The End of the Legislative Session

For immediate release: June 26, 2009

Contact:
Toby Van Fleet, Communications Director, 503-224-4011, toby@olcv.org
Evan Manvel, Legislative Affairs Director, 503-515-8548, evan@olcv.org

Celebration and lament: The Oregon Conservation Network highlights
environmental victories and missed opportunities at the end of the legislative session

SALEM, OR – In a session dominated by budget challenges, Oregon’s elected leaders passed several pro-environment bills, supporting the will of the majority of Oregonians around the state who believe that protecting our unique natural heritage is a priority. But with just days remaining in the session, those same leaders are also contemplating significant rollbacks to the state’s commitment to clean energy.

“The conservation community started the session with a visionary agenda and Oregon’s environmental legacy has seen significant wins,” said Evan Manvel, Legislative Affairs Director for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters and the Oregon Conservation Network. “But at a time when the state really needs an economic boost, legislators missed some key opportunities to spur local business and create jobs while also protecting the environment. That’s unfortunate.”

The Oregon Conservation Network is a coalition of 45 environmental groups from around the state collectively representing more than 100,000 Oregonians, who agree on a list of Priorities for a Healthy Oregon to focus on during each legislative session. This year, the groups tackled six priorities, pushing key associated bills as well as fighting six major threats to a healthy Oregon. (Please see a status summary of environmental bills attached.)

Clear victories on invasive species and marine reserves, hopefully on water management

Legislators moved forward on a variety of bills, from creating marine reserves and preventing invasive species to protecting the Metolius River basin. Right now, legislators are also considering landmark legislation on water management, and just sent a bill limiting pollution from fuel to the Governor.

Of the pro-environment bills passed or expected to pass, most have broad bipartisan support.

• Three bills will protect Oregon taxpayers and the state’s native ecosystems from the costly damage of invasive species with increased fines, mobile check stations and emergency response funds (SB 571, HB 2020, HB 2220).
• Another bill will designate and develop the first two pilot marine reserves and guide the study of four others along Oregon’s coast (HB 3013).
• A historic bill ensuring a more responsible approach to water management includes steps toward water conservation, protection of rivers, and comprehensive state water policy (HB 3369).

These successes are the direct result of building person-to-person partnerships and bringing together a broad range of Oregonians who want to make sure we leave an environmental legacy for all Oregon families.

 “We heard from Oregonians across the state that we had the responsibility to fight invasive species and protect our native species, rivers, and whole ecosystems. So we’ve taken significant leadership to prevent the introduction of invasive fish, invertebrates, plants, and mammals into Oregon, and to fight those that gain a toehold in the state,” said Senator Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland).

Climate and energy: Scaled-back successes, outstanding Major Threats, and losses

While a package of climate change-related bills offered to save families money and spur new jobs through truck retrofitting, weatherization of homes, and fuel development, legislators were pressured by corporate polluters and generally did not bring strong versions of the bills up for votes. Legislators also failed to set standards for dirty liquefied natural gas facilities. Of the OCN’s four priority climate bills, scaled back versions of three appear likely to pass, while one died:

• Senate Bill 79 cuts energy waste by improving building codes for energy-efficient homes and buildings, and will save money for Oregon’s businesses and families (on Governor’s desk).
• Senate Bill 101 ensures new power plants will meet tougher pollution standards (still under consideration).
• House Bill 2186, which passed the House as a promise to implement a variety of common-sense climate strategies already studied, proven and used in other states, was significantly scaled back in the Senate to focus on reducing pollution from fuel while studying the other issues. That version is now on its way to the Governor to be signed into law.
• Senate Bill 80, the centerpiece of the climate package just a few months ago, was amended so significantly at the behest of the state’s largest polluters that the bill died.

At the time of this release, only one Major Threat to a Healthy Oregon has passed: the transportation package, which encourages costly sprawling development and does little to provide more transportation choices to Oregonians. But four bills remain that could roll back the state’s opportunity to transition to a clean energy economy. HB 2940 counts biomass and waste burning as renewable and undermines Oregon’s 25% by 2025 Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) just set in 2007. Combined with passage of HB 3039, which also undermines the RPS by double-counting solar projects, and HB 2472, which limits Oregon’s investment in the Business Energy Tax Credit, Oregon may reduce its commitment to clean energy jobs. HB 3058, the LNG fast-track bill, may also still be considered.

Other victories: Metolius, toxics, environmental fines and phosphorus phase-out

Beyond the OCN’s Priority bills, conservation groups are celebrating other environmental victories. Earlier this week, a bill to protect the Metolius River from massive development was sent to the Governor. And the toxic, health-threatening flame retardant decaBDE will be phased out of household products like mattresses and computers. In addition, fines for environmental pollution were increased for the first time in more than 30 years, and phosphorous will be removed from automatic dishwasher soap, protecting Oregon’s rivers.

The Oregon League of Conservation Voters works to protect the environment by passing pro-environment laws, electing pro-environment candidates to office, and holding those officials accountable.

The Oregon Conservation Network is a coalition of 45 environmental organizations with collective membership of more than 100,000 Oregonians.

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Environment in the 2009 Legislative Session

Oregon Conservation Network
Priorities for a Healthy Oregon

The OCN’s Priority bills are selected by a coalition of 45 conservation groups
around the state, representing more than 100,000 Oregonians.
These are pro-environment bills OCN works to pass.
Environmental Victories (Passed by Legislature)

SB 34 – TriMet and Lane Transit funding authorization; minimal adjustment in payroll tax limits

SB 79 – Energy efficiency for residential and commercial buildings

SB 571 – Increased penalties for transporting or releasing invasive live fish

HB 2186 – Low-polluting fuel standard and limits on ship idling

HB 3013 – Guidance and structure for marine reserves

Funding for marine reserves (various budgets)
Environmental Losses (Priority bills legislators failed to pass)

SB 80 – Steps to scope and plan to meet Oregon’s statutory goals on climate change

HB 2001 – Transportation package provisions on land use planning and transportation choices

HB 2015 – Liquefied Natural Gas Public Protection Act
Priority Bills Still Up in the Air

SB 101 – Pollution limits on dirty new power plants

SB 740 – Water rights fees to fund Water Resources Department

HB 2020 – Emergency response fund for invasive species

HB 2220 – Mobile check stations for invasive species

HB 3369 – Water package includes standards for new storage projects, conservation efforts, and water planning (note: integrates standards from SB 788, previously a priority bill)

Major Threats to a Healthy Oregon

OCN Major Threats bills are unanimously agreed upon by a steering committee
representing the coalition of 45 conservation groups across the state.
They are anti-environment bills OCN actively works to defeat.
Environmental Losses (Passed by Legislature)

HB 2001 – Highways-heavy transportation package with little to improve transportation choices
Major Threat Bills Still Up in the Air

HB 2940 – Undermining Oregon’s renewable energy standard with biomass, trash burning

HB 3058 – Fast-tracking for liquefied natural gas

HB 3072 – Removes balance in management of state forests
Major Threat Bills Amended to No Longer Be Major Threats

HB 2229 – Changes in land-use planning from Big Look Task Force
HB 2472 – Limits on the Business Energy Tax Credit (House version)

Other Environmental Bills of Note
Environmental Victories (Passed by Legislature)

SB 38 – Reporting on global warming pollution

SB 102 – Phasing out high-polluting wood stoves
SB 105 – Partially adjusting environmental penalties for inflation

SB 596 – Phasing out toxic flame retardant decaBDE

SB 631 – Phasing out phosphates in household dish soap

SB 637 – Integrated pest management on school grounds

HB 2080 – Allowing households to use gray-water systems

HB 2795 – Gradual replacement of high-polluting diesel school bus engines

HB 2999 – Improvements to pesticide use reporting system, (though program suspended)

HB 3298 – Protections for the Metolius River basin
HB 3300 – Creating plan for green jobs development
Environmental Losses (Environmental bills legislators failed to pass)

SB 194 – Implement Water Resource Department’s plan for water measurement (though parts are in HB 3369 and SB 5551)

SB 320 – Battery stewardship

SB 688 – Green cleaning products in schools

SB 742 – Stewardship for mercury-containing light bulbs

HB 2060 – Comprehensive product stewardship

HB 2184 – Updating Oregon’s Bottle Bill

HB 2367 – Ban on bisphenol A chemical in baby bottles

HB 2388 – Studying economic impact of large big-box developments

HB 2792 – Allowing DHS to regulate toxins in childrens’ products
HB 3090 – Allowing homeowners to use clotheslines and solar panels

HB 3199 – Upgrading energy-efficiency of state buildings

HB 3249 – Natural resource conservation areas on state lands

HB 3357 – Green buildings for schools

HB 3465 – Recouping of, or reporting on, unredeemed bottle deposits

HJR 48 – Allowing gas tax revenues to go to climate-change solutions
Environmental Bills Still Up in the Air

SB 528 – Scaling back field burning

SB 788 – Increased cost recovery from water users to fund Water Resources work
SB 5551 – Water Resources Department budget

HB 2227 – Reform of destination resort statutes
HB 2544 – Structure for environmental education efforts

HB 2626 – Funding structure for energy-efficiency loans

HB 3037 – Paint stewardship program

HB 3089 – Increased penalties for killing wildlife
Anti-Environment Bills Passed

SB 691 – Paying off timber companies if elected officials or voters strengthen forest protections
HB 3112 – Tax breaks for outdated timber equipment
Anti-Environment Bills Still Up in the Air

HB 3039 – Roll back of Renewable Portfolio Standard with solar 2:1 double-counting
HB 2472 – Limits on the Business Energy Tax Credit (Conference Committee version)