Forwarded from our friend and Master of all things Salem - Tom Wolf....
HB 2396 - Large Woody debris: this
bill just had a hearing in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources. Now I
am working with the chairs of House Ag and Senate Natural resources
committees-and others-to make some amendments to the language for clarity.
HB 3437 - ODFW Commission License Requirement
bill: Tom was the first to testify on this bill when it had a
hearing before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources committee last
Thursday. The committee was very favorable to the TU suggestions and I have had
subsequent meetings with committee members, especially the chair, Rep. Brad
Witt. He assures me that, as TU suggested, an advisory committee should be
formed to do a study on reviewing and improving the appointment process.
SB 830 - Gill Net Fleet Changeover Funding [result of the Columbia River management plan]: TU testified in favor of this
but it has not had a work session yet. Among other things provides grant funding for Counties to compensate them during methods transitions on the Columbia fisheries.
ODFW budget: testimony forthcoming before Ways and Means NR.
TU is in general favor of the proposed ODFW budget - suggesting a few cuts and
other redirections.
SB 357 - Forestry Management Policy direction: testimony before the
Senate Rural Communities committee is due. TU will, as in the past, oppose this type
of bill which removes/limits forest management from the current Board of Forestry.
SB 401 / SB 838 - Scenic Waterways and Suction Dredge Mining Moratorium bill: first SB838 was borne as moratorium with date restriction for study as a result of SB 115 introduction. These come up before the Senate
Environment Committee on April 15. Jack Williams, TU senior scientist, will be
one of the key experts in support of this bill while I, during the
general public testimony, will deliver economic reasons to support this bill.
SB 217 - Water Management Fee: this is
the bill which would propose fees for water rights with caps. TU has been
involved in a work group developing this bill. It comes up before the Senate
Environment Committee on April 16 - TU will support it.
