Don’t surface mine Livingston Mountain


We strongly urge the Board of Commissioners to accept the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission to remove Livingston Mountain from the proposed update to the Surface Mining Overlay. The residential density of Livingston Mountain, along with unsuitable roads for this type of operation, makes this area a completely inappropriate area for mining.

The negative impacts to residents in an area around a mining operation include dangerous traffic conditions; loss of peace and tranquility due to the use of noisy, heavy trucks; damage to structures from shockwaves caused by mining explosions; and health hazards from silica-rich gravel dust.  Additionally, mining operations have a severe impact to the surrounding area’s surface water runoff, as well as the underground aquifers, wells, and wetlands in the area.

Given that there is already a mining concession on Livingston Mountain which is detrimental to this part of Clark County, we implore the Commissioners to take the necessary steps to ensure proper monitoring and enforcement of standards that protect public safety, water quality, noise, and traffic concerns that hurt the public good.  We support appointing a mining ombudsman to oversee the current mining operation to ensure compliance with appropriate public safety standards.

Finally, we insist that if there be any future proposals for mining on Livingston Mountain that they continue to be subjected to the legislative type IV land use review standards since these standards offer the greatest opportunity for public input.

                   Clark County Commissioners : Remove Livingston Mountain from the proposed update to the Surface Mining Overlay. 

  By Friends of Livingston Mountian
                                                Estacada, Oregon

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 5/7 ~~ the House


capitol21

The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Wednesday, May 7th.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2262, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, post-cloture. The 30 hours of post-cloture debate on the motion to proceed to S.2262 would expire at 5:45pm tomorrow. Senators will be notified when the next vote is scheduled.

This afternoon, Senator Vitter again asked unanimous consent the Veterans Affairs’ Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R.3521 and pass H.R.3521, Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013, as amended by a Vitter amendment (pay-for through price controls for prescription drugs in the Department of Defense). Senator Sanders objected.

 

Senator Sanders then asked the Senate take up and pass S.1950, as amended by the Sanders substitute amendment, which is the text of S.1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act which includes H.R.3521 along with many other provisions. Senator Vitter objected.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent that after up to 3 hours for debate, the Senate proceed to vote on passage of S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act; and if S.2262 is passed, the Senate vote on S.2280, a bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, before the end of this work period, with each bill being subject to a 60-affirmative vote thresholds. Senator McConnell objected.

 

Senator McConnell then asked consent that there be 5 Republican amendments in order prior to a vote on passage of S.2262, as amended, if amended. Senator Reid objected.

 

The Senate adopted the motion to proceed to S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, by voice vote; filled the amendment tree; and filed cloture on the bill. The cloture vote would occur upon disposition of Executive Calendar #690, Robin S. Rosenbaum, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit. Senator Reid also moved to proceed to Calendar #366, S.2260, Tax Extenders.

 

Senators should expect 2 procedural votes at 3:45pm today. We expect Senator McConnell or designee to make 2 motions to table with respect to S.2262, for the purpose of offering an amendment. The time until 3:45pm is equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees.

At 3:47pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Thune motion to table Reid amendment #3023. Another procedural vote similar in nature is expected following this vote.

 

Prior to the vote, Senator Thune asked consent to set aside the pending amendments in order to call up Thune amendment #3002 (ground level ozone standards). Senator Durbin objected.

 

Senator Thune then asked unanimous consent to call up amendment #3013 (establishment of standards for emissions of any greenhouse gas from fossil fuel-fired electric utility generating units). Senator Durbin.

 

Senator Thune then moved to table Reid amendment #3023 (date change).

3:47pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Thune motion to table Reid amendment 3023 (date change);

Not Tabled: 45-52

4:14pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Barrasso motion to table Reid amendment #3025 (date change);

Not Tabled: 45-51

 

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in up to 4 votes at 11:15am and up to 5 votes at 1:45pm tomorrow, Thursday, May 8, and up to 3 votes on Monday, May 12. All votes after the first vote in each series will be 10 minutes in duration. There will be 2 minutes for debate prior to each vote in this agreement. Below you will find the vote schedule.

 

Thursday, May 8

11:15am-up to 4 roll call votes:

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #655, Indira Talwani, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #656, James D. Peterson, of Wisconsin, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin
  3. Cloture on Executive Calendar #657, Nancy J. Rosenstengel, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois
  4. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #526, Pamela K. Hamamoto, of Hawaii, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, with the rank of Ambassador

 

1:45pm—up to 5 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #655, Indira Talwani, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #656, James D. Peterson, of Wisconsin, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #657, Nancy J. Rosenstengel, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois
  4. Cloture on Executive Calendar #690, Robin S. Rosenbaum, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit
  5. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #615, Theodore Reed Mitchell, of California, to be Under Secretary of Education

 

Monday, May 12

5:30pm—up to 3 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #690 Robin S. Rosenbaum, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #560 Steven Croley, of Michigan, to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy
  3. Cloture on S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014

 

Unanimous consent

Reid:    I ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding Rule 22, on Thursday, May 8, 2014, at 11:15 a.m., the Senate proceed to vote on cloture on Cal# 655 (Talwani), Cal#656 (Peterson),  and 657 (Rosenstengel), and proceed to consideration of  Cal# 526 (Hamamoto); further, that if cloture is invoked on any of those nominations, all post cloture time be expired and at 1:45 p.m., the Senate proceed to vote on the nominations in the order listed; further, that following disposition of Cal.#657 (Rosenstengel), the Senate proceed to vote on cloture on Cal.# 690 (Rosenbaum) and confirmation of Cal #615 (Mitchell), and that if cloture is invoked, all post cloture time be expired and on Monday, May 12, 2014, at 5:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to vote on confirmation of Cal #690 (Rosenbaum); further that upon disposition of Cal. #690 (Rosenbaum), the Senate proceed to the consideration and vote on confirmation of Cal #560 (Croley), further, that there be 2 minutes for debate prior to each vote, equally divided in the usual form, that any roll call votes, following the first in each series, be 10 minutes in length; further, that if confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nominations; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

 

Chair:  Without objection

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Thune motion to table Reid amendment #3023 to S.2262, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act; Not Agreed To: 45-52

2)     Barrasso motion to table Reid amendment #3012 to S.2262; Not Agreed To: 45-51

 

Additional Legislative Items

Discharged the Judiciary committee and passed H.R.3627, the Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act.

 

Began the Rule 14 process of the following bills in order to place them on the Legislative Calendar:

–        H.R.2824, the Protecting Coal Mining Jobs Act (Republican request) and

–        H.R.3826, the Electricity Security and Affordability Act (Republican request).

 

No Executive Items

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Last Floor Action: 10:01:05 A.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate.

At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

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