SalemWatch: Special Session Wrap-up
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| Priorities for a Healthy Oregon |
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Protecting Oregon's Coast from Oil and Gas Exploration
 The big environmental victory this session was the passage of House Bill 3613 which extends the moratorium on oil and gas exploration off of Oregon's coast for 10 more years, by which time we hope to see a permanent ban. Congratulations to everyone who helped pass this important protection for Oregon’s coast. Contact: Brock Howell, Environment Oregon, 503-231-1986
Jennifer Williamson, Oregon Conservation Network, 503-781-7233
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 Protecting our Children from Harmful Chemicals..
One of the big disappointments this session is that despite mounting evidence showing that Bisphenol-A (BPA) is harmful to children's health, the Oregon Senate rejected Senate Bill 1032. In its final form, SB 1032 was an extremely narrowly scoped bill that would have banned BPA from baby bottles and sippy cups, representing a significant step in protecting our children from the dangerous effects to their health that BPA may pose during one of the most vulnerable stages in child development. A similar ban is expected to pass the Washington, Wisconsin and Maryland legislatures and is already in place in Minnesota, Connecticut and Chicago.
Contact: Andrea Salinas, Oregon Environmental Council, 971-221-2653
or Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, Oregon Environmental Council, 503-222-1963 x 110
.. Creating Healthy, Climate-Friendly Communities
 Another victory this session was the passage of Senate Bill 1059 which marks a crucial step in addressing climate change while creating healthier, sustainable communities. 1000 Friends of Oregon and the Oregon Environmental Council represented the conservation community on the Metropolitian Planning Organization (MPO) Greenhouse Gas Emissions Task Force which made the recommendations that became SB 1059. The task force, made up of diverse stakeholders from around the state, reached consensus that a combined state and local government approach, phased in over time, could help Oregon's largest metropolitan areas meet the state's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also providing better transportation choices, lower transportation costs and a cleaner environment.
SB 1059 directs the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to begin a number of tasks, including:
Congratulations for everyone who helped pass SB 1059!
Contact: Eric Stachon, 1000 Friends of Oregon, 503-497-1000 x129
Andrea Salinas, Oregon Environmental Council, 971-221-2653
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| Other Environmental Bills |
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Improving Oregon's Business Energy Tax Credit
 House Bill 3680 makes some minor housekeeping tweaks to Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credit that would stabilize this critical job-creation program. This bill helps to ensure that Oregon continues to invest in homegrown energy and put Oregonians back to work. Specifically, House Bill 3680:
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.
Contact: Jeff Bissonnette, Citizen Utility Board and Fair and Clean Energy Coalition, 503-516-1636 LNG pipeline fast-track bill died in committee
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, died in committee without receiving a hearing. 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.
Contact Ivan Maluski, Sierra Club of Oregon, 503-449-2270
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 Keeping Plastic Bags out of our Rivers and OceansSenate Bill 1009, which would have prohibited the use of plastic check-out bags in Oregon, was the darling environmental bill of the press this session. SB 1009 would have gone a long way in addressing Oregon's contribution to the problems caused by American's use of 100 billion plastic shopping bags which, along with plastic packaging, account for a major portion of our waste in landfills. Even more problematic is that they are one of the top items littering our beaches, oceans, rivers and along our roadways and they wreak havoc by gumming up recycling machinery. Plastic bags are detrimental to many animals, especially birds and marine animals, and 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. Proponents pledge to bring this back to the 2011 legislature. Contact: Sue Marshall, Audubon Society of Portland, Tualatin Riverkeepers and Willamette Riverkeeper, 971-506-4617
Katy Daily, Recycling Advocates, 503-515-3474
Public right to use waterways
Senate Bill 1060, which would have created a task force charged with examining the issues surrounding public use of Oregon's waterways, the public use doctrine, judicial opinions and the interests of adjacent landowners, died on the Senate floor by a 14-16 vote. SB 1060 was originally introduced by Senator 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.
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| Other News |
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The Oregon Conservation Network is excited to announce that Meredith Shield will be coming on board as our Director beginning Monday. Meredith most recently served as Chief of Staff for Representative Jules Bailey and prior to that she was a field organizer for Oregon League of Conservation Voters. We are excited about the energy, political savvy and unique combination of legislative and coalition organizing experience that Meredith will bring to the OCN Director job! ..
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| Get Involved – Protect Oregon's Parks and Wildlife |
This dedicated funding is so important to Oregon's outstanding outdoor legacy - today and for the future - that we can't wait to renew it! That's why we're working to place a ballot measure on Oregon's November 2010 ballot and we need your help to make it happen.