Stories by Dameon Pesanti

Columbian staff writer

@dameonoemad

(360) 735-4541

Dameon.Pesanti@columbian.com

The Port of Vancouver's 218-acre Terminal 5 was the proposed site for the nation's largest oil-by-rail terminal.

Vancouver port to pay $500K to settle open meetings lawsuit

June 14, 2018, 5:32pm Business

The Port of Vancouver has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle a lawsuit wherein it admitted to violating open meetings laws while commissioners debated a lease for an oil terminal. Read story

A C-Tran operator drives on the shoulder of state Highway 14 in October.

C-Tran, union agree on contract

June 14, 2018, 6:00am Clark County News

After nearly 10 months without a labor agreement, C-Tran and the Amalgamated Transit Union 757 have agreed to a new 4-year contract. Read story

The TransAlta power plant in Centralia was fined by the Southwest Clean Air Agency for violating federal mercury standards and not operating pollution control equipment at optimal levels. The plant is one of the largest polluters in the state.

Power plant issued $331,000 fine

June 13, 2018, 7:36pm Business

The Southwest Washington Clean Air Agency has fined the TransAlta coal-fired power plant in Centralia more than $331,000 for exceeding federal mercury emission standards and improper operation of its air pollution equipment. Read story

Passengers arrive at the Evergreen Transit Center from downtown Portland. C-Tran is asking Oregon lawmakers to consider giving public transit a break — or maybe even cut them in on the revenue — as they consider tolls in Oregon.

C-Tran letter to Oregon on tolls has 7 key points

June 12, 2018, 7:58pm Clark County News

As Oregon studies using tolls — aka congestion pricing — on Interstates 5 and 205 to manage traffic into Portland, C-Tran is asking officials to consider giving public transit a break, or maybe even cut it in on the revenue. Read story

Highway 503 paving will slow traffic flow

June 11, 2018, 6:05am Clark County News

Recreationists planning to spend time around the south side of Mount St. Helens and Swift Reservoir this summer should prepare for some slow going on state Highway 503 as road crews work to improve the highway. Read story

Clark County homeowners are going native

Vanessa Gardner Nagel stands in front of a large rhododendron at her home in Vancouver. Nagel, a garden designer, said the majority of her clients are interested in either removing their lawns or having much less lawn at their homes. However, she said homeowners associations and housing developers still haven’t latched onto the trend.

Vancouver’s — in fact, much of America’s — suburban characteristics owe a lot to the Reconstruction Era predilections of a landscape architect who loathed England’s suburban walled gardens and didn’t much care for flowers, either. Read story

Graffiti a growing blight on Ape Cave

Graffiti that was sprayed inside the Ape Cave about two years ago is still on the wall. Forest Service officials say they’re still searching for solvents that won’t damage the cave’s fragile environment.

Graffiti has become a growing problem inside Ape Cave at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument over the last few years. U.S. Forest Service officials say they’re working on a plan to remove it, but the cave’s sensitive environment poses complications. Read story