A lawsuit is challenging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decision not to require a permit for the construction of a new refinery on the Columbia River.

NEXT Renewable Fuels has proposed a refinery for renewable diesel and a rail yard in Port Westward, near Clatskanie, Ore. Columbia Riverkeeper and 1000 Friends of Oregon are challenging the lack of permitting needed for the project.

Audrey Leonard, Columbia Riverkeeper staff attorney, said the construction could threaten levee infrastructure and low-lying farmland nearby.

"The reason that a permit would be required is to just ensure that all that activity doesn't degrade or harm the infrastructure," she explained.

The road could impact levee infrastructure built in 1915 to protect more than 5,700 acres of farmland. Leonard noted that NEXT has said it will need to conduct studies to determine how much weight the road and levee can withstand. The Army Corps of Engineers claims the project will have no impact on the levee.

Leonard added there is concern for a nearby Columbia River estuary as well.

"It's a really important part of the Columbia River, really important for salmon and other fish," she explained, "and essentially, increasing more fuel traffic by barge, feedstock traffic, increases the risk of spill."

In their legal complaint, Columbia Riverkeeper and 1000 Friends of Oregon say the project will destroy 120 acres of wetlands and store more than a million barrels of diesel and aviation fuel near the Columbia River.

Farm producers and landowners have until the end of this week to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency's Grasslands Conservation Reserve Program.

More than 2 million acres of Nebraska land are enrolled in one of three CRP programs, nearly three-fourths of it in grassland. It is unique among the CRP programs because landowners are allowed to continue using the land for grazing or haying.

Zach Ducheneaux, administrator of the Farm Service Agency, called the program "the essence" of the USDA's working lands conservation initiative. He said grazing on CRP land often involves more "hands on" practices.

"That are really aimed at enhancing soil health through the use of livestock in a way that will eventually lead to increased productivity, and producers will see more biodiversity," Ducheneaux explained. "They'll end up seeing better production from the land for their livestock."

Since 1985, landowners have voluntarily taken acres out of production through the Conservation Reserve Programs. They receive a rental payment in return, currently a minimum of around $13 an acre. Environmental benefits include preserving and enhancing the soil, promoting carbon sequestration and protecting wildlife habitat and diversity.

The deadline for 2024 applications is June 28.

Nebraska landowners added more than 400,000 new acres to the program last year, second only to Colorado.

Ducheneaux noted most land suitable for grazing is appropriate for the program but it must meet an "environmental benefit index" threshold to be accepted. In addition to the rental payment, landowners can receive financial assistance to improve their land.

"They have access to cost-share dollars that can help them do infrastructure development that maybe makes that land a little more productive," Ducheneaux outlined. "Better fencing, pollinator habitat, perhaps water development, if it's needed."

Ducheneaux stressed a great deal of thought goes into the environmental impact of land use, for example, if a landowner plans to use it for haying.

"Since it's a mechanical harvesting in most cases, it can create a vulnerability in some of the bird habitat," Ducheneaux pointed out. "We try to encourage the haying to happen in a certain way, or after the nesting season, which is set on a state level."

Program enrollment has grown considerably during the Biden-Harris administration, which considers it a major tool for countering the effects of climate change.


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The FBI has joined New Mexico's local, state, federal and tribal partners to investigate the cause of two drought-fueled wildfires that have yet to be contained.

The South Fork and Salt fires began within five hours of each other on June 17.

Alan Webber, mayor of Santa Fe, said it is proof more needs to be done about climate change. Webber noted the fires in New Mexico along with equal devastation in the upper Midwest over the weekend from flash flooding. He believes the root cause can be traced to climate change and all communities need to be working on sustainability and improved infrastructure strategies.

"That will contribute to reversing climate change and bringing our natural environment back into balance so we don't see these catastrophes," Webber contended.

New Mexico also experienced flash flooding in the past few days, forcing emergency officials to pivot from fire support to flood rescues. President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the state last week, making more than $5 million available in additional emergency funds to support relief efforts.

The FBI is asking anyone with information about the fires to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Webber joined the 92nd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting last week, where in addition to climate change, he said mayors talked about public safety, the mental health crisis and homelessness. Along with affordable workforce housing, he said homelessness is affecting rural, urban and suburban cities, where different approaches are needed.

"Work on vouchers, work to help get veterans housed in particular," Webber urged. "That's a very vulnerable community. Seniors are increasingly facing homelessness in cities. We have to keep them housed, so I would say this is a national priority."

The recent New Mexico fires come just two years after the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire burned more than 300,000 acres, becoming the largest fire in New Mexico history.


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With the heat of summer pouring into Colorado, tree experts are offering tips for keeping our shade-producing friends in good health now, and throughout the year.

Jay Judd, district manager for the Davey Tree Expert Company, which serves the Denver metro area, said now is a good time to check trees near your home, especially after recent severe weather.

"It's good to just look up and assess the tree," Judd explained. "See if you have anything broken in there, or any major dead branches that are really evident now that the trees have leafed out. You could have some hazards."

Clean up and prune any unsafe, broken or hanging branches you can reach from ground level. Judd recommended higher branches should be handled by a certified arborist. Spring is also a great time to plant new trees and shrubs. The Colorado Tree Coalition has a free guide available online to help you choose the right tree for the right location.

Trees help improve health, reduce noise pollution, provide habitats for wildlife and reduce stormwater runoff. Preserving trees and helping new ones thrive can also mitigate the worst impacts of climate change by removing climate pollution from the atmosphere and keeping neighborhoods cool. Judd noted a warming climate is already impacting tree health.

"We're seeing a lot more stressed out trees," Judd observed. "It's definitely impacting neighborhoods that are more of a concrete jungle, as these individual trees -- and these islands that are in the middle of parking lots -- die off because they're just getting blasted by this heat."

He emphasized watering trees slowly will allow water to seep deep into the root structure. New trees need about 10 gallons per inch of trunk diameter, twice a week. Established trees need 15 gallons every other week. Judd added calling a professional arborist can also help address any die-off.

"The dead limbs you may see up in the canopy could be an insect or a disease," Judd explained. "They can diagnose that and prescribe some sort of treatments that can prevent that from spreading further."


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