SalemWatch: Give Salem Something to Celebrate on Earth Day
Each week we will update you on any of OCN’s priorities when there is news to report. For the complete list and overview of all of the Priorities for a Healthy Oregon visit www.oregonpriorities.org Committees in the Oregon Legislature will be voting on two key climate change bills next week, Senate Bill 80 and House Bill 2186. Senate Bill 80, originally the Governor’s cap-and-trade proposal, has been revised to adopt a planning process for state agencies to help Oregon meet the scientifically based reduction goals set by the Legislature in 2007. This careful approach will provide clear direction for how we can fight global warming and build our green energy economy. You can read more about the new proposal here and an op-ed from SB 80's legislative backers here. The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee will consider the bill next Tuesday, April 28, at 3:00 P.M. in Hearing Room C, from where it is likely to move to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.
The House Environment and Water Committee will be meeting at the same time, next Tuesday, 3pm in Hearing Room D, to vote on House Bill 2186, a set of proven, cost-effective greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies. The bill includes a low carbon fuel standard that will reduce fuel emissions by 10 percent by 2020, programs to reduce wasteful idling by ships and trucks, and other steps to cut global warming pollution. This bill will likely be taken up by the full House soon and the outcome is far from certain. Take a moment today to contact your legislator and ask them to support House Bill 2186.
Contact: Jake Weigler, Healthy Climate Partnership, (503) 206-4472 Bill to Preserve Oregon’s Ability to Manage Our Waters Moves to Ways and Means Oregon faces a fiscal crisis and must ensure the Water Resources Department has the capacity to administer the water right system and manage the public waters of the state. Senate Bill 740 proposes a modest water fee on the owners of tens of thousands of water rights to help ensure Oregon can meet the water challenges of the next century. SB 740 was passed out of Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee Thursday, and now heads to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.
Major Threats to a Healthy Oregon
HB 3058: Allow Pipeline Permits Without Landowner Notice, Up Tuesday
Hearing and possible work session, House Sustainability and Economic Development Committee, April 28, 12:00 pm, HR E. House Bill 3058 changes the definition of applicant under removal-fill permitting to allow agencies and private corporations including LNG companies to apply for a permit to fill or remove material in wetlands and waters of the state on land they do not own without permission of the property owner. This is a significant change that limits property owners’ rights to know whether there is a pending application on their property and inappropriately accelerates development proposed on or in stream banks and waters of the state. OCN has declared it a major threat and is working to defeat the bill.
Contact: Sue Marshall, Columbia Riverkeeper, (971) 506-4617 HB 3072: Bill to Allow Unsustainable Logging Practices This Tuesday, April 28, at 8 am the House Agriculture and Natural Resources is likely to pass House Bill 3072 and send it to the Ways and Means Committee. This bill would require the Tillamook, Clatsop and other State Forests be managed primarily for timber production, which would result in significant increases in unsustainable logging on these public forests that shelter some of Oregon's most important runs of coastal salmon and steelhead. A hearing on April 21 drew opposition from fishing guides, fish conservation groups, environmental advocates, and even the Oregon Board of Forestry who believe the bill will through state forest management out of balance. It received predictable support from the timber industry.This is the third session OCN has had to fight this bill, a major threat to the environment.
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House Bill 3100 would designate the Metolius Basin as an Area of Critical State Concern, prevent the siting of destination resorts and other large-scale developments in and near the basin, and approve a management plan to ensure the lasting health of the region’s water, fish, and wildlife resources. If you are supportive of establishing permanent protection for the Metolius, please write your legislators, and ask them to support House Bill 3100, the Metolius Protection Act of 2009. Contact: Erik Kancler, Central Oregon Land Watch, (541) 647-1567 2. Greening Oregon’s Schools Contact: Andrea Salinas, Oregon Environmental Council (971) 221-2653 or Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, Oregon Environmental Council (503) 222-1963
In recognition of Earth Day, the Oregon Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), is launching an online tip form for citizens to report an environmental crime.
4. Positive State Forest Bill in Play
On April 21, the House Environment and Water Committee heard extensive testimony in support of House Bill 3249, a bill sponsored by Representative Michael Dembrow and supported by OCN groups which would allow the state Board of Forestry to create 'Natural Resource Conservation Areas' on our state forests that would be protected from logging and road building. This would provide the Board of Forestry a new tool to proactively protect special places and important lands on state forests in order to sustain water quality, healthy fisheries, recreational opportunities and long-term carbon sequestration to help prevent climate change. Despite stating their neutrality on the bill and saying it is consistent with other uses on state forests, the Oregon Department of Forestry attached a significant fiscal impact statement to HB 3249, putting its future in question as state lawmakers grapple with potentially significant budget cuts.
Contact: Ivan Maluski, Sierra Club, (503) 449-2270
Ways and Means Roadshow: Please Attend! Saturday, April 25 - Pendleton Saturday, April 25 - Ontario
Treasure Valley Community College 650 College Boulevard 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 29 - Bend
Central Oregon Community College Cascades Hall Room 117 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 30 - Ashland
Southern Oregon University Rogue River Room Stevenson Union 1250 Siskiyou Boulevard 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 1 - Eugene
Coming Up - This Saturday, April 25th
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| During the session, SalemWatch is sent out weekly to conservation advocates across the state. Have any submissions? Anything you would like to hear more about? Email Melissa@olcv.org or call at (503) 224-4011. |
1. House Bill 3100, the Metolius Protection Act of 2009, Passes Committee on a 5-2 Vote
Representative Jules Bailey
Representative Phil Barnhardt
Representative Brent Barton