SENATE COMMITTEE ON WATER AND LAND USE

March 05, 2003 Hearing Room D

3:00 p.m. Tapes 23 - 24

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Ted Ferrioli, Chair

Sen. Jason Atkinson

Sen. Rick Metsger

MEMBER EXCUSED: Sen. Charlie Ringo, Vice-Chair

STAFF PRESENT: Judith Callens, Committee Administrator

Megan Jensen, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 97 Public Hearing

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 23, A
005	Chair Ferrioli	Calls committee to order at 3:05 p.m. and opens public hearing on SB 97.
SB 97 – PUBLIC HEARING
026	Rep. Greg Smith	District 57 Representative. Provides testimony in support of SB 97. Believes the reintroduction of wolves will have a detrimental effect on the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers.
068	Rep. Wayne Krieger	District 1 Representative. Provides testimony in support of SB 97.
084	Helen Franklin	Law Finders Research of Law and Policy. Provides testimony in support of SB 97 (EXHIBIT A). Talks about options for wolf management in accordance with state and federal statues.
170	Sen. Ferrioli	Suggests taking issues regarding the state’s authority to Legislative Counsel.
181	Sharon Beck	Southern Oregon. Provides testimony in support of SB 97 (EXHIBIT B). Asserts that wolves should be removed from the Endangered Species list and kept out of Oregon. Discusses economic and environmental implications surrounding wolf management.
257	Sen. Atkinson	Asks how many public hearings on wolves she attended.
260	Beck	Replies that she attended three public hearings.
269	Elizabeth Howard	Churchill Leonard. Provides testimony in support of SB 97. Believes the wolf should be removed from the endangered species list and discusses economic and environmental concerns regarding wolf management.

347	Arleigh Isley	Oregon State University. Provides testimony in support of SB 97 (EXHIBIT C). Raises concerns about allowing wolves into Oregon.
TAPE 24, A
005	Isley	Continues testimony in support of SB 97.
055	Sen. Atkinson	Inquires about the length of time for a permanent wolf population to establish itself in Oregon.
060	Isley	Explains that a wild population could be established in approximately three years.
070	Garland Teich	Provides testimony in support of SB 97 (EXHIBIT D). Believes wolves should be managed as predators.
130	Laura Jones	Jackson County. Provides testimony against SB 97 (EXHIBIT E). Supports the re-colonization of wolves into their native habitat and believes that decisions about wolf management should be made by wildlife agencies.
162	Sen. Atkinson	Asks if she believes wolves are present in Oregon.
169	Jones	Responds that a wild wolf population most likely has not yet been established in the state.
172	Sen. Atkinson	Wonders whether the main concern is that wolves are coming to Oregon or that wolves are already in Oregon.
182	Chair Ferrioli	Asks if the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has authority under the Oregon Endangered Species Act to manage wolves.
196	Jones	Replies that ORS 498.012 and 496.172 give ODFW authority to manage wolves.
200	Chair Ferrioli	Wonders why ODFW would have a public input process on developing a management plan if they already have management authority.
202	Jones	Explains that ODFW might desire a more comprehensive plan.
204	Chair Ferrioli	Suggests obtaining clarification about the ODFW’s authority under current statutes.
208	Ben Boswell	Wallowa County Commissioner. Provides testimony in support of SB 97 (EXHIBIT F). Believes the wolf should be considered a predator.
280	Nancy Weiss	Defenders of Wildlife. Gives testimony against SB 97 (EXHIBIT G). States that the wolf should be allowed back into its native habitat and that wildlife agencies should make the decisions regarding wolf management. Talks about a Defenders of Wildlife poll conducted in 1999, which revealed that 70% of Oregonians would like to see the wolf restored to Oregon.
396	Sen. Atkinson	Asks for a copy of the questions asked in the poll.
400	Weiss	Offers to provide that information.
405	Sen. Atkinson	Asks if she believes wolves are coming to Oregon or are already in Oregon.
408	Weiss	Responds that there are at least a few wolves in Oregon.

TAPE 23, B
002	Chair Ferrioli	Asks if Defenders of Wildlife plans to do follow-up polls in areas that have since experienced wolf reintroduction or expansion.
008	Weiss	Talks about polls taken throughout the country.
025	Mack Birkmaier	Wallowa County. Gives testimony in support of SB 97 (EXHIBIT H). Believes that Oregon ranchers are entitled to protect livestock from predators such as the wolf.
160	Tom Ursey	Wallowa County. Provides testimony in support of SB 97 and believes wolves should be considered predators.
180	Arlene Kovash	Oregon Women for Agriculture. Gives testimony in support of SB 97 and states that wolves should be considered predators.
227	Stephen Kafoury	The Wildlife Society. Gives testimony against SB 97.
259	Warren Aney	The Wildlife Society. Provides testimony against SB 97 (EXHIBIT I) and expresses concerns about SB 97.
296	Sen. Atkinson	Asks if the Wildlife Society believes wolves are currently in Oregon.
300	Aney	Believes that there are no established breeding populations of wolves in Oregon.
306	Chair Ferrioli	Inquires if ODFW can issue permits to kill certain animals listed on the Oregon Endangered Species Act.
311	Aney	Replies that state law restricts that authority and suggests ODFW could offer further clarification.
320	Chair Ferrioli	Asks about distinguishing between a hybrid wolf and a wild wolf.
327	Aney	Explains.
337	Chair Ferrioli	Asks if the gray wolf is the native species being introduced into Oregon.
350	Aney	Affirms.
355	Chair Ferrioli	Wonders if a different species of wolf inhabited Oregon historically and asks the Wildlife Society to provide information on the genetic issues involved in distinguishing between a hybrid wolf and a wild wolf.
362	Aney	Comments on categorizing species of wolves and offers to provide more information to the committee.
370	Gwen Mulkey	Oregon Women for Agriculture. Provides testimony in support of SB 97. Discusses possible economic and environmental impacts of the reintroduction of wolves into Oregon.
TAPE 24, B
003	Mulkey	Continues testimony in support of SB 97.
022	Chair Ferrioli	Comments that there will be a fiscal analysis of the designation of wolves as a predator but not of the reintroduction of wolves into Oregon.
033	Jerald Myra	Provides testimony in support of SB 97 (EXHIBIT J). Talks about the reproduction rates of wolves in Montana and provides statistics on predatory habits of wolves.
118	Chair Ferrioli	Requests that information for further study.
125	Daniel Hall	American Lands Alliance. Provides testimony against SB 97 (EXHIBIT K). Expresses concerns about SB 97.
163	Jerod Broadfoot	Safari Club International. Provides testimony in support of SB 97.
198	Justin Swarthout	Central Oregon. Provides testimony against SB 97.
246	Ben Miller	Oregon State University. Provides testimony against SB 97. States that the wolf originally inhabiting Oregon was a different subspecies.
253	Chair Ferrioli	Confirms that the wolf was a different subspecies.
255	Miller	Affirms and elaborates on taxonomical distinctions between species of wolves.
265	Chair Ferrioli	Asks if the historical record demonstrates that the species being reintroduced to Oregon is a non-native species.
268	Miller	Confirms that it is a non-native subspecies. Describes how to distinguish between a hybrid wolf and a wild wolf.
296	Chair Ferrioli	Inquires about testing on a dead wolf.
301	Miller	States that genetic testing will distinguish between hybrid and wild wolves.
397	Chair Ferrioli	Asks if there is a way to distinguish between a feral hybrid and a wild wolf.
312	Miller	Responds that a difference is found only in the behavior of the wolves.
322	Chair Ferrioli	Asks about skull measurements in wolves.
324	Miller	Explains the process.
333	Chair Ferrioli	Asks about musculature.
334	Miller	Clarifies.
345	Chair Ferrioli	Requests written information. Closes public hearing on SB 97.
The following prepared testimony is submitted for the record without public testimony for SB 97:
	Lori Duba	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT L).
	R. Martin	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT M).
	Greg Addington	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT N).
	Sharon Methvin	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT O).
	Brett Brownscombe	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT P).
	Jim Welsh	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT Q).
	Wally Sykes	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT R).
	Staff	Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT S).
345	Chair Ferrioli	Adjourns meeting at 5:03 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 97, written testimony, Helen Franklin, 18 pp.

B – SB 97, written testimony, Sharon Beck, 96 pp.

C – SB 97, written testimony, Arleigh Isley, 4 pp.

D – SB 97, written testimony, Garland Teich, 2 pp.

E – SB 97, written testimony, Laura Jones, 1 p.

F – SB 97, written testimony, Ben Boswell, 8 pp.

G – SB 97, written testimony, Nancy Weiss, 13 pp.

H – SB 97, written testimony, Mack Birkmaier, 11 pp.

I – SB 97, written testimony, Warren Aney, 1 p.

J – SB 97, written testimony, Jerald Myra, 4 pp.

K – SB 97, written testimony, Daniel Hall, 2 pp.

L – SB 97, written testimony, Lori Duba, 1 p.

M – SB 97, written testimony, R. Martin, 1 p.

N – SB 97, written testimony, Greg Addington, 250 pp.

O – SB 97, written testimony, Sharon Methvin, 2 pp.

P – SB 97, written testimony, Brett Brownscombe, 2 pp.

Q – SB 97, written testimony, Jim Welsh, 1 p.

R – SB 97, written testimony, Wally Sykes, 1 p.

S – SB 97, written testimony, staff, 44 pp.