Front Street Weekly; 803

Tonight on Front Street Weekly. Don't drink the water. Fremont national forest located in Southern Oregon is one of the state's more beautiful natural settings. But there's also the fear that the forest may be hazardous to your health. Thirty years ago there was uranium mining in the area. And it's only been recently that the government decided to look into it. The Complete Story tonight. And from Silverton, Oregon helping hands; an inspiring look at how local residents got together to ease the suffering of migrant workers. And we'll introduce you to Sally Haley,a spunky Oregon artist with a national reputation. Good evening. Welcome to this edition of Front Street Weekly. Tonight we're going to take you to South Central Oregon to the Fremont National Forest. At first glance it looks like any other forest but that's only on the surface. Disguised by the beauty of the land, it's contamination that may be hazardous not only to the livestock and animals in the forest but to

unsuspecting humans as well. On the surface this is nature at its best, a harmonious blend of the sights and sounds that make up one of Oregon's beautiful national forests. But there are new sounds being added to this outdoor concert. Sounds of much more menacing nature. [Geiger counter sound] In parts of these old war stockpiles what we've found is that the radiation levels are perhaps as high as 20 times what we would consider background. Background we would define as what it is part of our everyday environment. Those high levels are from exposed uranium ore in the Fremont National Forest outside Lakeview, Oregon which is just north of the California border. And it isn't just the land that's contaminated. Nearby water is also dangerous to

drink. We see elevated levels of several heavy metals as well as the radioactive elements associated with a uranium ore deposit. The water was contaminated when this pond flooded a shaft to a now abandoned uranium mine. The water contains high concentrations of arsenic. It cannot sustain any aquatic life. Adding to the problem, years earlier a mining company pumped water from this pond into nearby Auger creek. Some experiences we have had in the past. Someone, and I don't recall who it was, went in there and threw a pump and start pumping the Auger Creek. Of course the water in the mine shaft is fairly acidic and so it essentially killed everything out of Auger creek. From there all the way to (inaudible) almost. The problem started 35 years ago when this area was open to uranium mining. The White King Mine was on this site. The Lucky Lass mine was just over that ridge. A mill was built in a town about 15 miles from here. This area was then in the midst of an economic boom. Originally the intent was to go in conventional

tunneling and shaft mining, however because of the huge problems with groundwater that wasn't feasible and shortly after the project started they went away from that effort and went into open pit mining. That proved to be no better. The operation failed and the mines were closed in 1959. Back then there were no environmental regulations so no cleanup was ever done. At the time of the mining the emphasis was on the production of the material, the mineral. It was right after World War Two and the Korean War right into the start and the nuclear age and the emphasis was on production of the. Mineral the uranium and not on the environment. Well there wasn't a whole lot of concern back in those days about what kinds of waste were left out here and no thought in the potential impacts from a health standpoint or an environmental standpoint. Along

with the radioactive waste rests old mining equipment. Even an old truck has been left behind as a prize for vandals. Several buildings still stand alone and vacant but there is a good public road to the site and the area is not fenced. Uranium ore sits out in the open surrounded by only the beautiful forest land Under most circumstances. If this were an active facility the levels that we see out here would require regulation. The only regulation here is the lone sign which reads 'Do not drink the water'. Radioactive debris is strewn over some 25 acres where wildlife roam and cattle graze. And while the area is easily accessible to the public the experts still debate the environmental impact. A Worst case scenario is that we would be looking at something like a food chain transfer. In the food chain transfer the livestock can drink the water containing toxic substances. That beef then could wind up in the

supermarket. It, too could contain arsenic and other hazardous substances. Past studies on uranium mines throughout the Southwest lead us to believe that there is that potential. But still some experts remain unconvinced. How much the deer. And even cattle that are grazing up there would drink that water, how it tastes, does it compare to the creek whether prefer that water and rather they'd build up arsenic in their system. I don't know I don't know. But on one thing the experts do agree. For too long the area has been allowed to be the home of such an environmental mess. The cleanup here suffered from out of sight out of mind. There never have been funds even to fence it. The forest service actually got into regulation of the mining in '74. So that operation was in the late 50's early 60's. And we were just.. different emphasis, different priorities at that time.

It's not that we haven't been interested there just, there hasn't been a heck of a lot a person can do. Neither state or federal regulators took an interest for more than 30 years. Finally with the new sounds in the forest [Geiger counter sound] $80,000 has been appropriated to the forest service to begin a study on the extent of the environmental impact. The study will take a year. Estimates say it will cost nearly $200,000. What we're after initially is to just identify what the hazard is and the extent of the hazards associated with the mines out there. And then we'll Once we collect the data and analyze it we'll determine what further action would be needed, whether it justifies a complete cleanup. Or destabilization. Now with awareness of the problems that do exist there's a little bit more thought and effort going in to what we can do to correct these problems and make this, this area safe. The area has never been much of a worry to the Department of Environmental Quality Water Division. At

most once a year someone visits the area. Personally, I don't think it's a great environmental hazard. There is some liability there. It isn't like it's one of the favorite recreational areas where people are going to be sitting around on those. Piles of ore that do have a little high or higher radioactivity than the, you know, other soil around. Auger creek has you know the greatest fish and stream and even in Lake County. But it's the U.S. Forest Service that cannot live with the situation any longer. As a bare minimum we'll stabilize the overburden stockpile and the low grade ore stockpile. We're hoping to be able to find some technology that let's us purify the water, remove the hazardous properties before it enters Auger Creek. It appears that what would have to be done is again the water be pumped out,really sprayed out on the land and maybe some kind of a clay seal put over the shaft and take all the ore and pile it Back in and round it off and plant it

So it's the water that has forced the regulators to move toward action. But just how far has this water scarred the environment? That keeps everyone guessing. This right now is a real big unknown to us. There isn't enough data available that people have really come out and made a concerted effort to study the potential impacts from here to the environment or to human health. The only information available is just enough to be worrisome. We see from the old data that was collected that there are elevated levels 600 feet down from the site. But that's as far as they sampled. That's about all the environmental monitoring that has been done in the area. In about two months the study will be underway. Now one of the things that they want to check this year in the study. Is really get out there and do some monitoring of the creek. Monthly. Environmental Studies and cleanup of radioactive waste

is nothing new to the town of like Lakeview. Clean up of the uranium mill on the edge of town is just about complete. The federal government spent 18 million dollars cleaning the mill site. The State Department of Energy administered the work and a citizens committee kept an eye on the department. The public has become more aware of the uranium mining and the processing that occurred in the early 60's in the community, and the result of those activities. So there's a heightened awareness in the community. And to what extent should the residents of Lakeview be concerned? It will be about a year before they'll know. I think the community really would wait and see about the feasibility study to see is there really a problem that we should be concerned about. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 will change the complexion of Oregon's agricultural industry. After November 30th 1988, growers will have to pay

the migrants a prevailing minimum wage, supply housing for some of the workers and face stiff fines of up to $1000 for every illegal alien they hire. Now that applies to next year's harvest. But this year confusion about the law brought so many workers to Oregon that some farming communities felt overwhelmed and overrun. [Spanish] [Spanish] It's called Liberty Mountains to Tijuana so they went on foot. The guide that guided them through the mountains, the Liberty mountains, and kept them in the town (Spanish) until it was safe for them to pass. (Spanish) Some of us have paid $500 until they can get us all the way to Los Angeles. [Spanish] One of the reasons we come here is because of work and also so that we can learn things and better ourselves. It's an all too familiar story. Legal and illegal Mexican migrant workers risk their

lives traveling thousands of miles north every year to help harvest America's crops. Most of the migrants can make more money here in one day than they can in a week in Mexico. This year over 30,000 pickers fanned out across Oregon and by some estimates that's roughly one-third more than last year. That dramatic increase caught most of the farming communities off guard. But this isn't a rehash of unscrupulous labor contractors, abuse of growers, or even deplorable living conditions. It's really about how some migrants had the good fortune to settle in Silverton, Oregon. Why lucky? Because a handful of people in that community of over 5,000 opened their hearts and their homes to a group of farmers. (Spanish) I will get some boots. I am very happy today I am very happy today. Imagine giving up your free time to teach English to Mexicans. But these Silverton residents

came two nights a week during the summer to the Christian Missionary Alliance to help break down language barriers. Do you understand the word where? (background noise)The Silverton city council recruited Linda Layes to help these new members of the community adjust to a foreign land. About 90 percent of the people from here are from Vera Cruz or from Oaxaca. And this is their first time in the United States, it was all new to them. The culture is new to them and so What we did is we implemented English survival skills along with learning about the American culture. Say Where. Where. Do. Do. You. You. Live. (Spanish) (Laughter) But it was the cultural differences that became the thread that wove this community together. [Spanish] I feel very good here because everyone that I've met is very good to me and treat me very well. In class here or in Silverton? (Spanish) Everywhere

You draw a picture of this word.Then your team has to try and guess what it is. So, what is that? (inaudible) car. Bus. Yes Justine Fogerty is married and has two kids. She was born in Silverton and has lived here all of her life. When she heard about the English classes she decided to check them out and test her skills. Well, I have to admit it probably was selfish in the very beginning just thinking, I mean that's what I would like to do some day is teach English as a second language, and it was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up - it was a chance to try out what I think I want to do, uhm, teaching English to, to Mexicans. But what began as an experiment for Justine became a mission. I got involved with the lives of people who worked here that I always was aware that they were here, but I really didn't give too much thought about them and

about the problems that they might have. Most of the migrants arrived in Silverton about six weeks before the crops were ready to harvest. That left them with no jobs, no money, and no decent housing. These were conditions Justine couldn't ignore. What's happened this year is there are so many people and so much suffering that If you even just start to know them a little bit you become aware of it and you really can't turn your back on it. [Spanish] We're going to stay with you. (Spanish) They want to know if they can stay. Justine offered some of the migrants shelter in her home, but she admits her zeal to help cause some strain and stress in her own family, particularly with her husband. You've opened up your home to them. Did you and your husband talk about this? Oh, we talked a lot. (laughter) It was more difficult for him to make the decision than for me. But Justine's daughter Kate was less than enthusiastic about them living in their home. At first I

said no. No way. Then I got to meet them at the school. Were you surprised that they were so nice. Yeah. Why? Did you think they wouldn't be? Well, when.. what you hear stuff before is The Mexicans are mean. And. they, you know, they rape people and all that. And that's what I thought, you know, just from what I heard but then she started taking giving classes down there and I found out that they were really nice. So out of the mouth of babes. (laughter) But not all the residents of this agricultural community welcomed the influx of migrants and city manager Doug Robinson admits this season was unusual. This year the Hispanics were extremely visible, and they came in just a larger number. Robinson claims more minor crimes are being reported to the police and some of the citizens were intimidated by the presence of the migrants in their town. So some local constituents sent a

strong message to their elected officials on June 7th. Use whatever means you have available to you to get the illegals out of this community. The city staff was under some pressure from people and within the community To implement that decision. Go to. Do it. Get it done. The only hammer that they knew of that would work or possibly work would be a federal agency, one of which was the INS, another could be the Border Patrol. Neither agency pursued the request to get the migrants out of Silverton. The INS is granting amnesty and not deporting illegal aliens until after November 30th, 1988. The Border Patrol says it isn't in the business of making huge sweeps on communities where petty crimes occur. And some critics claim the request to round up the migrants smacked of racism and prejudice and it was made in haste. The community needs the workers but when the city makes a statement like that, it makes that feel right there, right in front of them, all the time. I mean even more

so. I think that's what bothers me a lot about it was just being that additional stress put upon them. [Spanish] He says well, there's a lot of things we can say about the Americans. We have met a lot of nice people here at churches, here at school he says. They look at us strange and he said they look at us like animals. (Spanish)They look as like we are weird or strange. We don't know why they have that way of thinking when we're here to serve them, to help them. (Church choir singing) The migrants did get the welcome mat from various church groups in the community. Father Don Duran offered mass in Spanish at St. Paul's Catholic Church. [Spanish] We began it because we realized they had been hiking or walking to (inaudible) from 4 miles there and 4 miles back. And so we try to provide something

for the Hispanic community. since of course the mass. Appeals to them because they're all Catholic Well then we took the Saturday evening Mass and we have supper afterwards and then we show a film. (conversation) I don't know Brett Wilson moved about 20 migrants into his home owned by the World Outreach organization. Another group of men live in the church. (Spanish) Most of them are from the same small village of San Jose, Mexico. There's a sugarcane factory in the town but it can't support all of the people year round. But since coming to Oregon some of these migrants haven't had very much luck in the fields. We are making not Much money you know. We need to save money. We need to save money here. Because. We are. We're married.

In Mexico. We are here and we are an illegal. Every right in the papers. And my other friends come last year and they said last year the farmers paid 20 cents a pound. Now the farmers are paying 10 cents. That is pretty low then. Yes. Half price [Spanish] Maybe yes Maybe no. He says I'm going to think about it. But even if some of them decide to come here next year, the question is will they be hired and whether they work or not could depend on if they have their papers. To get legal or temporary residency status migrants have to prove they've worked in the fields 90 days before May 1986. I'm an employer myself. I have a small little Farm. I don't keep track of every person that comes through every day. I would not remember the names of the people that were there last year. The ramifications of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 on

Oregon's 13 billion dollar a year agricultural industry is anyone's guess. But here's a fact. Over one third of that business depends on cheap migrant labor. Here's another fact. There's no question on the impact the migrants have made this year on some of the folks in Silverton. If this happens again would you do this again next year? (singing) Only sooner. I really believe in it though, I'd be willing to go to jail for it. I would too I feel that strong about it. Oh I do. No doubt in my mind. [singing] [applause] And for our final story tonight we'll profile an extraordinary artist - Sally Haley. (intro music) (inaudible) more than anything else. And I'm very fortunate to have such a passion. I really do. And paint Sally Haley does. She has a tremendous body of

work represented in major collections and museums around the country. Add to that her collection of old master paintings all copies She has painstakingly painted herself - not to sell but for her own pleasure. Oh, I kept doing them and doing them, and as I fell in love with a painting I would want it so I would do it. It creates an environment of some kind of beauty that rubs off. I prefer egg tempera. And small paintings. I do small paintings and when I do larger paintings I prefer acrylic. I do my own frames. Have you always done that?Always. It's imperative that I do my own frames. I have done often two or three frames for a painting, especially small paintings before I get exactly the right one.

Born in Connecticut, Sally Haley graduated in art from Yale. Her equally famous artist husband Mike Russo also hails from Connecticut. Together they came to Oregon in 1947. But not before struggling on the East Coast. When you were in Connecticut and a working artist, what did you do take your art into New York or? You didn't do very much with your art, you paint it and you stack. Painted and stacked, that's all? You painted and stacked. And if you were a painter that was the test of your being a painter I guess. So the struggling artist myth was not a myth then? It was not a myth at all. There was very little, very little opportunity outside of New York for anyone to, let's say, sell paintings or make any living from painting. We were talking about me and Mike and coming out here. And so he got a job here? Yes, he was asked to come out and we came out for a year. We found Portland to be just a wonderful,

wonderful, wonderful place. And even the politics of Oregon has always been an amazing experience. It was the Oregon experience which further fueled Sally's energy for creating art. I've always. used the world around me as my material. I find still life something that is most intriguing. The late Rachel Griffin, curator of the Oregon Art Institute, said of Sally Haley's talent that she paints with a mastery so admirable that our response is a combination of delight and awe. One feels the hidden life of objects and the mystery implicit in all existence. Ruth Maneri has been a patron of the visual and performing arts for decades. She lives with her Sally Haleys in every room. Georgia O'Keeffe. When I look at George O'Keefe I

think Sally Haley is just as good. On first appearance, Sally Haley reminds you perhaps of your favorite aunt, but don't let the apple cheeked earth mother image just leave you. Sally Haley is deadly serious about her work. I'm very, very committed. I really am a very serious, very deadly.. I'm a deadly serious painter. (chuckles) I wish that I had a little humor in some things sometimes but I'm not a fun painter. I'm angry at being misunderstood. I think that makes me angrier than anything. Years ago when she opened the fountain gallery in Portland, owner Arlene Schnitzer wanted Sally Haley's work. Sally was a great talent. There were many people who looked at Sally's paintings and didn't really understand how great they were because they thought they were very simple to look at and to understand and they aren't. They're very profound.

It is Sally Haley's niece Laura Russo who now represents the artist in Oregon. Her work has been shown all over the country and I think there are many people who value her work in their personal collection. She takes what is very commonplace and puts it into a setting that lets us celebrate its beauty and its existence. Although she is 70 years and some, Sally Haley shows no signs of slowing down. Next week on Front Street Weekly, cleaning house - Oregon's meth lab crisis. Oregon is ranked number two nationwide for the number of illegal methamphetamine labs that have been closed down. But the potentially deadly health hazards aren't over once the chemicals have been removed. When is a home that was once a meth lab safe to live in.? Not one agency assigned the task of deciding public health issues will say for sure. Find out what is, and more importantly, isn't being done about this alarming

trend next week in a special Front Street Weekly half hour report. [Music playing] [Music playing]