A non-profit group of fishermen’s wives on the Central Oregon Coast has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to prevent the U.S. Coast Guard from closing its Newport Day Air-Facility. The now highly visible and respected Fishermen’s Wives organization in Newport was largely responsible for having the day facility opened back in 1987. Some of its founding members struggled with the idea of a lawsuit, but they make it clear that their fight is in Washington D.C. and not with the men and women who risk their own lives in protecting the Central Oregon Coast. The Coast Guard sends a helicopter each day from the North Bend Air Station to the Newport Municipal Airport. The crew is then able to respond quickly to marine and other emergencies on the Central Coast. Coast Guard officials say they can still quickly respond from either North Bend or Astoria. A Portland attorney, Michael E. Haglund has been retained to represent the Fishermen’s Wives. The suit alleges the planned Dec. 15 closure violates the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and that the US Coast Guard violated the National Environmental Policy Act. A provision of the Homeland Security Act states that the Secretary of Homeland Security cannot reduce or degrade the capability of the Coast Guard to perform its missions without showing Congress a clear and compelling need, and then only for 90 days. The violation of the National Environmental Policy Act claims that the USCG has produced no written analysis on the possible impact on public safety, public opinion, the unique characteristics of the area requiring special consideration and state and federal environmental protection laws. U.S. District Court Judge Michael McShane is ordering the USCG to respond to the complaint by Dec. 5, and he set a Dec. 11 hearing in his courtroom in Eugene at 1:30 p.m. The Port of Newport, City of Newport and Lincoln County have joined the lawsuit as co-complainants. The Fishermen’s Wives are footing the legal bills and are planning to raise money for their legal fees through community fund-raisers.
