Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker are asking for help from House and Senate officials to delay implementation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion that will affect the National Flood Insurance Program.
On Tuesday morning, Oct. 25, the commissioners signed a letter to senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and representatives Cliff Bentz, Suzanne Bonamicci, Kurt Schrader, Earl Blumenauer and Peter DeFazio.
“Implementation of this BiOp has hung like a cloud over the head of Oregon communities for six years with counties and property owners unsure of what rules apply to their communities and of the potential consequences of proceeding with projects now that FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and NMFS may deem violations later,” Tucker said in drafting the letter. “Farmers in particular are concerned that implementation of the restrictions set forth in the BiOp will be the final nail in the coffin of their viability.”
The commissioners noted that FEMA and NMFS have, over the last six years, “rolled out three different implementation plans – none of which address the fundamental errors and deficiencies in the BiOp’s analysis and conclusions.” Those include the BiOp’s “failure to consider existing regulations and programs in Oregon that address and/or mitigate many of the concerns laid out in the BiOp.”
The letter also noted that FEMA had not adequately engaged local governments in discussions regarding the development of these new rules or considered how governments were already acting to protect endangered species and their habitats. In addition, it argued that the group had proposed a “one size fits all” top-down mandate about how local governments must require ESA compliance and would not allow credit for existing regulatory floodplain programs and habitat restoration projects.
The consequences of not fulfilling FEMA/NMFS rules could lead to families being suspended from the National Flood Insurance Program and the possibility of counties being ineligible for federal disaster relief funding.
The letter also noted that Rep. DeFazio championed the cause, but “we need additional support” and “this is a unique circumstance which warrants a unique approach.”
In other business, the commissioners:
— Learned from Juvenile Director Torri Lynn that area-school referrals had started to increase, with 52 in September. Some 171 youth are in the Probation Unit, either on probation or pending court hearings, with 42 assessed as high-risk. About 77 are in the Community Programs Unit, and 82 are working with the Intervention Specialist. Some 86 have not been involved with law enforcement.
— Heard their first report from new Linn County Expo Center Director Kris Barnes, who succeeds the recently retired Randy Porter. The former facilities director said event bookings are returning, although some events, such as horse shows, are smaller. He hoped to fill open dates by increasing activities such use by area equestrian teams. Staffing remained tight, he said, adding that he needed to find a replacement for his job.
— Approved a wrecking yard license for G and R Wreckers.
— Held an executive session to discuss a property issue and possible litigation. No actions were taken on either subject after the meeting returned to regular session.
– Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Office