Improving Oregon’s Bottle Bill

Oregon’s first major expansion of our seminal environmental legislation took a significant step forward Monday when SB 707 passed the Senate with a 23-7 vote, and it continues to move quickly.  A Hearing and possible work session is scheduled for Wednesday, May 2^nd and a possible follow up work session is scheduled for May 4th in the House Energy and Environment committee, 1pm in HR C.    We still have a chance to make this a stronger bill, so please come to this hearing to urge the committee to add more containers or increase the deposit.  It is critical that the public’s voice is represented among all of the industry lobbyists who are working to kill this bill.

Improving Oregon’s Pesticide Use Reporting System

SB 683, which reduces the size of the area to be used when reporting pesticide use under the Pesticide Use Reporting System, passed the Senate Environment and Natural Resources committee on Thursday and is headed to the Senate floor.

Protecting Oregon’s Coastal Ecosystems

The Senate unanimously passed an amended SB 432 which restricts shipbreaking of large vessels to dry dock only.  This would prevent the release of hazardous materials and invasive species into Oregon waters while a vessel is being scrapped.  In the House, it has been referred to the Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Ocean Policy.

The hearing for SB 790, which places a moratorium on offshore drilling for oil, gas or sulfur off of Oregon’s coast until 2012, was cancelled because of the craziness that happened in the House on Thursday.  It has been rescheduled in the Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Ocean Policy for Tuesday, May 1, 3pm in HRC.  It looks as though there may be amendments introduced that will shorten the duration to three years and exclude some types of exploration.

Protecting Oregon’s Farmland and Special Places

A very heated and emotional hearing in the Senate Education and General Government committee lasted late into the evening on Thursday, and the result was passage of SB 30 with amendments that we have not had a chance to evaluate.  It is not clear whether the amendments may have actually weakened existing land use protections or whether this bill will indeed protect the headwaters of the Metolius from the proposed development of a destination resort.

Another really bad bill that will allow 15,000 acres of land (larger than the size of Manhattan) to be developed into houses around the controversial proposed Morrow County speedway adjacent to the Columbia River in Boardman passed out of the Senate Natural Resources committee Thursday. SB 665 passed 3-2 and is headed to the Senate floor.

SB 98 passed out of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources committee on Thursday with amendments that greatly improve this bill.  SB 98 directs the state to acquire property to maintain working forests when that forestland is being threatened, either by development or other threats.  There still are concerns that this bill may open the door for acquisition of federal forestland that is not being threatened.

Global Warming

HB 3543 Establishes the Global Warming Commission and establishes greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.  This bill directs the commission to coordinate local and state efforts to halt growth of greenhouse gas emissions, and directs the PUC to consider environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions when regulating electric utilities. HB 3543 was held over for a hearing on Monday in the House Energy and Environment committee, 1pm in HRC.

HB 3545 sets carbon caps for major sources of greenhouse gases, and sets up a trading system to enable polluters to meet the requirements. HB 3545 was also held over for a hearing on Monday in the House Energy and Environment committee, 1pm in HRC.

Improving Oregon’s Air Quality

We are still waiting for a hearing in the Natural Resources subcommittee of Ways and means for SB 235 which removes the exemption for agricultural operations to comply with the Clean Air Act.

Protecting Oregon’s Water Quantity and Quality

The hearing for HB 2564 has been rescheduled for Monday. The vast majority of water diversions from Oregon's streams and rivers are not measured. Without measurement, it can be difficult for users to know whether they are operating within the limits of their water right. HB 2564, which would expand measurement of water diversions across Oregon, is scheduled for a work session on Monday, April 30, 1pm in HR C.

As of press time, the hearing for HB 2566 is currently in progress.  HB 2566 would require the state to consider the water needs of neighbors, other users, fish and rivers before allowing certain new uses of groundwater.  We will let you know next week the outcome of this hearing.