OLCV e-bulletin: 2 new laws for a cleaner, greener Oregon, new House Leadership and an Environmental Day of Action

OCN's Environmental Day of Action

Join the Oregon Conservation Network’s Day of Action on January 13th.

Fifty of Oregon’s leading environmental groups have joined together to set six priorities for the 2009 Oregon Legislature – come listen as we publicly unveil these priorities, hear in depth descriptions of the priorities from policy experts, and discover how we can take further action to help pass these priorities.

The Environmental Day of Action will include:
* Information from experts on each of the Priorities
* Clean Energy rally on the Capitol steps
* Citizen Action trainings to gear you up for the upcoming session
* Information on how to get more involved in helping pass your favorite issue

Our elected officials have the responsibility to protect those things that keep Oregon a special place for our families to call home − our forests, farmland, rivers, fish and wildlife. Come learn how you can lobby your legislators by such simple methods as phone calls, letters, & spreading information.

Details: meet at the Micah Building, 680 State Street, 9 am - 3pm.
Clean Energy Rally: 12 pm - 2 pm on the capitol steps

Note: if you can't come for the whole day, please join us for any portion of the day

Register online.
Questions: Email Melissa or call (503) 227-8073.

Two new laws for a cleaner, greener Oregon

E-Cycles Program and Bottle Bill Expansion Take Effect
As of January 1, 2009, the disposal of several electronic items will be prohibited. This law will help keep electronics that contain numerous toxic and recoverable materials out of our landfills. As it is paid for by the manufacturers, it also sets an example of having manufacturers take the responsibility for a product’s full lifecycle.
Oregon's beverage container recycling rate should skyrocket with the addition of water and flavored water containers to Oregon’s Bottle Bill. The recycling rate for containers covered by the Bottle Bill is 82%, compared to 37% for non-covered containers. In 2005, DEQ estimated 125 million disposable water bottles were sold in Oregon, more than the number of soft drink bottles.
It is important to note that while these are two great wins with the passage of these important bills, the work to improve both laws continues. As the Oregonian editorialized, both bills represent progress but don’t go far enough. Oregon E-Cycles program should cover the collection and recycling of all electronic items and should better ensure that Oregon exports of hazardous electronic waste to developing countries are eliminated.
Similarly, the Bottle Bill needs to be expanded to include all beverage containers and if recycling rates are not met the deposit on beverage containers needs to be raised. OCN groups are working this session to implement many of the recommendations made by the Bottle Bill Task Force earlier this year.
DEQ press release about E-Cycles.

New leadership announced in Oregon House

Representative David Hunt, who replaced Jeff Merkley as House Speaker, released information concerning the division of legislators into committees. Democrats, who hold a 36-24 majority in the House, will chair the 16 policy committees and six out of seven ways and means subcommittees.
Here is a short list of newly appointed committee members with their lifetime scores from OLCV's Environmental Scorecard.

• Representative Ben Cannon (94%) has been named Chair of Environment and Water
• Representative Tobias Read (95%) Chair of the Sustainability and Economic Development
• Representative Mary Nolan (96%) Chair of Land Use
• Representative Terry Beyer (69.7%) Chair of Transportation
• Representative Brian Clem (84%) Chair of Agriculture Natural Resources, and Rural Communities
• Representative Bob Jenson (23.8%) Co-chair of the Natural Resources subcommittee of Ways and Means

  Press releases from the Legislature, including full House committee lists.

  Read the press release on Senate Committee appointments.

Congratulations Bob Austin, Clackamas County’s newest county commissioner

Earlier today, Clackamas County Commissioners appointed former Estacada Mayor Bob Austin as the newest County Commissioner. Austin fills a slot vacated by Lynn Peterson, who was elected to be Chair of the County Commission.
Check out the Oregonian article for the details.
 
Clackamas County Commissioners will be meeting next Friday to appoint a replacement for Kurt Schrader in Senate District 20, following Schrader’s election to the U.S. House.

Save the Date! for OLCV's 12th Annual Dinner for the Environment

Join hundreds of your fellow conservationists, civic leaders, and sustainable business representatives at OLCV's legendary Annual Dinner.

When: Friday, April 24, 2009; no-host cocktail at 5:30 pm, dinner & program at 7 pm

Where: Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Portland

Keynote: Dan Kammen, Distinguished Professor of Energy at UC Berkeley, and Director of the Transportation Sustainability Research Center. Kammen is a contributing member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that shared the 2007 Nobel Prize. Kammen directs the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at UC Berkeley and is host of the Science Channel series 'Ecopolis.'

Menu: Sustainable Northwest Menu (vegetarian and vegan options available) with great Oregon wines donated by some of Oregon's finest wineries

Ticket price: $125 per seat. 10 seats to a table; 5 to a half table. Purchase tickets now.

Event sponsorships are also available. Contact OLCV Development Director, Molly Kramer, for more information at 503-224-4011 or via email.

Learn about important legislation in 2009

Sign up for SalemWatch, the weekly update during the session for those who’re looking for more details about individual bills.

SalemWatch is your best source for news on significant environmental decisions being considered by the Legislature.
During the Session, SalemWatch is published weekly, with special action alerts on upcoming important votes you can influence with emails and letters.