ESCO Auditor Booted on Technicality, Neighbors Reject Pro-Industry Firms by Allan Classen
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OctOber ’10 VOLUME 25, ISSUE 2 FREE Northwest Portland neighborhoo Serving ds since 1986 — celebrating our 25th year! What part of independent don’t you understand? eScO auditor booted on technicality, Neighbors reject pro-industry firms By allan Classen The Oregon Department of Environ- mental Quality has become the agency that can’t shoot straight. Earlier this year, DEQ agreed to admin- ister an independent audit of environment- impacting practices at ESCO Corporation’s steel foundry, something Northwest Port- land activists have been seeking for years. But the process was so bungled it only added to cynicism about the department’s incompetence and failure to grasp public concerns and its cozy relationship with industries it regulates. Only one candidate responded to a request for proposal (RFP) to evaluate ESCO manufacturing procedures and rec- ommend measures to reduce harmful emis- sions. Hey, you!! Your shirt’s untucked! You’re out of the game! It should have been an easy decision. For 30 years, Jim Karas has analyzed foundries and their emission controls for “I thought there was latitude to talk needed to know, he didn’t bother to try insurance requirement was too stringent. the Bay Area Air Quality Management about different limits,” he told the Exam- again. So DEQ accommodated by lowering the District. He has also done private consult- iner. “If they were really interested, they What DEQ did not tell him was that standard from $3.7 million of general lia- ing work across North America and in could have picked up the phone.” the department had engaged in open-ended bility and $3.2 million professional liability Europe, developing measuring techniques Karas struggled to grasp why his applica- conversations with other firms in an effort to to $2 million and $1 million, respectively. that are now standard in the trade. tion was thrown out on a technicality and a persuade them to apply for the second round Baldwin found the process of refin- Sharon Genasci, chair of the Northwest whole new RFP process initiated. of bidding. ing the RFP to the wishes of candidates District Association Health and Environ- “Why would you do that as opposed to In a meeting at DEQ headquarters Sept. sought out by DEQ to be strikingly unfair ment Committee, was thrilled that some- picking up the phone and talking to some- 7 involving five agency staff and five neigh- to Karas. one of his stature and public interest orien- one who actually went to the trouble of borhood representatives (plus Aubrey Bald- “By calling [the other firms], it conveys tation applied. putting together a proposal?” Karas asked win, attorney for Northwest Environmental some interest that they apply,” said Bald- But Karas’ bid was thrown out because rhetorically. “That doesn’t make any sense Advocates), DEQ staff admitted that they win, who contrasted this flexible, personal he failed to sign a cover sheet certifying his whatsoever unless they weren’t interested in sought input on reopening the bidding treatment with the handling of Karas, who insurance coverage. Karas, who has bid suc- my services.” from two firms that had failed to apply in was never called and received “only a vague cessfully on many contracts over his career, DEQ never called. A month later, it Round 1. letter of denial.” intentionally left the line blank. Consider- sent him a rejection letter. The letter also When asked why they hadn’t applied in DEQ’s letter did not even tell Karas ing the insurance levels requested to be too invited him to apply anew to an updated the opening round, according to George that the insurance standard had been low- high, he wanted to talk to DEQ before RFP. Believing the agency’s tardy and arm’s Davis, the DEQ inspector assigned to signing off. length communication told him all he ESCO, at least one of the firms said the Continued on page 20 Singer interested in share inside of parking meter revenues By allan Classen fulfill a promise to Singer, who agreed to hold off construction of a parking structure at Northwest 23rd and Irving for a year to While some merchants are petitioning to slow down plans give the mayor time to enact on-street parking controls. to install parking meters in the Northwest District, developer That 12-month deadline, announced in late 2009, is being Richard Singer is maneuvering to get a slice of the revenues. stretched, but Singer’s representative at the advisory group Chess for Success Mayor Sam Adams chairs a stakeholders’ advisory group meetings offered no complaint about the delay. Gwen Baldwin So why is losing applauded? that is reviewing a proposed system of parking meters, park- did, however, raise another point at the September meeting: PagE 16 ing permits and incentives to reduce driving, all of which will Under prior agreements, part of the meter revenues could be be governed by a locally controlled transportation and parking used “to provide financial support for creation of a limited num- Graffiti on run management association. ber of parking spaces.” Every block in Pearl ‘adopted’ The plan must be in place some time in 2011 if Adams is to Continued on page 6 PagE 7 HAuntinglY ictoriAn speciMen… V ... AculAr ArcHitecturAl The Historic Jennie Bramhall House A spoookt Featured in William J. Hawkin’s Classic Houses of Portland, OR 5125 NE Garfield Avenue It wouldn’t take much to outfit architect Alfred Faber’s 1909 cast concrete Queen Anne masterpiece as a Halloween Haunted House. 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Call us to find out your property’s top market value. 503-497-5158 www.danvolkmer.com Anne, Burdean, Kishra, Dan, Walter & Ted 2 Northwest Examiner, OCTOBER 2010 Letters can be sent to By Allan Classen [email protected] or 2825 NW Upshur St., Ste. C, Portland, OR 97210. Editor’sEditor & Publisher Turn readerLetters should be 300 words or fewer; include areply name and a street of residence.