SalemWatch - Blink and you might miss it
Date:
February 10 Special Session - Blink and you might miss it
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The 2010 Special Session for the Oregon Legislature started Monday and already there have been hearings on most of the bills we are watching and one bill of concern is already dead. Bills were required to have their first hearing scheduled by yesterday or they are now dead, and all bills are required to be out of their committee of origin by February 14, or they too will be dead.
Overall, the outlook looks good for our priorities and the bills we are tracking. With just two to three weeks left in the session, the pace is frenetic and things are rapidly changing. We will continue to do everything we can to keep you in the know and give you an opportunity to help. |
| Priorities for a Healthy Oregon |
 Protecting our Children from Harmful ChemicalsThe first hearing for Senate Bill 1032 was Thursday and the support for a ban of Bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles and children’s food containers sold in Oregon is growing. The federal government is concerned about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children. Recent studies have reported subtle negative effects of low doses of BPA. Passing this ban would make Oregon a national leader in protecting children from toxic chemicals.
The Oregon Environmental Council is leading a large coalition to support the ban of BPA from baby bottles and children's food containers sold in Oregon. If you haven’t already, please take a minute to let your legislators know that you support the ban on BPA to protect our children.
While there is overwhelming concern that BPA is harmful to children's health, one of the biggest issues that could limit the final scope of this important bill is the lack of BPA free alternatives for infant formula containers. Ironically, the fact that there is no BPA free alternative for mothers who can’t exclusively breastfeed their babies, the babies who risk the greatest exposure from BPA in their food and bottles, may lead the legislature to exclude formula from being protected by the ban.
A work session is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9 in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee at 1pm in HR B. There is still time to encourage your legislators to support a ban of BPA from baby bottles and children’s food containers.
Contact: Andrea Salinas, Oregon Environmental Council, 971-221-2653
or Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, Oregon Environmental Council, 503-222-1963 x 110
Protecting Oregon's Coast from Oil and Gas Exploration
 The outlook for passing House Bill 3613 looks very positive as we head into the critical second week of this session. HB 3613, sponsored by Representative Ben Cannon (D-Portland), will protect Oregon’s special coastal areas by extending the moratorium on drilling for oil and gas in Oregon’s coastal waters for another 10 years. Although we were hoping for a permanent ban, a 10 year moratorium is four times longer than the previous moratorium and represents a significant step in protecting Oregon’s coastal communities, our fishing industry, our stunning coastal ecological diversity and will allow the focus to be on renewable energy opportunities.
The amended HB 3613 passed the House Energy and Environment Committee on Thursday and a floor vote is expected early next week. It will then head to the Senate.
Contact: Brock Howell, Environment Oregon, 503-231-1986
Jennifer Williamson, Oregon Conservation Network, 503-781-7233
Creating Healthy, Climate-Friendly Communities
A task force established by the 2009 Legislature has proposed Senate Bill 1059, which would assist Oregon's six major metro areas in developing plans to broaden transportation choices while also helping Oregon meet its greenhouse-gas reduction goals. 1000 Friends of Oregon and the Oregon Environmental Council represented the conservation community on the task force and will lead the effort to help pass this common sense partnership between state agencies and Oregon’s largest cities to coordinate transportation and land use planning.
We are still awaiting updates to this bill that better reflect the task force’s recommendations.
A public hearing and possible work session is scheduled in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday, February 9, 1pm in HR B. If needed, there is an additional work session scheduled for Thursday, February 11 in the same committee.
Contact: Eric Stachon, 1000 Friends of Oregon, 503-497-1000 x129
Andrea Salinas, Oregon Environmental Council, 971-221-2653
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| Other Bills to Watch |
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LNG pipeline fast-track bill is DOA
Senate Bill 1020, a repeat of last session’s controversial bill to fast-track state issued wetland removal-fill permits needed to build controversial LNG pipelines across Oregon, is now dead. SB 1020 was sent to the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee by Senate President Peter Courtney and yesterday Chair Jackie Dingfelder did not schedule a hearing for this controversial bill by the 5pm deadline.
SB 1020 would have removed the word ‘applicant’ from key permitting rules, allowing out-of-state LNG companies to apply for wetland removal fill permits without landowners’ permission. We want to thank President Courtney and Chair Dingfelder for stopping this ill-conceived bill.
Contact Ivan Maluski, Sierra Club of Oregon, 503-449-2270
 Keeping Plastic Bags out of our Rivers and OceansMomentum keeps growing behind Senate Bill 1009, introduced by Senators Mark Hass (D) and Jason Atkinson (R) which would ban the use of plastic check-out bags throughout Oregon. The story was covered on all local network news channels, received a story on the front page of the Oregonian, on radio stations in Seattle, and was even mentioned in the Miami Herald. It then received more press as Senate President Courtney indicated on the second day of the session that he is open to the ban.
SB 1009 represents a significant first step in addressing the problems created by the proliferation of single use bags and would go a long way in reducing Oregon’s annual use of 39 million plastic bags which require 150,000 barrels of oil to produce, unnecessarily fill our landfills where they don’t biodegrade, and cause significant litter along roadways, waterways and beaches where they wreak havoc with wildlife. Jurisdictions around the world, including China, Ireland, Bangladesh, Mexico City, San Francisco and even Washington DC, have laws in place designed to limit their use. Oregon would become a leader in the U.S. by establishing the first statewide ban.
A work session is scheduled for Thursday, February 11, in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee at 1pm in HR B.
Contact: Sue Marshall, Audubon Society of Portland and Tualatin Riverkeeper, 971-506-4617
Katy Daily, Recycling Advocates, 503-515-3474
Improving Oregon's Business Energy Tax Credit
Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credit is undergoing some minor housekeeping tweaks this session that will stabilize this critical job-creation program. These bills have not yet been finalized. Senator Ginny Burdick (D-Portland) and Representative Phil Barnhart (D-Eugene) are taking leadership on this issue and we support their efforts to preserve the integrity of this important program. We are working with legislators to make sure that Oregon continues to invest in homegrown energy and put Oregonians back to work. Specifically, we are working to make sure that the bills:
Investment in new renewable energy manufacturing and generation and increased energy efficiency is critical to spur economic growth, fight global warming, and preserve the unique quality of life across Oregon. Increased renewable energy development ensures that communities can count on jobs, economic development, and a bright future; utilities can count on stable, dependable power; and consumers can feel good about the legacy they are leaving future generations.
To date, more than $9 billion in renewable energy projects are in operation, under construction or proposed. This investment translates into over 8600 jobs; $50 million in landowner payments; and $700 million in property taxes and community service fees. And Oregon now ranks #1 in the nation in green jobs per capita.
Any changes to Oregon’s current incentive programs, particularly the BETC, must ensure that Oregon continues to be a leader in attracting clean energy projects that grow our economy, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and address climate change over the long term. Public right to use waterways
Senate Bill 1060 was introduced by Senator Dr. Alan Bates (D - Ashland) and Secretary of State Kate Brown to codify the 2005 Attorney General Opinion that asserts the public’s right to use floatable waterways throughout Oregon. Several versions of SB 1060 are being considered and a wide array of sporting, conservation and river user organizations have testified in support of SB 1060-1. This version comes closest (with a few minor changes offered by river rights advocates) to honoring the broad rights of the public to use Oregon’s floatable waterways. The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee will finish hearing public testimony on Tuesday February 9 at 1 PM in HR B. If your organization did not testify on Thursday, please come to the hearing, or submit testimony in support of SB 1060-1.
Contact: Dave Moskowitz representing Water Watch, 971-235-8953
or Tom Wolf, Trout Unlimited, 503-883-1102
Preserving Oregon's Groundwater from Over-allocation
"Exempt wells" are wells that can be installed without following the normal requirements for a water right, which is one check to insure that groundwater isn’t being over allocated. Currently, there is no public interest review, water availability analysis or fish analysis for these wells. House Bill 3661 proposes three improvements to current laws:
1) HB 3661 reduces the current 15,000 gallon per day exemption to 5,000 gallons per day;
2) HB 3661 includes the watering of any lawn or noncommercial garden not exceeding one-half acre under this daily cap; and
3) HB 3661 provides the Water Resources Commission authority to require a water right for a new well of this type if the source aquifer is in a ground water limited area or critical groundwater area.
Water Watch of Oregon is leading the way to build support for this bill.
HB 3661 had its first hearing on Tuesday in the House Environment and Water Committee and has a Work Session scheduled for Tuesday, February 9, at 8am in HR F.
Contact: Dave Moskowitz representing Water Watch, 971-235-8953
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| Follow the Action – Make Your Voice Heard |
The nature of this session will be fast and furious - from the opening bell to the final gavel - and we will try hard to keep you informed on how you can let your voice be heard. You can follow the action yourself by heading to the Oregon Legislature’s Website where you can find a list of all the bills that will be under consideration this session, sign up for notices of committee schedules, sign up for newsletters of your legislators, and watch or listen committee hearings and floor sessions.
During this special session, SalemWatch will be sent out periodically to Oregonians across the state. Have any submissions? Anything you would like to announce or hear more about? Email ocn@olcv.org or call (503) 227-8073.
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