Commissioners seek help with FEMA BiOp issues

ALBANY — 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.

Tuesday morning 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 and NMFS may deem violations later,” Commissioner 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 note that over the last six years, FEMA and NMFS have “rolled out three different implementation plans — none of which address the fundamental errors and deficiencies in the BiOp’s analysis and conclusions.”

Those errors/deficiencies 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 notes that FEMA:

• Has not adequately engaged local governments in the discussion of development of these new rules.
• Has not considered how local governments are already acting to protect endangered species and their habitats.
• Has proposed a “one size fits all” top-down mandates about how local governments must require ESA compliance.
• Will 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 not being eligible for federal disaster relief funding.

The letter also notes that Rep. DeFazio has championed this 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 referrals from area schools have begun to tick up, there were 52 referrals in September. There are 171 youth in the Probation Unit, either on probation or pending court hearings, with 42 of those assessed as high-risk. 77 young people are in the Community Programs Unit and 82 are working with the Intervention Specialist. 86 have not been involved with law enforcement.
• Had their first report from new Linn County Fair & Expo Center Director Kris Barnes, who succeeds Randy Porter, who recently retired. Barnes has been the Expo Center’s facilities director for several years. He said event bookings are returning, although some events such as horse shows, are smaller. He hopes to fill in open dates by increasing activities such use by area equestrian teams. Staffing remains tight and he will need to find a replacement for his job.
• Approved a wrecking yard license for G and R Wreckers.
• Held an Executive Session to discussion property issues and possible litigation. No actions were taken on either subject after the meeting returned to regular session.

Photo information: New Linn County Fair & Expo Center Director Kris Barnes gives his first monthly report to Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker. 

Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.