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1. Gas Prices Down, Oregonians still driving less
According to the latest Federal Highway Administration figures, Oregonians are driving 14.7 percent less than they were this time last year. In fact, nationally, miles have declined for the last 14 months, translating to 3.8 billion fewer vehicle-miles driven in the US in December 2008 than 20007. In Oregon, because the Department of Transportation's budget is tied to the per-gallon state gas tax, there is less money for highway maintenance. Bicycles, rev your engines. However, according to the OPB article, the projected height for summer time gas prices is $2.50 per gallon, as opposed to last year's $4.29.
2. Bill to Ban Bioaccumulative Toxin DecaDBE
Senate Bill 596 proposes to ban the commercial use of the flame retardant decapolybrominated diphenyl ether (decaBDE). DecaBDE is a widely-used flame retardant known to bio-accumulate in humans, fish and wildlife. It is used in many everyday products including electrical components, furniture, curtains, mattresses, computers and carpets. Many states have enacted bans on these chemicals including Maine, Minnesota, and Washington to reduce the presence and potential threat of decaBDE. Senator Hass is chief sponsor of this bill, which had a work session yesterday, March 12th. Contact your Senators to voice your support today!
Contact: Sue Marshall, of Confluence Consulting (971) 506-4617.
Other OCN groups working on this: Willamette Riverkeeper.
3. DEQ Seeks Comments of Priority Persistent Pollutants
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has compiled a list of 175 pollutants that have a documented affect on human health, wildlife, and aquatic habitats. From now until March 27th, they will be holding information sessions throughout the state to get feedback on the list. The projected timeline is to have a revised list of pollutants submitted to the Oregon Legislature by June 1, 2009.
This work follows the passage of Senate Bill 737 in 2007, an OCN priority during the last legislature. SB 737 directed DEQ to develop the list with the help of interested parties in order to address toxics reduction statewide. Currently they have narrowed the priority list from 2,100 to 175. Read the list of pollutants here, and there is one meeting left - if you haven't yet attended one.
Thursday March 19
5:30 - 8 pm
DEQ Headquarters, 811 SW Sixth Avenue
Contact: Cheryl Grabham, Fax (503) 229-6037, Oregon DEQ, 811 SW Sixth Avenue
4. Field Burning Hearings Underway
Two bills that ban field burning had emotional hearings this week with overflow crowds filled with both supporters and opponents. Senate Bill 528 would immediately ban the burning of grass seed fields throughout the Willamette Valley. House Bill 2183 was put forth by Governor Kulongoski and calls for a reduction in the amount of acres of grass seed fields that can be burned next year, while phasing out field burning entirely in 2011. This article from the Statesman Journal summarizes the debate: Oregon supplies almost 50% of the grass seed used for soccer fields, golf courses, and lawns around the world, and using field burning saves money, but severe health problems, even deaths, have been attributed to the practice. Legislators are debating whether to ban the practice now, or to reduce the permitted amount of field burning allowed gradually over the next three years.
Both SB 598 and HB 2183 had hearings this week.
For more information contact Lisa Arkin, Oregon Toxics Alliance, (541) 465-8860 or visit the Oregon Toxics Alliance webpage.
5. One More Hearing for Bottle Bill Expansion Scheduled
On Thursday the House Environment and Energy Committee will hold its third hearing on HB 2184, the expansion of Oregon's Bottle Bill, to entertain amendments to the bill. As currently written, this bill would increase the deposit on containers to 10 cents and expands the list of covered beverages to include almost all beverages with the exception of milk. It also sets a recovery goal of 80% for covered containers by 2015 and gives the Oregon Liquor Commission more authority to regulate the conditions of the facilities where containers are received, hopefully to encourage more recycling.
6. The 'Idaho Stop Law' has Public Hearing
A bill is being heard that would allow bicyclists to slow down at stop signs and yield to other traffic, instead of stopping completely - a law that has been successful in Idaho for several years. There is a public hearing for House Bill 2690 on Wednesday, March 18th in the House Transportation Committee, 1pm, HR D. Cyclists who feel strongly about the bill are encouraged to come testify in favor.
Contact: Karl Rhode, of Bicycle Transportation Alliance, (503) 866-8222
7. Climate Summit in Copenhagen declares "inaction is inexcusable"
2500 scientists, economists, campaigners, dignitaries, industry representatives, and journalists gathered in Copenhagen over the last three days to synergise around action needed to be taken around climate change. The impetus for the conference was to move past the "overly conservative" results of the 2007 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The result? Six messages, or conclusions on climate change policy, including messages about the seriousness and urgency of taking significant action now, and the benefits from doing so.
Read these messages and more from the New York Times here.
8. Water Conservation Bill up for a Public Hearing
House Bill 2080 is up for an Oregon House floor vote on Monday, March 16th. The bill would permit the installation and use of gray water reuse systems for domestic outdoor irrigation uses. Gray water is water used in homes besides sewage and those waters contaminated by toxic chemicals. Right now it is illegal to install these systems in Oregon although many other states allow and regulate residential gray water systems as a way of conserving water and protecting the public. Act fast and email your representative to support this important legislation. A few facts:
- The average residential water user consumes 68 gallons per person, per day
- About half of this water is gray water that could be reused
- So 35 gallons per person, or 85 gallons per household, per day could be reused.
Contact: Sue Marshall of Confluence Consulting, (971) 506-4617 or John DeVoe, of WaterWatch of Oregon, (503) 295-4039 x 1
9. ODFW Budget to be heard next Wednesday
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife budget (ODFW) is scheduled for a public hearing next Wednesday, March 18th at 1:00 pm in the Natural Resources SubCommittee of Ways and Means. Significant increases in fees are being proposed for hunters and anglers. The sometimes disjointed core budget measures that are actually spread around in different committees are already being pushed and pulled in many directions within the capitol, and the upcoming hearing on HB 5014 is the best place for anyone with affected interestes or concerns to weigh in. Ways and Means committee leaders are aggressively seekins more information regarding the content and purpose for many of the debt budget recommendations now being examined. Also important is the attempt to find ways for other wildlife user and viewing groups to pay for more of the conservation, wildlife damage response, improved regulation of commercial fisheries and nontraditional services now being promoted and developed within the agency. It is Fascinating to observe efforts to refocus and reinvent various department programs which affect countless Oregonians. These services represent a major part of our state's environmental legacy but they will receive intense scrutiny during the current budget crisis -- and all of us should be paying close attention.
Contact: Tom Wolf, of Trout Unlimited, (503) 888-1102
10. Q & A with Earl Congressmen Blumenauer on Climate Change
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore) is the newly named Vice-Chairman of the House Select Committee on Global Warming and Energy Independence. In the Portland Tribune article below, he talks about the need for a national cap and trade system as well as the feasibility of it in the face of the current economy. Although he still very much supports efforts on a state level, he is also working hard in Washington to take it to the next level.
Read more about our strong national representation on climate change.
Sierra Club LNG Presentation
On April 9th, join the Sierra Club for a presentation on Liquefied Natural Gas (what is it? who likes it? why is it a threat?). Olivia Schmidt, Statewide LNG Organizer, and Greg Jacob, LNG Issue Coordinator for Oregon Chapter, Sierra Club, will be showing a twenty-minute video titled "Crossroads on the Columbia" and a four-minute video that shows where the Palomar pipeline will run through the Mt Hood National Forest.
Following the two videos there will be a question and answer session with Olivia Schmidt and Amy Harwood (of Bark) on the three proposed LNG terminals and 500 miles of new pipelines proposed in Oregon.
More Details
Legislative Town Halls
Over the course of the session, legislators, senators, and their staff make concerted efforts to hold public town halls and coffee chats. Usually held on a weekday evening or weekend morning, it's a great opportunity to learn your elected officials' stances on issues, voice your opinions, and get to know your community. To find out about these, sign up for your legislators newsletter online. Use the link to find out who your representatives and senators are.
This Saturday, March 14th:
 Senator Rod Monroe
10:00 - 11:30 am
David Douglas District Office Boardroom
1500 SE 130th
 
Representative Tina Kotek, Chip Shields, and
Senator Margaret Carter
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Portland Community College, Cascade Campus, Terrill Hall Room 112
705 N Killingsworth St
Coming up!
 Representative Ben Cannon
Wednesday, March 18th
7-8pm
Touchstone Coffee House
445 NE 70th, Portland
Brought to you endearingly from Legislative Affairs Director (and rockstar), Evan Manvel.
Monkey teaching baby to floss.
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Senate Bill 101 Hearing Monday