Recovering from scientific illiteracy
To The Eagle:
In the midst of the 20th century, our scientists conquered the atom and used its unleashed power to create energy with pollution free, low cost power plants, while at the same time our petroleum industry developed refining, small footprint drilling, and developed exploration and extraction techniques to ensure our fuel supply for a couple of centuries.
Then, in the 1960s, an ominous new power arose called "The Left" which stands for Loony Environmentalists Fear Technology. They first tackled the nuclear industry, branding the power plants as susceptible to nuclear explosion or meltdown which they are not and characterized the spent fuel as nearly impossible to dispose of safely which it is not. Consequently we have commissioned no new nuclear plants for over three decades. Next, they tackled the petroleum industry, curtailing exploration and drilling, and refusing to license new refineries. Existing developed sources dwindled, rendering us increasingly dependent upon foreign oil. Now we are three decades behind in these two vital industries, and the loony left has launched two new initiatives.
First, demonizing carbon dioxide, blaming it for global warming until that idea got debunked, then switched to climate change, a new moniker for the same old fables. While we've successfully fought off the dreaded Kyoto Treaty, many states including Washington have passed anti-carbon laws which hinder or prohibit alternative fuel development such as coal gasification.
Carbon dioxide is actually beneficial and has caused a huge increase in biomass -- around a 25 percent increase of forestation in the U.S. alone.
Next was the decision to burn food for fuel. Making gasohol from corn and biodiesel from soybeans has doubled the price of those commodities, tempting farmers to turn wheat acreage into corn and beans, raising the price of wheat products, in turn causing world-wide escalation in food prices almost double since 2005, contributing to food riots in Haiti, Mexico and several countries in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Reality check: Using all 300 million acres of U.S. cropland would supply 15 percent of our fuel and it would still be more expensive than petroleum products. It takes a 1,000 megawatt plant to power a region the size of the lower Columbia. Here's what it takes to produce that 1,000 megawatts--a 75 square mile wind farm, a 125 square mile solar panel array, a hydroelectric plant with a 250 square mile lake, a wood burning plant with a 1,000 square mile forest, a coal burning plant receiving a 110 car train with 16,000 tons of coal each week, or a nuclear plant receiving one truckload of new fuel rods every year and a half.
What can be done about it? Start at the ballot box. All of the presidential candidates are pretty clueless on this issue, although McCain will probably do the least harm. Our Senator Cantwell is off into corporate greed delusions and should be replaced ASAP. Replacing Christine with Dino in the governor's office might go a way toward getting some of Washington Luddite legislation repealed.
Locally, our own Wahkiakum PUD has taken a regional leadership role in both developing hydroelectric power on Grays River and reviving nuclear power. Commissioner Larry Reese has spearheaded these efforts and should be returned to office. Other than that, install a wood stove, purchase bicycles and hunker down for the long haul. It's gonna take a while to recover from 40 years of scientific illiteracy.

Howard Brawn
Puget Island

Concert series is inspiring
To The Eagle:
On April 25, the saxophone quartet, Northstar, performed at Wahkiakum High School for the entire student body. I, being a Running Start student, attending classes at L.C.C., was lucky to have been running errands at WHS when I found out this group was performing.
The music was splendid, and moving. Hearing the combination of alto, tenor, and baritone sax was wonderful. The group also performed pieces including a soprano sax and a contrabass saxophone. Both the soprano and contrabass saxophones are instruments that are rarely seen. In larger bands or symphonies, most pieces don’t call for such instruments, because these parts are usually covered by flutes, piccolos, and tubas. It was a wonderful opportunity to see both of them in use.
I would like to thank the Pioneer Church for sponsoring the concert series. If it weren’t for the Pioneer Church, the high school would never have had an opportunity to experience something that most students never would have witnessed. Hearing Northstar at the high school, and other groups at the Pioneer Church, has inspired me to continue my music beyond high school.

Kyle Thelander
Cathlamet


Commissioner offers insight about logging debris
To The Eagle:
I would like to respond to Henry Behrens letter to the editor (April 08) in which Mr. Behren states he feels logging companies should be responsible for damages as a result of flooding early this year.
Wahkiakum County did apply for wood debris removals but was refused. Wood debris is left in-stream because of environmental fish agency rules. Most repairs caused by that flood were paid by state and federal funds.
I did meet with the State Forest Practice Board after the flooding to talk about the damages sustained by our bridges. We know the Elochoman River has many gravel bars that have collected logs for many years and have washed down after unusually high waters. Logs responsible for most of the damage had up-roots intact. Forest Practice and Fish and Wildlife rules state that trees blown into streams stay there.
In modern logging, debris is considered a portion of the harvest. Trees havested on hillsides are of full length to be yarded to the landings and loaded to log trucks. Piles of limbs and chunks are sent on their way by way of chip trucks for pulp/paper products. Limbs and other debris left behind are sent up a conveyor belt, loaded to another truck and sent off to become biofuel.
I would be willing to share more information on this subject or any other if you would like to contact me in the county commissioner's office and at home.

Dan Cothren
Wahkiakum County
Commissioner, District 2

Pioneer Church concerts are of highest quality
To The Eagle:
It was such a pleasure to enjoy hearing the great variety of music with the saxophone quartet played on Saturday evening, April 26, in the old Pioneer Church right here in our own town of Cathlamet.
It is most amazing that world class musicians come here to play top quality music for a most reasonable price and we don't even have to go as far as Longview to hear them. The saxophone quartet, all of whom are well-educated, also performed at the school, giving students an opportunity to ask questions and listen to music they would not otherwise get to hear. Hopefully there were some students who were encouraged to pursue music.
Almost all the musicians I've spoken with after their performance in the past concert season have commented about their surprise at the wonderful acoustics in the historic building which has been beautifully restored by the Pioneer Community Association along with many volunteers who have given many hours of their time and energy.
I would encourage you to consider attending some of the upcoming concerts and enjoy the pleasure of hearing a live performance of high quality.

Victoria Block
Cathlamet

Right to repair act needed
To The Eagle:
The Tire Industry Association strongly urges Congress to pass the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) in order to ensure that car owners and their trusted repair shops have the same access to safety alerts and repair information as the franchised new car dealer network.
Vehicles continue to become more and more sophisticated with virtually every system either monitored or controlled by computers. In fact, most new vehicles are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) that are controlled by computers.
TPMS systems do not take the place of regular maintenance on tires, but are intended to protect motorists from the dangers of operating a vehicle with underinflated tires. Keeping these systems updated and in safe working condition requires ready access to complete and accurate information from the car companies.
Right to Repair Act offers protection to car owners by making it illegal for vehicle manufacturers to withhold information necessary to diagnose, service or repair motor vehicles, including TPMS systems. Right to Repair ensures that car owners can have their vehicle serviced at the repair shop of their choice, whether it’s their neighborhood repair shop or a franchised new car dealer.
Please visit www.righttorepair.org to send a letter to each of your congressional representatives, urging them to support the Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) so that all American motorists can continue to enjoy the affordability and convenience of having their vehicle serviced at the repair shop of their choice.

Roy Littlefield
Executive Vice President
Tire Industry Association