HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

March 25, 2003 Hearing Room HR D

1:00 PM Tapes 47 - 49

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Jeff Kropf, Chair

Rep. George Gilman, Vice-Chair

Rep. Kelley Wirth, Vice-Chair

Rep. Terry Beyer

Rep. Dave Hunt

Rep. Donna Nelson

Rep. Patti Smith

STAFF PRESENT: Ray Kelly, Committee Administrator

David Peffley, Committee Assistant

MEASURES HEARD: HB 2372 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SJM 2 A – Public Hearing and Work Session

HJM 6 – Public Hearing and Work Session

HB 2754 – Public Hearing

Work Session

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 47, A
003	Chair Kropf	Calls the meeting to order at 1:07 and opens a public hearing on HB 2372.
HB 2372 – PUBLIC HEARING
008	Chair Kropf	Introduces the -2 amendments (EXHIBIT A)
011	Ray Kelly	Committee Administrator. Summarizes HB 2372.
024	Jim Geisinger	Association of Oregon Loggers. Testifies in favor of the -2 amendments.
042	Rep. Beyer	Offers thanks to everyone for addressing her concerns.
055	Chair Kropf	Closes a public hearing on HB 2372 and opens a work session on HB 2372.
HB 2372 – WORK SESSION
093	Rep. Wirth	Addresses the -1 amendments in relation to HB 2372.
140	Rep. Beyer	States that she will support this bill.
151	Rep. Gilman	States that he will not support the -2 amendments.
157	Rep. Hunt	Responds that he has concerns regarding the amendments, although he generally supports the principles.
190	Rep. Nelson	Indicates support for the -2 amendments over the -1 amendments (EXHIBIT B).
206	Rep. Smith	States that she will support the -1 amendments.
210	Chair Kropf	Comments that this bill needs a larger policy discussion but offers Rep. Wirth the chance to withdraw.
211	Rep. Wirth	Indicates she will not make a motion.
235	Rep. Nelson	MOTION: Moves to ADOPT HB 2372-2 amendments dated 03/19/03.
237		VOTE: 7-0
	Chair Kropf	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
237	Rep. Gilman	MOTION: Moves HB 2372A to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation and the SUBSEQUENT REFERRAL to the committee on Revenue BE RESCINDED.
238		VOTE: 7-0
240	Chair Kropf	Closes the work session on HB 2372A and opens a public hearing on SJM 2A
270	Chair Kropf	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. REP. NELSON will lead discussion on the floor.
297	Rep. Wirth	Responds in support of this bill, but will probably not vote for any other tax credit bills.
SJM 2A – PUBLIC HEARING
333	Senator Atkinson	District 2. Testifies in favor of SJM 2A and notes the passage is needed in order to take advantage of the salvage logging, due to the biscuit fire.
TAPE 48, A
015	Sen. Atkinson	Concludes his testimony stating that it is on the front burner in Washington DC. Appeals to the committee to help the loggers in his district.
043	Rep. Nelson	Responds with support for SJM 2A.
055	Sen. Atkinson	Notes how neighbors responded to the fire and that Oregon doesn’t needs to act proactively to prevent another tragedy.
077	Rep. Nelson	Asks for figures.
080	Sen. Atkinson	Replies that he doesn’t know for sure.
094	Rep. Nelson	Asks if we have previously passed a bill to deal with salvage logging.
100	Chair Kropf	States that HB 2344 will be heard today dealing with the same issue.
117	Rep. Smith	Asks how many jobs are we talking about.
120	Sen. Atkinson	Replies that over three hundred jobs are at stake.
133	Rep. Smith	Asks how this bill would impact the schools in the area.
136	Sen. Atkinson	Responds it would be a big impact.
149	Ralph Saperstein	Boise-Cascade. Testifies in favor of SJM 2A and explains the impact of the ten thousand acres lost in 2002 due to forest fires. Urges support for SJM 2A.
170	Chair Kropf	Closes the public hearing on SJM 2A and opens a work session on SJM 2A.
SJM 2A – WORK SESSION
218	Rep. Nelson	MOTION: Moves SJM 2A be sent to the floor with a BE ADOPTED recommendation.
219		VOTE: 6-0 EXCUSED: 1 - Rep. Gilman
	Chair Kropf	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. REP. GILMAN will lead discussion on the floor.
232	Chair Kropf	Closes a work session on SJM 2A and opens a public hearing on HJM 6.
HJM 6 – PUBLIC HEARING
233	Rep. Nelson	District 24. Submits (EXHIBIT C) and testifies that HJM 6 is a substantial ingredient that would bring economic healing to Oregon.
330	Ted Lorensen	Assistant State Forester, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). Submits (EXHIBIT D) and testifies in favor of HJM 6 explaining that this memorial promotes positions that ODF has advocated for years .
377	Rep. Nelson	Asks how many people were once employed in forestry.
388	Lorensen	Responds that he will get the figures and states that timber employment has been greatly reduced from previous levels.
410	Rep. Nelson	Asserts that this legislation is prudent and necessary.
430	Lorensen	Responds to the difficulty in addressing all the trade offs to formulate good policy.
TAPE 47, B
027	Chair Kropf	Refers to Lorensen’s written testimony and asks why projects must be held up.
031	Lorensen	Addresses the difficulties in dealing with the eco-system.
044	Chair Kropf	Asks about the most important of the proposed rule-changes.
048	Lorensen	States that these changes deal with process and method. States that when the rules are processed, he will supply them for the committee.
055	Chair Kropf	Asks for the biscuit fire report.
059	Lorensen	States that Chair Kropf’s ballpark figure is probably pretty close to reality.
066	Chair Kropf	Restates his desire for the figures.
071	Rep. Hunt	Asks if board feet is from federal lands.
077	Lorensen	Answers that the given figure is for the entire state.
082	Rep. Hunt	Asks if language has been drafted or is in the process.
085	Lorensen	Addresses the amendment and the findings and notes some adornments could be added.
103	Saperstein	Boise-Cascade. Comments on previous testimony and concerns.
120	Rep. Nelson	Asks if Saperstein worked on the plan.
122	Saperstein	States that he worked against the plan.
126	Chair Kropf	Asks for confirmation that current federal policy has failed miserably for the State of Oregon.
143	Saperstein	Notes that the figures include western Washington.
150	Chair	Asks if we could get to one million board feet.
155	Saperstein	Responds not soon.
167	Rep. Nelson	Suggests that we wouldn’t have a school funding problem if we could solve this problem.
173	Chair Kropf	States that the formula for the distribution of dollars has been changed. Closes the public hearing on HJM 6 and opens a work session on HJM 6.
The following prepared testimony is submitted for the record without public testimony for HJM 6.
	Jim Geisinger	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT E).
HJM 6 – WORK SESSION
178	Chair Kropf	Asks Rep. Nelson if the language in the bill has been amended.
179	Rep. Nelson	Answers that it has been and notes that it could be further amended on the Senate side.
205	Rep. Nelson	MOTION: Moves HJM 6 be sent to the floor with a BE ADOPTED recommendation.
206		VOTE: 7-0
210	Chair Kropf	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. REP. NELSON will lead discussion on the floor.
214	Chair Kropf	Closes the work session on HJM 6 and opens a public hearing on HB 2754.
HB 2754 – PUBLIC HEARING
205	Ray Kelly	Summarizes HB 2754.
222	John McDonald	Executive Director, Oregon Association of Conservation Districts. Submits (EXHIBIT F) and testifies in favor of HB 2754, explaining that the bill is adding soil and conservation districts to the list of those who already have authority.
237	Tim Stieber	District Manager, Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District. Submits (EXHIBIT G) and testifies in favor of HB 2754. Notes that he has managed conservation easements and will offer his experiences.
269	MacDonald	Describes the background information on easements.
314	Chair Kropf	Asks MacDonald to define conservation easement for the committee.
316	MacDonald	Describes easement as putting a particular restriction on a piece of property as to how it can be used.
327	Rep. Nelson	Asks if one important reason is the water.
329	MacDonald	Responds that water could be a key consideration.
344	Rep. Nelson	States the importance of grass waterways.
347	MacDonald	Responds to the importance of both grass waterways, as well as conservation districts.
390	Rep. Nelson	Comments that this process is very important and simplifies things with the death of an owner.
402	MacDonald	Answers that there are tax implications and other advantages when the land has a conservation easement.
406	Rep. Wirth	Asks if they are a public or a private district.
417	MacDonald	Replies that they are a public subdivision of state government.
425	Rep. Wirth	Asks why we do not have watershed districts if we have conservation districts.
432	MacDonald	Notes a percentage of the conservation districts are landowners.
462	Rep. Nelson	States that the conservation districts are landowner groups.
463	MacDonald	Answers that it is hard to make that distinction and generally that is true.
TAPE 48, B
006	Rep. Wirth	Inquires whether this bill will allow not only conservation easements but highway scenic easements as well.
010	MacDonald	Replies that he’s not sure.
015	Rep. Nelson	Asks how much land are we protecting.
024	MacDonald	Responds to the different kinds of easements.
039	Rep. Nelson	Asks if we can carry this out without a raise in labor costs.
057	Steiber	Explains his concerns about sustainability.
109	Rep. Nelson	Asks to confirm that we do have the money to do this.
111	Steiber	Answers that we do but we need to reevaluate annually.
120	Rep. Nelson	Asks if that is permanent.
124	Steiber	Responds that it is, but the easement could be transferred.
130	Rep. Gilman	Asks for a response on the easement being held with the Department of Agriculture.
134	Steiber	Answers that process would work but adds that additional staff would be needed.
141	MacDonald	Adds that the state does not want to get involved in easements.
154	Rep. Smith	Asks if we could do this without the easement.
156	MacDonald	Answers that property could not be held if there was a transfer. Adds that the easement probably would not go along.
166	Rep. Smith	Asks who advised them of this.
170	MacDonald	Replies that the Attorney General’s Office advised them.
173	Rep. Nelson	Asks if the State of Oregon is already competing with someone in this business.
180	MacDonald	Responds there are many people doing this.
185	Chair Kropf	Adds that he thinks that governmental agencies are responsible.
198	Chuck Craig	Deputy Director, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). Submits (EXHIBIT H) and (EXHIBIT I) and testifies in favor of HB 2754. Gives legal explanation and states that this bill is a technical correction.
266	Matt Blevins	Legislative Affairs Director, Oregon Environmental Council. Submits (EXHIBIT K) and testifies in favor of HB 2754. Explains that soil conservation districts are locally based well established organizations that are normally well respected by landowners
337	Bruce Taylor	Defenders of Wildlife. Submits (EXHIBIT L) and testifies in favor of HB 2754, providing more options for conservationists
346	Glen Stonebrink	Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. Submits (EXHIBIT M) and testifies in opposition to HB 2754.
351	Don Schellenberg	Oregon Farm Bureau (OFB). States that OFB is in support of this bill.
352	Chair Kropf	Notes the bill needs further discussion before it is passed. Closes the public hearing on HB 2754 and opens a work session.
The following prepared testimony is submitted for the record without public testimony for HB 2754.
	Karen Lewotsky	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT J).
WORK SESSION
354	Rep. Hunt	MOTION: Moves to SUSPEND the rules for the purpose of RECONSIDER the vote by which on HB 2436 was passed to the floor with a do pass recommendation.
375		VOTE: 7-0
377	Chair Kropf	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
379	Rep. Hunt	MOTION: Moves to RECONSIDER the vote by which HB 2436 was sent to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
408	Chair Kropf	Points to an agreement for an amendment which would be in everyone’s best interest.
418	Rep. Hunt	Responds to Rep. Nelson’s concern, notes the concern for public safety and the desire for consensus.
430	Chair Kropf	Refers to some of the concerns for amendments.
440	Rep. Nelson	Expresses concern for the safety of the public and the potential for weapons in the hands of the wrong people.
Tape 49, A
026		VOTE: 7-0
032		VOTE: 7-0 AYE: In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.
	Chair Kropf	The motion CARRIES.
045	Chair Kropf	Closes the work session on HB 2436 and adjourns the meeting at 3:06.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – HB 2372, -2 amendments, Rep. Kropf, 1 p.

B – HB 2372, -1 amendments, Rep. Donna Nelson, 1 p.

C – HJM 6, written testimony, Rep. Donna Nelson, 12 pp.

D – HJM 6, written testimony, Ted Lorensen, 3 pp.

E – HJM 6, written testimony, Jim Geisinger, 1 p.

F – HB 2754, written testimony, John MacDonald, 2 pp.

G – HB 2754, written testimony, Tim Stieber, 1 p.

H – HB 2754, written testimony, Chuck Craig, 1 p.

I – HB 2754, written material, Chuck Craig, 2 pp.

K – HB 2754, written material, Matt Blevins, 45 pp.

L – HB 2754, written testimony, Sara Vickerman, 1 p.

M – HB 2436, written testimony, Glen Stonebrink, 1 p.

The following exhibit is listed out of order in the body of the tape log:

J – HB 2754, written testimony, Karen Lewotsky, 2 pp.