The state legislature has just approved funding for the State Human Rights Commission to expand its presence in Vancouver for the 2007 fiscal year, pending signature by the Governor. Various options were presented to the legislature which finally approved a state human rights investigator to come to Vancouver four days per month, as well as two weeks of education and outreach within the community, including meetings with community groups and the distribution of official brochures explaining the work of the Commission. Local access to the State Human Rights Commission has historically been limited to investigators taking complaints via a 1-800 number in Olympia. [Read More...]
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State Human Rights Commission in Vancouver – March 10, 2006
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RNA Watershed Stewards Honored – March 9, 2006
A Volunteer Recognition gala banquet was held Thursday, March 9th, 7pm at the Water Resource Service Center.
This event was given specifically for County volunteers, Clean Water Commissioners, and Watershed Stewards, in recognition of their service to environmental programs/projects in Clark County. [Read More...]
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RNA CERT TEAM IN ACTION – December 26, 2005
At 3:30am on Christmas morning, a sudden wind storm with severe gusts damaged property in Rosemere. A main trunk of a 65-foot tree was toppled by the winds and it crashed into a neighbor’s truck. Debris dangerously filled the intersection. Any unsuspecting driver who happened upon the scene would have suffered serious damage to their vehicle. The danger was immediately reported to 911, but no emergency crew responded. Often during storms of this nature, emergency services are overwhelmed with calls. [Read More...]
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Collaboration to Achieve Groundwater Protection in Clark County – December 7, 2005
On December 4, 2005, a petition was formally submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 10, Seattle, requesting that agency to designate the Troutdale and Unconsolidated Alluvium Aquifer System in Clark County, Washington, as a Sole Source Aquifer. The EPA defines the Sole Source Aquifer Program as a tool used to protect drinking water supplies in areas with few or no alternative sources to groundwater resources, and where if contamination occurred, using an alternative source for the potable water supply would be extremely expensive.
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Sewage Spill Reported at Frenchman’s Bar for Second Year in a Row – April 8, 2005
Anglers return to Frenchman’s Bar the day following the report of a sewage spill
The Washington State Department of Ecology’s Spill Responder’s Unit was dispatched to Frenchman’s Bar (near Vancouver Lake) on April 5, 2005 following another report of a raw sewage spill. This scene is a replay from a year ago when fishermen called in the worst sewage spill in memory at Frenchman’s Bar in April 2004, where the spill team found tampons, condoms, syringes, and globules of raw sewage washed ashore along two ½ miles of beach at Riverfront Park. A source was never discovered for the 2004 sewage spill, though a spill responder indicated that wind and weather conditions supported the theory that the spill was caused by a sewer overflow from Portland. However, Oregon’s DEQ was not able to identify a malfunction of Portland sewer treatment facilities. The Health Department closed Frenchman’s Bar under a public health emergency and special equipment was brought in to collect syringes hidden in the beach sand. [Read More...]
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Rosemere Neighborhood Association and Clark County Natural Resources Council File Supplemental 60-Day Notice of Intent to Sue Under the Clean Water Act – April 8, 2005
The RNA and CCRNC filed a Clean Water Act lawsuit in October 2004 against
the City of Vancouver pertaining to the City’s unpermitted and contaminated stormwater discharge into Burnt Bridge Creek, and the Columbia River (both of which flow into Vancouver Lake). These discharges into threatened or endangered waterbodies are conveyed through the municipal stormwater sewer system.On April 1, 2005, RNA and CCNRC’s attorneys filed a supplemental notice of
intent to sue the City of Vancouver under the Clean Water Act for
unpermitted and contaminated non-stormwater related discharges. The city’s municipal stormwater system illegally conveys discharges into Burnt Bridge Creek and the Columbia River on a daily basis during dry weather. These discharges travel to and can impact the water quality of Vancouver Lake. [Read More...] -
RNA Helps with Neighborhood Tree Planting – March 14, 2005
On Saturday, March 12th, Rosemere had another successful neighborhood tree planting. Arnada, Carter Park, Hough, and Shumway neighborhoods were also involved in this tree planting and a total of 96 trees were planted in the five neighborhoods. Everyone met at the First United Methodist Church around 8 am to divide the trees up into smaller pickup loads, along with tools to aid in the planting process. [Read More...]
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Area Veteran and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe Concerned Over Cemetery – March 10, 2005
Report By Edwin Arthur
On March 7, 2005, representatives of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe (Council members Mike Iyall, and Taylor Aalvik) and a representative of the area Veterans association (Veteran Chuck Mason) met at the Livingston Cemetery, which is pocketed adjacent to a closed US military installation in Clark County Washington, called Camp Bonneville. Camp Bonneville was announced for closure in 1995 as part of the Nation’s Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act. The old military base is still under question by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe over cultural resource issues. [Read More...]
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Environmental Justice Conference at WSU – February 26, 2005
Several members of the Rosemere Neighborhood Association attended EJ-ACT!, Environmental Justice – Action, Communities, and Topics, on February 26, 2005. The RNA wishes to thank Ben Duncan and Mark Stephan of Washington State University, Vancouver, and the Center for Social and Environmental Justice for presenting this daylong event featuring speakers and discussion leaders from all across the Environmental Justice field.
The day began with Roy Wilson, Honorary Chief and Spiritual Leader of the Cowlitz Tribe welcoming us all to Cowlitz Country. [Read More...]
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Danger Lurks at Camp Bonneville – February 12, 2005
Camp Bonneville Command Post (photo: DOE)
A 2.36" Rocket which was determined to be "Unexploded Ordnance" (Fired armed and did not function) It was found near demolition area 1 during monitoring well installation. (phote: epa)
Camp Bonneville (nearly 4000-acres) is an Army installation that was closed in 1995. It is located in Southeast Clark County about 12 miles east of Vancouver, WA. Established in 1909, the Camp has been used to train many generations of military personnel with field artillery. At one point, Royce Pollard, now Mayor of the City of Vancouver, was the commander of this facility. The Camp was decommissioned by the Army, and the property is slated for transfer to the Clark County Parks Department sometime within the next ten years. Plans have been mentioned for the County to build a public amphitheater and to open the area to hiking and other public uses. [Read More...]
