Sure, Oregon officials could have stood pat this summer when 13 Greenpeace protesters dangling from the St. Johns Bridge briefly blocked a massive ship deemed crucial to Shell Oil's now-shelved plans for Arctic Ocean drilling.
But holding back — something officials say they never seriously considered — could have cost the state thousands of dollars in federal fines, according to internal documents reviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Documents: Read all 902 pages or scroll down to read the embedded batch.
Why? The Oregon Department of Transportation requires a permit from the U.S. Coast Guard to operate the St. Johns Bridge. To keep the bridge's permit, the state must ensure that ships up to 174 feet tall can pass below.
With protesters and bright flags arrayed below the bridge deck, all connected by ropes, that was impossible.