Protecting Oregon’s Wildlife

Last week we incorrectly stated that some OCN groups support HB 2971, which allows the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to appoint individuals (sport hunters) to act as agents of the state to hunt cougars and bears with dogs as part of the Cougar and Bear Management Plans. Some OCN groups feel this bill overturns the will of Oregon voters, who passed Measure 18 and reaffirmed that decision in 1996, which banned bear and cougar baiting and hunting with hounds and others have no position.  No OCN groups support this bill. 

Global Warming

HB 3543 was on the House floor but was then sent to Ways and Means. HB 3543 codifies greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and creates the Oregon Global Warming Commission which coordinates local and state efforts to halt growth of greenhouse gas emissions.  It also funds the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute.  We hope it will quickly come out of Ways and Means and be back on the House floor.

Protecting Women’s Health

SJM 8, which would urge congress to enact legislation requiring testing, review and approval of ingredients in cosmetics, unanimously passed the Senate and will be heard on May 25, in the House Human Services and Women’s Wellness committee, 8:30am in HR D.

Protecting Oregon’s Water Quantity and Quality

HB 2564, which would expand measurement of water diversions across Oregon, was also on the House floor and was sent back to Ways and Means.  This bill has been amended to be very watered down from WaterWatch’s original proposal (a pun we can’t get away from this session). 

Expanding Oregon’s Bottle Bill

SB 707 is expected to be heard on the House floor early next week.  Since there were three minor amendments adopted in the House it will need to move back to the Senate for concurrence if it passes.  The B-engrossed bill has not yet been posted.

Protecting Oregon’s Coastal Ecosystems

An amended SB 790 passed Senate on a party line vote and is headed to the House.  The amended version places a moratorium on offshore drilling for oil, gas or sulfur off of Oregon’s coast until 2010 and allows the Governor to rescind the moratorium if there is an oil embargo against the United States.

Protecting Oregon’s Farmland and Special Places

SB 30, which once again protects the Metolius Basin from the proposed development of a destination resort, will be heard on the Senate floor next week where it is expected to pass. 

A hearing was held on Tuesday for HB 2723, which gives cities and counties the ability to create a process that legalizes illegally divided lots or parcels that were purchased without knowledge of the legal status of the land.  It also creates safeguards to put a stop to the sale of illegal lots to unsuspecting purchasers, which protects natural resource lands from inappropriate fragmentation and provides certainty in the real estate market.

Metro has sponsored a bill, SB 1011, which allows for better long term planning, by streamlining the process for communities to designate rural and urban reserves outside of the UGB.  This provides longer term planning certainty for both the agricultural sector, and for urban expansions, by requiring there to be rural reserves earmarked when the urban reserves are identified through the streamlined process.  SB 1011 has a work session scheduled in the Energy and Environment committee on May 23, 1pm in HR C.

Natural Resource Budgets

Even before the forecast was released, which increased the pot by $150 million, Natural Resource budgets are being decided and generally have been favorable for resource protection.

Although generally these budgets have been good, we’ve identified some items that we believe the legislature should consider funding (this is not a complete list):

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW):  Wildlife Conservation Strategy – A nationally unique conservation strategy adopted two years ago with no implementation funding

Cost:   $2 million

ODFW: Sportfishing Opportunity Enhancement Plan (SB 680) – This would fund a marketing and information position at the department to help create a 25-year plan enhancing recreational angling in Oregon

Cost: $250,000

Water Resources department (WRD): Groundwater Studies - WRD is currently unable to make determinations on Groundwater limited and groundwater critical areas to resolve conflicts and conserve groundwater sources

Cost:  $900,000 (already funded at $100,000)

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): Columbia Gorge Air Quality Program - Restore one FTE in this critical air quality program

Cost:   $175,000

Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF):  Urban Forestry Program Staffer - Important link between ODF, forest industry and urban forest managers and urban residents

Cost:   $242,000

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD): Property Acquisition

Cost: $1 million

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