THE HILLSBORO ARGUS

Local news from Hillsboro & Washington County - Oregon Newspaper

Courtesy Oregon LNGThe proposed Oregon LNG terminal in Warrenton is one of a number of LNG projects that could be heavily impacted if the Oregon Legislature passes the LNG Public Protection Act, expected to be announced Tuesday in Salem.

Opponents of a series of liquefied natural gas terminals proposed for the Oregon Coast are hoping they can use legislation to further complicate efforts to get those projects built.

The LNG Public Protection Act is slated to be introduced in this session of the Oregon Legislature. The act would prohibit state agencies from issuing permits to developers of LNG projects unless those developers can demonstrate that the projects are needed.

The Oregon Department of Energy would make the final assessment on whether Oregon needs liquefied natural gas.

While the federal government has the primary role in approving the LNG projects, and the associated pipelines, states still must issue water rights, wetland permits and state land leases to the developers for the projects to go forward.

According to the bill summary, the act would prohibit the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality from certifying that a project meets Oregon's standards if it adversely affects "uses beneficial to Oregonians, including commercial and recreational fishing and agriculture."

Courtesy Oregon LNGThe proposed Oregon LNG terminal in Warrenton is one of a number of LNG projects that could be heavily impacted if the Oregon Legislature passes the LNG Public Protection Act, expected to be announced Tuesday in Salem.

Oregon legislators are expected to announce a bill Tuesday that could throw significant hurdles into the approval process for proposed liquefied natural gas projects in western Oregon.

A summary of the LNG Public Protection Act was obtained by the Argus on Monday, with a draft of the bill expected soon. Sources said the bill will be sponsored by Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, and Rep. Deborah Boone, D-Cannon Beach.

Heavy rains across northwest Oregon have pushed some streams past their banks, with flooding expected to peak Friday night, into Saturday morning.

According to the National Weather Service, the Tualatin River at Farmington is expected to pass its 32 foot flood level midday Friday, cresting early Saturday at 33.7 feet.

The Tualatin River near Dilley was expected to pass flood stage tonight, cresting at 18.39 feet. Its flood stage is 17.5 feet.

Gales Creek at Highway 47 is already at 15 feet, three feet lower than its high water mark from the Dec. 2007 floods. Dairy Creek at Highway 8 is at 17 feet, seven feet lower than its 2007 crest. Forecasts were not available for those creeks.

The weather service also warned about landslides possible on steep hills in northwest Oregon.

This storm has brought 1.55 inches of rain to Hillsboro Airport thus far.

TriMet is reporting that many routes are still non-operational because of road conditions.

MAX Blue Line trains are running every 20 to 30 minutes from Hillsboro to Ruby Junction. Tracks are buried by snow and ice in Gresham and TriMet does not expect the line to open in Gresham tonight. Buses are shuttling passengers into Gresham.

MAX Red Line trains are not running. There are two shuttles -- one serving all the Red Line stops from Gateway Transit Center to PDX, and another going directly from Gateway to PDX.

MAX Yellow Line trains are not running. Shuttle buses are running every 15-20 minutes to all stops.

The following is a list of TriMet bus routes that are OPEN (Bold- Washington County):

4-Division
4-Fessenden
6-Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
8-NE 15th Ave
9-Powell
12-Sandy Blvd
12-Barbur Blvd
14-Hawthorne
15-Belmont (snow route)
15-NW 23rd Ave (snow route)
17-Holgate (snow route)
17-NW 23rd Ave (snow route)
19-Glisan
19-Woodstock (snow route)
20-Burnside/Stark (snow route)
33-McLoughlin (snow route)
33-Fremont
35-Greeley
35-Macadam
54-Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy (snow route)
56-Scholls Ferry Rd (snow route)
57-TV Hwy/Forest Grove
58-Canyon Rd
67-Jenkins/158th
70-12th Ave
72-Killingsworth/82nd Ave
75-39th Ave/Lombard (snow route)

These City of Hillsboro facilities are closed, or will be closing early today, Dec. 22:

- The Hillsboro Main Library is closed today.
•- The Hillsboro Shute Park Library is closed through Jan. 5.
- The Walters Cultural Arts Center is closed and all activities are canceled today.
•- Jackson Bottom Wetlands Education Center is closed today.
•- The Shute Park Aquatic & Recreation Center is closing 4 p.m.

Most TriMet bus routes have now been cancelled. In Hillsboro, this includes all routes except for the 57 Tualatin Valley Highway route.

City-wide, the following buses are running, with a goal of running them every 15 minutes (bold routes are in Washington County):

4-Division
4-Fessenden
6-Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
8-NE 15th Ave
9-Powell
12-Sandy Blvd
12-Barbur Blvd
14-Hawthorne
15-Belmont (No Mt. Tabor)
15-NW 23rd Ave (No Thurman)
17-Holgate
17-NW 23rd Ave
19-Woodstock
20-Burnside/Stark
33-McLoughlin (No service past Oregon City)
33-Fremont
35-Greeley
35-Macadam
54-Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy
56-Scholls Ferry Rd
57-TV Hwy/Forest Grove
58-Canyon Rd
67-Jenkins/158th
70-12th Ave
72-Killingsworth/82nd Ave
75-39th Ave/Lombard (to 45th/Harney only)

With weather taxing emergency responders, dispatchers must prioritize response to incidents. At this time, responders are focusing on the most serious incidents such as fires and incidents with known life safety hazards.

Non-emergency calls will be handled as resources allow.

Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue offers these winter weather tips:

- Limit phone use and call 911 for hazardous and life-threatening emergencies only. Individuals wanting road conditions are to call 511.
- Gather emergency supplies in case of power outages.
- Drive only if necessary. Use mass-transit rather than driving personal vehicles.
- Listen to local news for current weather and transportation updates.
- Check on your neighbors, especially seniors.
- If the power goes out, use battery-operated flashlight or lanterns to light your home. Do not use candles due to the potential fire hazard.
- Never use barbecues or liquid fuel stoves to cook/heat food indoors! Cooking with these types of appliances will produce carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and deadly.
- Use caution when walking on icy steps, walkways, driveways, etc.
- Dress warmly when going outside or during a power outage. Wear a hat to help maintain adequate body temperature.

Click here for a map with transportation and shelter information.

Chains or traction tires remain required on Washington County roads. On state roads -- including TV Highway, Sunset Highway, Highway 47 and Highway 217 -- chains are required on all vehicles, even those with traction tires.

Intel is still open. It is Intel's intent to remain open during all regularly scheduled workdays regardless of weather conditions. Nevertheless, employees should use their own good judgment and assess their personal situation with regards to travel safety to and from the work site.

First, ice and snow on the rails shut down parts of TriMet's light rail system. Now, road conditions are forcing TriMet to cancel many bus routes, as well.

Blue Line trains are running every 15 minutes from Hillsboro to East 181st in Gresham. About 18 stations are without service -- the Yellow and Red lines, plus Blue Line stations in Gresham.

Many bus routes are cancelled. As of 10:30 a.m.:

In western Washington County -

46 North Hillsboro: No problems reported.
47 Evergreen: No problems reported
48 Cornell: No problems reported.
52 Farmington/185th: No service north of Evergreen. No service to PCC-Rock Creek.
53 Arctic/Allen: No problems reported
54 Beaverton-Hillsdale: No service on Capitol between Bertha and Barbur.
57 Tualatin Valley Highway: No problems reported.
58 Canyon: No problems reported.
59 Walker: No problems reported.
62 Murray: Buses are not stopping on Murray between Hart and Brockman.
67 Jenkins/158th: No problems reported.
88 Hart/198th: No problems reported.
89 Tanasbourne: No problems reported.

In central/eastern Washington County -

More snow is falling in Hillsboro this morning, and the roads aren't looking much better than they did yesterday.

Chains are still required on all Washington County roads and Oregon state highways in the Portland metro area.

MAX is running every 15 minutes from Hillsboro to Ruby Junction in east Portland. Buses are shuttling MAX riders to Gresham, Portland Airport and the Expo Center. Click here for a list of bus route changes.

Snow continued to fall Sunday, and most Washington County roads are covered in packed snow. That's prompted the Washington County Department Land Use and Transportation to issue new chain requirements for the time being -- 

2WD: Chains required.
4WD: Must use mud and snow tires, all season radials, or traction tires on all wheels and must carry chains.

County officials believe the chain requirement will still be in place tomorrow morning.

Click here for a map of closures, shelters, and bus detours.

For more updates, go to twitter.com/HillsboroArgus

County offices will be open Monday

Washington County offices will be open for regular business hours on Monday, December 22nd. County employees are asked to report for work in accordance with the county's inclement weather policy

Road conditions, as of 7:30 p.m.:

Click here for a map of warming shelters and road closures in Washington County as of 4 p.m.