TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 26, A

003

Chair P. Smith

Calls the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. and opens a public hearing on HB 2581.

HB 2581 – PUBLIC HEARING

014

Patrick Brennan

Committee Administrator.  Summarizes HB 2581.

016

Dan Holcombe

President, Oregon Soil Corporation.  Discusses the benefits of vermiculture. 

041

Holcombe

Talks about how vermiculture would be used as an agricultural business and the benefits it can provide to farmers.

050

Holcombe

Discusses other states that already have this industry. 

080

Rep. Burley

Comments that most people try to avoid government regulation. Inquires why Mr. Holcombe is seeking to be regulated.

087

Holcombe

States that the law does not currently allow vermiculture to be the primary activity on exclusive farm use (EFU) land, unless it is regulated as an agricultural activity. 

103

Rep. Roblan

Asks if the worms feed on organic materials.

107

Holcombe

Answers that any organic products can be used as feed for worms.

134

Rep. Roblan

Inquires what kinds of worms are used in the operation.

136

Holcombe

Responds that they are eisenia Foetida, also known as red wigglers.

150

Rep. Boquist

Inquires if there have been discussions with the Department of Agriculture to see how vermiculture would be regulated.

157

Holcombe

Responds that he has not talked with the department about the issue.

185

Rep. Sumner

References section 6 of HB 2581.  Asks if the language allows the worms to be used as feed for other animals.

189

Holcombe

Answers that worms can be dried and made into pellets or fed live to aquaculture.  Comments on the different animals worms can be fed to.

196

Rep. Sumner

Comments that bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is spread by feeding cattle parts to other cattle.  Asks if feeding worms to animals has been thoroughly tested.

198

Holcombe

Concurs that this is how BSE was spread.  Comments that worms are not on the same food chain and lack the tissue that is considered infectious.  Discusses the pathogens that the worms are able to destroy.

211

Rep. Sumner

Comments that being included in agriculture in Oregon, vermiculture would be subject to inspections and wholesomeness tests.

217

Holcombe

Says that this would not be a problem. 

219

Chair P. Smith

States that the committee has talked with the Department of Agriculture which indicated it has no objections with the bill.

221

Rep. Burley

Inquires how many people in the State of Oregon would benefit from HB 2581.

225

Holcombe

Responds that several hundred to several thousand farmers could benefit, and that it has the potential to benefit the entire state.

248

Rep. Roblan

Comments on e. coli and other negative products that can be generated from waste.  Asks what happens with those waste products with worms.

253

Holcombe

Answers that they are destroyed by the worms’ digestive process. 

276

Chair P. Smith

Closes the public hearing on HB 2581 and opens a public hearing on HB 2111.

HB 2111 – PUBLIC HEARING

280

Patrick Brennan

Committee Administrator.  Summarizes HB 2111.

299

John Jackley

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).  Submits and presents prepared testimony in support of HB 2111 (EXHIBIT A).

350

Rep. Hass

Inquires what problem HB 2111 is meant to solve.

353

Jackley

Responds that the problem is the legal conflict between the state constitution and statute with regard to proceeds from mineral resource rights, which the measure rectifies. 

364

Rep. Hass

Asks if the conflict has happened already.

366

Jackley

Answers that the conflict currently exists and that the state has had such proceeds in the past, which have accrued to the State Highway Trust Fund.

371

Rep. Roblan

Summarizes how ODOT is currently handling the procedure and inquires if he is correct.

378

Jackley

Concurs with Rep. Roblan.

383

Chair P. Smith

Closes the public hearing and opens a work session on HB 2111.

HB 2111 – WORK SESSION

396

Rep. Hass

MOTION:  Moves HB 2111 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation and be placed on the CONSENT CALENDAR.

399

VOTE:  7-0-0

Chair P. Smith

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

401

Chair P. Smith

Closes the work session on HB 2111 and opens a public hearing on HJR 5. 

HJM 5 – PUBLIC HEARING

409

Patrick Brennan

Committee Administrator.  Summarizes HJM 5 and explains the -1 Amendments (EXHIBIT B).

423

Greg Addington

Oregon Farm Bureau (OFB).  Introduces the issue of Canada geese management. 

TAPE 27, A

048

Roy Elicker

Deputy Director, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).  Submits and presents prepared testimony in support of HJM 5 (EXHIBIT D).  Refers to the Pacific Flyway Management Plan (EXHIBIT G).  Comments on the picture on the front of the Agronomy Journal (EXHIBIT C).

066

Elicker

Points the committee to the list of the various subspecies of Canada geese that winter in the Willamette Valley, as outlined in the pamphlet on geese management (EXHIBIT E, Page 20).

099

Elicker

Comments on problems with the federal government in regard to geese.

105

Addington

Submits and presents prepared testimony (EXHIBIT F). 

127

Addington

Discusses what HJM 5 seeks to accomplish.

153

Addington

Comments on his visits to Bethel, Alaska and the information gained through those trips.  Discusses the -1 amendments. 

209

Ron Anglin

Wildlife Division Administrator, ODFW.  Talks about the restrictions on hunters and the department when hunting Canada geese.

222

Elicker

Comments that this is an issue that the department has worked closely with the Governor’s Office on.

248

Al Elkins

Oregon Hunters Association.  Testifies in support of HJM 5. 

274

Chair P. Smith

Asks if there has been any response from Oregon’s congressional delegation.

276

Elkins

Answers that there has not been any response from them on the issue.

281

Rep. Sumner

Solicits reasons for the ten-fold growth in the number of geese over the last thirty years.

285

Elkins

Responds that he does not know.

291

Anglin

Outlines a series of events that have led to the increase. 

307

Chair P. Smith

Asks why the geese did not continue to winter in California.

311

Anglin

Answers that the department does not know why the birds have made the shift.

320

Chair P. Smith

Closes the public hearing and opens a work session on HJM 5.

HJM 5 – WORK SESSION

327

Rep. Boquist

MOTION:  Moves to ADOPT HJM 5 -1 amendments dated 3/08/05.

330

VOTE:  7-0-0

Chair P. Smith

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

336

Rep. Boquist

MOTION:  Moves HJM 5 be sent to the floor with a BE ADOPTED AS AMENDED recommendation.

339

Rep. Boquist

States that the agriculture crops in his district are affected by the geese.  Discusses the impact of the geese on agriculture crops.  Comments that geese do not differentiate between federally-managed reserves and private property. 

391

Rep. Beyer

Comments that the testimony was enlightening, and expresses hope that the federal government will be able to help.

TAPE 26, B

015

VOTE:  7-0-0

AYE:            In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.

Chair P. Smith

The motion CARRIES.

020

Chair P. Smith

Closes the work session on HJM 5 and opens a work session on HJR 8.

HJR 8 – WORK SESSION

024

Patrick Brennan

Committee Administrator.  Discusses the -2 Amendments      (EXHIBIT H). 

045

Rep. Roblan

MOTION:  Moves to ADOPT HJR 8 -2 amendments dated 3/08/05.

048

Rep. Burley

Comments that to the amendments delete the word “European” from HJR 8.  Inquires if they are going to delete the scientific name as well.

051

Brennan

Responds that the scientific name will remain.

054

Chair P. Smith

Reminds the committee that the word will be deleted from the summary when it is taken out of the body of the resolution.

056

Rep. Hass

Asks if the fruit gift baskets referenced in the amendments are made only in Medford and Hood River.

059

Brennan

Answers that the companies that produce the mail order baskets are based in Medford and Hood River.

063

Rep. Hass

Comments that there are fruit baskets made everywhere.

065

Chair P. Smith

Points out that they can try to change the language if needed.

068

Brennan

States that all interested parties have seen the amendments and there were no objections.

069

VOTE:  7-0-0

Chair P. Smith

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

070

Rep. Roblan

MOTION:  Moves HJR 8 be sent to the floor with a BE ADOPTED AS AMENDED recommendation.

082

VOTE:  7-0-0

AYE:            In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.

Chair P. Smith

The motion CARRIES.

110

Chair P. Smith

Closes the work session on HJR 8 and adjourns the meeting at 10:05 a.m.