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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW J'ville planner at 'flash point' turns in resignation ... Concern about violence leads Ashland synagogues to use video systems ... Former Klamath deputy sentenced to 7 years for sex crimes ... J'ville planner at 'flash point' turns in resignation ... Concern about violence leads Ashland synagogues to use video systems ... Former Klamath deputy sentenced to 7 years for sex crimes ... NEWPORT Fishermen's wives sue Coast Guard to keep helicopter station open Groups say closing helo station violates Homeland Security Act Comment By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press Posted Nov. 25, 2014 at 8:56 PM Updated Nov 25, 2014 at 8:57 PM By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press Posted Nov. 25, 2014 at 8:56 PM Updated Nov 25, 2014 at 8:57 PM » Social News The wives of fishermen from Oregon's largest commercial fleet are suing to stop the U.S. Coast Guard from closing its rescue helicopter station in Newport. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in Eugene argues that closing the Newport Air Station would violate the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which prohibits the Coast Guard from cutting back its mission. It adds the National Environmental Policy Act requires the Coast Guard to do a formal assessment of the impacts on public safety and potential oil spells. "The law clearly requires the Coast Guard to follow a detailed process that examines the impacts of decommissioning the Newport Air Station on the environment and public safety," plaintiffs' attorney Mike Haglund said in a statement. The Coast Guard has said budget cuts led to the closing, and it will cover the central Oregon Coast from Astoria and North Bend stations. The lawsuit says that will add an hour to the time for a helicopter to reach a stricken vessel, which could be the difference between life and death in cold Pacific waters. Coast Guard spokesman Chief Warrant Officer Chad Saylor said they would let the legal system determine the validity of the claims. The agency has also announced plans to close the rescue helicopter station in Charleston, South Carolina, saying its area could be covered from other air stations. The Nov. 30 closure for both stations was delayed until Dec. 15 after members of Congress protested. Closing the stations is estimated to save $6 million each, Saylor said. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Newport Fishermen's Wives Inc., the City of Newport, Lincoln County and the Port of Newport. It seeks a permanent injunction blocking the closure of the air station. It argues that the deaths of three fishermen from hypothermia after their boat sank off Newport in 1985 led to establishment of the Newport base. By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press Posted Nov. 25, 2014 at 8:56 PM Updated Nov 25, 2014 at 8:57 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501