Priorities for a Healthy Oregon

Progress on four out of six

2009 marked the third session that the Oregon Conservation Network (OCN), a coalition of conservation groups coordinated by OLCV, worked on shared priorities in Salem. Prior to the start of each session, OCN agrees on a list of the top environmental priorities facing the Legislature: the Priorities for a Healthy Oregon. This year, forty leading conservation groups from around the state were part of OCN.

Check out our quick hits on the Priorities and the related bills below.

Preserve Oregon’s Coastal Legacy

VICTORY!

Marine reserves bill and funding passed

House Bill 3013 establishes two marine reserves and creates a scientific and community-based process to evaluate four other potential connected sites that together would support Oregon’s ocean habitat.

Stop the Spread of Invasive Species

VICTORY!

Twelve invasive species bills, including OCN’s three priority bills, passed

No Priority had as broad support as fighting costly invasive species outbreaks, which threaten our fish, wildlife, rivers, forests, and key industries. Legislators passed twelve bills to address invasive species, including OCN’s three priority bills:

House Bill 2020 creates a quick-response fund for invasive species outbreaks; Senate Bill 571 (not scored) increases penalties for introducing invasive fish; and House Bill 2220 creates mobile boat check stations to fight invasive snails, mussels and aquatic plants.

Implement Global Warming Solutions

Partial victory!

Three of four priority bills passed

Climate was a signature issue this session, with a host of highly-paid lobbyists fighting progress. But despite the well-funded opposition, legislators passed three key climate bills: House Bill 2186 allows the state to cut global warming pollution from fuel; Senate Bill 101 limits the building of dirty coal plants; and Senate Bill 79 cuts energy waste from buildings. Sadly, legislators killed Senate Bill 80 (see Bill Graveyard), which would have helped create 40,000 jobs by implementing a carbon cap-andtrade system in Oregon.

Promote Water Conservation

VICTORY!

Historic water bill passed

The Legislature passed House Bill 3369, the most important water bill in more than 20 years.  The bill protects migrating fish in the Columbia River and streamflows in the Umatilla River, and establishes environmental standards for new water projects around the state.

Enhance Transportation Choices

Split: One major bad bill passed, one smaller positive bill passed

Legislators passed House Bill 2001, a large, unbalanced transportation package that encourages costly sprawl while failing to significantly enhance transportation choices. Legislators did pass Senate Bill 34, which will help Portland and Eugene-Springfield fund public transit.

Ensure New Energy Supplies are Responsible

Loss: No action by Legislators

Lawmakers failed to protect Oregon from liquefied natural gas, a dirty fossil fuel, by failing to pass House Bill 2015 (see Bill Graveyard), which would have protected the public interest in the LNG permitting process.