as the productive key to negotiating. economy of Asia, Otherwise, THEY will be behind will have the this, given how the advantage and major west coast frame the debate ports have proven in front of decision under-developed, makers, using unreliable and inept. low -ball figures Auto manufacturers Aerial view of Humboldt Bay, the Port facilities. for an inadequate as well as computer/ Source: Robert Campbell - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Digital Visual Library restoration. We’ll IT hardware be playing defense. producers are unable to meet consumer demand owing NCRA dropped the ball (if they ever had a grip) to a shortage of parts normally imported from Asia. in not coming up with a precise plan for restoring Domestic manufacturing will take decades to meet the Eel line and ecosystem restoration plan. They their needs, if it could even move in that direction. stopped after getting rough cost estimates, threw up One, somewhat reluctantly, has to recognize their hands, and tossed it over to the trail advocates that the enormous global capital available to open taking the easy way out. And many applauded them up Humboldt Bay and the inland railroad link views for doing so. repairing the Eel River canyon and port upgrades as Now is the time to ask our representatives, McGuire small change, given that the annual value of this trade and Wood, to find funding to document the full cost for in the Pacific would be $6,008,830,193,000 export and restoration of the land along the rail line and establish $5,529,166,924,000 import, PLUS tariffs collected by environmental guidelines for port development. Let’s the federal government. Goldman Sachs once offered not leave off acting until the wolves are at the door to develop our port. They knew what was coming. and surrounding us. The Board of Supervisors and the Humboldt wisely rejected their offer and, seemingly, Harbor Commissioners need to have firm figures for forgot what prompted it. With container shipping restoring Public Trust Resources in hand before any snarled on the west coast, it is apparent that opening development can be considered. Otherwise, Humboldt, up new places for ships to dock is an essential service once again, will be railroaded into accepting a bad deal. for the US economy. Costco, Walmart and other large entities are - Michael Evenson, Lost Coast Ranch
ECONEWS NOVEMBER 2021
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EcoNews Report
Recent EcoNews Reports: Broadway — Dangerous By Design? October 9, 2021 – Broadway is one the most dangerous streets in California for pedestrians. In the last decade alone, at least 10 people have been killed and at least 14 people severely injured while walking or biking on Broadway. What is being done about it? Colin Fiske of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities joins Gang Green to talk about what fixes can and should be undertaken immediately to make the roadway safer for all road users.
Eel River Salmon Win Before FERC October 2, 2021 – There’s a proposal to remove the fish-blocking Scott Dam on the Eel River but looming problems still remain. In an important win for salmon, FERC has agreed to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service as required by the Endangered Species Act.
What Smells at Stinky Beach? September 18, 2021 – The City of Eureka’s wastewater treatment facility releases its treated wastewater into Humboldt Bay near its facility by the Elk River. Nearby, surfers play at Stinky Beach and Humboldt Bay residents collect seafood. Jen Kalt of Humboldt Baykeeper and Delia Bense-Kang of the Surfrider Foundation join the show to talk about where your waste goes when you flush and the impacts to Humboldt Bay.
What Fresh Hell is This Coal Train, Now? September 11, 2021 – A shadowy shell corporation is threatening our future with a proposal to purchase the Northwestern Pacific rail line, kill the dream of the Great Redwood Trail, and ultimately export coal from the Midwest out of Humboldt Bay. Tune in to hear the details of how such an absurd proposal is even possible, and why we must take this threat seriously and fight it with everything we’ve got!
Walking in the Footsteps of Roosevelt and Muir September 4, 2021 – What would Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir talk about if they were alive today? Obi Kauffman joins Gang Green to talk about his friendship with California Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot and the premiere of a short film about the Sierra Buttes.
KHUM104.3 Sat @ 10am
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