2005 Senate Committee on Environment and Land Use

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & LAND USE

March 07, 2005 Hearing Room B

3:00 P.M. Tapes 37 - 38

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Charlie Ringo, Chair

Sen. Jason Atkinson, Vice-Chair

Sen. Roger Beyer

Sen. Ginny Burdick

Sen. Frank Shields

STAFF PRESENT: Matt Shields, Committee Administrator

Katie Lowry, Committee Assistant

MEASURES/ISSUES HEARD:

Bear Butte & Booth Fires – Presentation

SB 358 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 735 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 736 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 737 – Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 834 – 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 37, A
005	Chair Ringo	Calls meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. Announces that the committee will depart from the agenda to allow a presentation on the B & B Fires.
BEAR BUTTE & BOOTH FIRES – PRESENTATION
020	Joe Keating	Oregon Wildlife Federation. Gives presentation on the Bear Butte & Booth (B & B) Fires. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT A) and a CD containing additional written testimony (EXHIBIT B).
070	Rus Taylor	Chief Investigator, B & B Report. Gives presentation on the B & B Fire.
125	Sen. Beyer	Asks about witness’ credentials.
130	Keating	States that they are environmentalists. Discusses flaws in investigations previously done. Discusses Central Oregon Arson Task Force and conflict of interest.
160	Sen. Beyer	States that he doesn’t believe these are facts. Believes that the investigation was not flawed.
170	Keating	Responds.
205	Sen. Beyer	Refers to visual aids. Verifies that witness said circles on visual aid are 99 percent accurate and not 100 percent accurate.
207	Keating	Confirms this.
209	Sen. Beyer	Asks how witness can say that it is a fact that it could not be lightning.
211	Keating	Discusses one percent and wording of probable arson.
220	Sen. Beyer	Responds.
225	Keating	Makes additional comments on the fire.
235	Chair Ringo	Closes presentation on the B & B Fires and opens public hearing on SB 358.
SB 358 – PUBLIC HEARING
240	Rep. Steve March	Represents House District 36. States that he co-sponsored SB 538 along with Sen. Ferrioli. Introduces SB 358.
270	Ed Glad	Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters. Testifies in support of SB 358.
300	Jennifer Hampel	Coordinator, Coquille Watershed Association. Testifies in support of SB 358.
330	James Johnson	Executive Director, Cascadia Wildlands Project. Testifies in support of SB 358.
360	Denny Scott	Carpenter’s Union and Western Council of Industrial Workers. Submits definition sheet for SB 358 (EXHIBIT C). Testifies in support of SB 358.
415	Sen. Ted Ferrioli	Represents Senate District 30. States that the testimony he has heard reflects pretty accurately the intent of SB 358. Gives background information for SB 358. Testifies in support of SB 358.
TAPE 38, A
040	Sen. Atkinson	Says that he is ready to move SB 358.
045	Chair Ringo	Asks about fiscal impact. Sates that it has a subsequent referral to the Ways and Means Committee.
047	Bill Kluting	Western Council of Industrial Workers. Discusses fiscal impact.
057	Chair Ringo	Asks if witness wants SB 358 referred to the Ways and Means Committee or to the Senate floor.
058	Kluting	Explains. States that he wants it sent to the Senate floor.
060	Sen. Shields	Discusses fiscal impact.
073	Chair Ringo	States that the committee can pass SB 358 directly to the Senate floor.
080	Chair Ringo	Closes public hearing on SB 358 and opens work session on SB 358.
SB 358 – WORK SESSION
081	Sen. Atkinson	MOTION: Moves SB 358 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation and the SUBSEQUENT REFERRAL to the committee on Ways and Means BE RESCINDED.
		VOTE: 4-0-1 EXCUSED: 1 - Burdick
085	Chair Ringo	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. FERRIOLI will lead discussion on the floor.
090	Chair Ringo	Closes work session on SB 358 and opens public hearing on SB 735.
SB 735 – PUBLIC HEARING
100	Mike Grainey	Oregon Department of Energy. Testifies in support of SB 735. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT D).
130	Chair Ringo	Asks question about language regarding loans.
135	Grainey	Gives details.
143	Chair Ringo	Discusses purpose of original language.
145	Grainey	Responds.
160	Tom O’Connor	Director, Oregon Municipal Electric Utilities Association. Testifies in support of SB 735.
173	Chair Ringo	Asks witness to explain Section 2 of SB 735.
183	Grainey	Discusses changes.
196	Chair Ringo	Closes public hearing and opens work session on SB 735.
SB 735 – WORK SESSION
200	Sen. Beyer	MOTION: Moves SB 735 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0-1 EXCUSED: 1 - Burdick
	Chair Ringo	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. ATKINSON will lead discussion on the floor.
203	Chair Ringo	Closes work session on SB 735 and opens public hearing on SB 736.
SB 736 – PUBLIC HEARING
207	Matt Shields	Committee Administrator. Introduces SB 735.
210	Mike Grainey	Oregon Department of Energy. Testifies in support of SB 736. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT E).
238	Chair Ringo	Closes public hearing and opens work session on SB 736.
SB 736 – WORK SESSION
240	Sen. Atkinson	MOTION: Moves SB 736 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0-1 EXCUSED: 1 - Burdick
	Chair Ringo	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. ATKINSON will lead discussion on the floor.
250	Chair Ringo	Closes work session on SB 736 and opens public hearing on SB 737.
SB 737 – PUBLIC HEARING
255	Mike Grainey	Oregon Department of Energy. Testifies in support of SB 737. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT F).
280	Chair Ringo	Asks what SB 737 will allow.
282	Grainey	Discusses what SB 737 will allow.
290	Chair Ringo	Asks clarification question.
292	Grainey	Explains.
303	Chair Ringo	Asks if anyone besides the military department has expressed interest.
305	Grainey	Responds.
310	Chair Ringo	Asks if universities would be able to put up solar panels without SB 737.
311	Grainey	Explains.
315	Sen. Beyer	Asks question regarding process for funding projects.
325	Grainey	Explains.
335	Tom O’Connor	Director, Oregon Municipal Electric Utilities Association. Testifies in support of SB 737.
342	Chair Ringo	Closes public hearing and opens work session on SB 737.
SB 737 – WORK SESSION
345	Sen. Atkinson	MOTION: Moves SB 737 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
		VOTE: 4-0-1 EXCUSED: 1 - Burdick
	Chair Ringo	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. ATKINSON will lead discussion on the floor.
355	Chair Ringo	Closes work session on SB 737 and opens public hearing on SB 834.
SB 834 – PUBLIC HEARING
360	Mike Grainey	Oregon Department of Energy (ODE). Gives background information on SB 834. Explains why the ODE does not have a position on SB 834.
TAPE 37, B
002	Chair Ringo	Asks about lottery bonds.
005	Grainey	Explains.
011	Alice Bibler	Association of Oregon Counties. Testifies in support of SB 834. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT G).
040	Paul Woodin	Western Windpower. Discusses renewable energy projects in Oregon. Testifies in support of SB 834.
055	Gary Thompson	Sherman County Judge. Testifies in support of SB 834.
070	Tom O’Connor	Director, Oregon Municipal Electric Utilities Association. Testifies in support of SB 834.
079	Chair Ringo	States that he wants to hold SB 834 for now. Closes public hearing on SB 834 and adjourns meeting at 4:07 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A. B & B Fires, written testimony, Joe Keating, 7 pp

B. B & B Fires, written testimony, Joe Keating, CD

C. SB 358, definition sheet, Denny Scott, 1 p

D. SB 735, written testimony, Mike Grainey, 2 pp

E. SB 736, written testimony, Mike Grainey, 2 pp

F. SB 737, written testimony, Mike Grainey, 1 p

G. SB 834, written testimony, Alice Bibler, 1 p